eng. joseph njoroge managing director, kplc - asea apua · 3 eng. joseph njoroge managing director,...

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Eng. Joseph Njoroge Managing Director, KPLC

THE CHALLENGES OF VANDALISM ON POWER

EQUIPMENT

Eng Joseph K Njoroge, Managing Director, The Kenya Power and Lighting Company

Limited.


Existing & Proposed HV & MV NetworkExisting & Proposed HV & MV Network


Vandalism of power equipment is prevalent in Kenya, and incidents targeting KPLC’s power equipment have escalated in the recent past to unprecedented levels.

Vandalism of power equipment is also prevalent in East Africa and in several other countries such as Zambia and South Africa


KPLC is counting heavy direct losses at Ksh 707.72 million (KShs.3447.04 million overall for the economy)over the four year period covering January 2004 to December 2007.

KPLC’s direct losses for this year are projected to reach Ksh 478.84 million (Ksh.1127.29 million overall for the economy for this year).

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Transformer oil, copper and aluminium are the main targets of the vandals. The uses of the stolen transformer oil are;

• mixed with diesel and sold as fuel, • used as fuel for industrial furnaces and as cooling for

welding sets, • mixed with vegetable oil and sold as cooking oil • used as a cosmetic and treatment for wounds.• On the other hand, copper and aluminium have been in the

past been used on a minimum scale by the informal sector for welding sets but are now mainly exported as scrap. It is this later use that is behind the recent escalation of vandalism


In the past problem of vandalism has been related to socio-economic conditions. However, this has now changed and vandalism is now largely driven by the soaring values of copper and aluminum in the international metals market due to increased world market demand fuelled by China and India’s growth in industrialisation.

Consequently, the vandals now operate in well organised syndicates complete with offices and hierarchy and accumulate large volumes of stolen materials which they eventually consign for export as scrap.


Transformer Vandalism Trends For the Period Jan 2004- Dec 2008(Projected)

161 168

238

465

783

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Year 2004 Year 2005 Year 2006 Year 2007 Prj For 2008

Series1

•


Spread of Vandalism around the country

Mt Kenya 12%

Nairobi 77%

West Kenya 9%

Coast 2%

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Failed Transformers by Type of failure for the year Jan 2004 – Dec

2008(Projected)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

LightningVandalismFaulty LV SystemBroken BushingsBurnt/Broken RodsOil LeakageAccidental damageOverloadFailed on commissionOthers


Power Conductors Vandalism

Copper and aluminum conductors have also been a major target for vandals and there as been an upsurge of vandalism on conductors in the recent past.

A loss of some 250 kilometers of conductor between 2004 and November 2007.


Transmission Towers Vandalism


Transmission Towers Vandalism

Theft of steel bracings on transmission towers has been taking place for a long time. In 1992, 5No towers on the Juja-Rabai line collapsed as a result of theft of bracings in the Ruai area. Sporadic cases of vandalism continued in the 90’s and early 2000’s, and virtually all the transmission lines have suffered from occasional cases of theft of steel bracings. The period May 2006 to date has seen 3No tower collapse as a result of theft of steel members.

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VANDALISM ON TRANSMISSION TOWERSVANDALISM ON TRANSMISSION TOWERS


COST OF TOWERS REPAIRS

Cost of repairing the collapsed towers:Ksh

Helicopter Hire 172,765/-Crane hire 356,274/-Artisan & equipment 30,000/-50 day casuals 87,750/-Overtime & callouts 594,100/-Transport- 267,060/-Other contingencies- 545,000/-

TOTAL Sh.2,052,949/-


COST OF TOWERS RELATEDUNSERVED ENERGY

Line Rating- 250 MVAAverage Loading- 100 MWAverage Downtime 63 HrsUnserved energy 6,300 UnitsTotal Cost @Sh.6/KWH Sh.37.8 Million.Replacement Costs Sh 2.1MillionTower Security Costs Sh14.6Million

Average Annual Transmission Costs due to Tower Vandalism Sh54.5Million


• KPLC’s Costs for Service Restoration

• Loss of Revenue to KPLC• Customer Costs as a Result of

Vandalism• Resultant Social Economic Loss

Impact of Vandalism

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POLICY STRATEGIES

• Ban on Copper exports

• Seek a regional approach to the problem

• Arrest and Prosecution

• The concept of Community Policing and Lobby Groups

• Provision of the Mulika Mwizi Hotline

• Establishment of a Utility Police Unit

• Considerations for Transformer Risk Management through Insurance


SYSTEM & EQUIPMENT STRATEGIES

Increased transformer protection and enhancing transformer features

– Locking/fastening of the transformer

– Enhanced of use of Non Standard bolts

– Drain Corks for Distribution Transformers



Increased transformer protection and enhancing transformer features

- Transformer tank Construction

- Bushing Construction


• Search for a Transformer oil dye

• Considerations for Transformer Risk Management through Insurance


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KPLC’s Transformer RepairsKPLC’s Transformer Repairs


Eng. Joseph Njoroge Managing Director, KPLC Eng. Joseph Njoroge Managing Director, KPLC

THANK YOU

FOR

STAYING ON UNTIL NOW

eng. joseph njoroge managing director, kplc - asea apua · 3 eng. joseph njoroge managing director,...

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