Kenya Power’s shift to concrete poles leaves tree growers in limbo
Anxiety has gripped growers of trees used for electricity transmission poles following a decision by Kenya Power and the Rural Electrification Authority to shift to concrete ones.
Kenya Power intends to use concrete poles for all new transmission lines, limiting wooden ones for domestic connections only.
By the end of next year, 50 per cent of all transmission poles will be concrete.
The annual demand for wooden poles from Kenya Power has dropped from over 500,000 in 2011, when the shift started, to the current 200,000, according to the Kenya Wood Preservers Association (KWPA).
The shift has had a devastating impact not only on commercial tree growers but also manufacturers and suppliers of wooden poles.
At least four wood processing factories with 200 employees closed shop due to lack of a market for wooden electricity poles. According to KWPA Chairman George Ali, operations of the remaining 36 are in limbo.
Many farmers and organisations that had heavily invested in the growing of eucalyptus trees are now in a market dilemma for their mature trees.
EUCALYPTUS TREES
The more than 12,000 members of the Kenya Forest Growers Association (Kefga) have, for example, so far used Sh1.2 billion to establish 10,000-hectare eucalyptus plantations.
The Miti Mingi project has over 1 million mature eucalyptus trees that are ready for harvesting but there is no market for poles.
Eucalyptus trees grown for electricity poles take seven to 10 years to mature, depending on the climate, topography and soil conditions of the area.
It is difficult to understand why Kenya Power and REA have decided to spend more on concrete poles when there is a much cheaper and proven alternative.
First, concrete poles are 40 per cent more expensive than wooden ones. Prices range between Sh18,000 and Sh20,000 for a concrete pole against Sh10,000 to Sh12,000 for a treated wooden one.
While Kenya Power argues that wooden posts have a shorter lifespan and are, therefore, more expensive over time, Mr Ali thinks otherwise.
The lifespan of a well-done concrete pole is 50 years while that of a well-treated wooden one is 40.
“The difference in costs and lifespan does not make wooden poles expensive. Concrete poles still remain expensive,” said Mr Ali.
Source: Saturday Nation
