Kenya: Amu Power says coal project will adopt safe technologies after concerns on potentially harmful lead & arsenic pollutants
"Land disputes delay coal-fired electricity"
Consumers will have to wait longer for the cheap coal-fired electricity to be connected to the national power grid as land disputes and delay in getting environmental approval extends production timeline by two years...The firm says it expects the National Environment Management Authority (Nema) to approve the project’s environment impact assessment (EIA) in November 30...
The title deed for the 870 acres of land that will host the plant in Hindi Bay of Lamu is expected on October 14 after the firm compensates the displaced residents...The Amu consortium brings together firms like Gulf Energy, Centum Investment and Power Construction Corporation of China — in charge of actual construction.
There are concerns that the plant will increase carbon emissions and present a challenge in the disposal of toxic coal ash which remains after coal is burned. The coal ash contains pollutants such as lead and arsenic which cause respiratory ailments and water poisoning if not handled well. But Amu officials last week sought to allay the fears saying they have lined up tight safety technologies.