Lamu Coal-Fired Power Plant

cancelled

The Lamu coal-fired power plant was planned as Kenya's first coal-based electricity project with a capacity of 1,050 MW, located in the Lamu archipelago on the east coast. It was intended to run initially on imported coal and later on coal from Kenya's Mui Basin reserves. The project was projected to become East Africa's tallest structure with a 210-metre smokestack. The project raised environmental and climate concerns due to its potential impact on the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lamu and its significant carbon emissions. The project was financed by international banks and involved Chinese state-owned construction companies and a consortium of Kenyan companies for operation. The appellate court of Kenya's Kilifi County canceled the permission for construction, reaffirming Kenya's climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.