CS Wandayi urges EPRA to prioritise safety in emerging energy sectors
Wandayi concluded by reaffirming the government's commitment to ensuring that energy safety guidelines are rigorously enforced.
Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi has called on the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) to prioritise the safety of emerging energy sub-sectors like E-Mobility, bioethanol, and Green Hydrogen from the onset.
Speaking on Thursday at the Authority's National Stakeholder Programme in Nairobi, Wandayi also directed EPRA to immediately revoke licences of any businesses found culpable of energy irregularities.
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"We shall continue to work with the Police Service and other relevant agencies to deal with the menace of people illegally engaging in business practices whose energy handling endangers the lives of Kenyans," he said
The CS called on EPRA to take swift action against violators, highlighting the severe risks that non-compliance poses to the public.
"Unsafe use of electricity, illegal LPG refilling, petroleum leaks, and non-compliant infrastructure remain key challenges that we must collectively address. As such, the DPP must prosecute culpable characters while EPRA moves quickly to revoke their licenses," directed Wundayi.
He also called on EPRA to proactively address issues around battery safety and charging standards as Electric Vehicles (EVs) and charging infrastructure become more prevalent in the country.
Moreover, Wandayi emphasised the need to educate new power users to minimise risks and ensure safe usage.
"There are thousands of people, particularly those benefitting from the Last-Mile Connectivity Program, who will be dealing with electrical safety concerns for the first time. While this may seem insignificant to those of us who are relatively knowledgeable in matters of electrical safety, we must appreciate that it may not be the same for everybody else," he said.
The CS also said the state was making significant strides in implementing the National LPG Growth Strategy, which was approved by the Cabinet two years ago.
"We have just finished the piloting phase of installing LPG in schools to reduce overreliance on firewood. Furthermore, we are currently testing the viability of directly supplying LPG to our Affordable Housing Residential Units for greater tenant safety and convenience," he noted.
Wandayi concluded by reaffirming the government's commitment to ensuring that energy safety guidelines are rigorously enforced.
"As a sector, we owe it to ourselves and the citizens of this country to ensure that energy safety guidelines are adhered to. As such, we have agreed with EPRA that they must be ruthless in applying the law," he asserted.
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