Lodwar, April 23, 2024 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
The County Government in partnership with GIZ, has contracted Koxcloud Digital, a consulting firm to develop the Turkana County Energy Database website, which will give the Directorate access to all Data regarding Energy and its available resources in the County.
This website will be a one-stop store whereby any investor or partner can easily get access to the Turkana County Energy status from any part of the country.
Director for Energy and Petroleum, Jackson Lojore, said that the website will address absence of data hindering decision-making processes in the Energy sector.
“As a County, we do not have enough and orderly arranged data on what resources are available, their distribution or utilization patterns. Ideally, we have been working with very limited information. This has accounted for slow growth within the sector,” Director Said.
Team leader for Koxcloud Digital Consultancy Wilfred Ayieko highlighted the need for a consolidated database for players in the energy sector especially in decision making.
According to Mr. Ayieko, there was need for the county to adopt a digital and dynamic software with a wide range of data functionality to allow for inclusion of all relevant variables.
Director Lojore emphasized that the intended database had been designed to give real-time reports, and status of interventions by stakeholders in the sector so as to avoid duplication of efforts.
“In a county where resources such as Solar, Geothermal, Hydropower, Biomass and Wind energy are abundant, there is need to coordinate sector partners’ involvement through data informed evidence. This technology will assist us in achieving that goal,” added Director Lojore.
The Directorate of Energy and Petroleum Production in partnership with GIZ through a project called Energy Solutions for Displacement Settings (ESDS) have so far supported the Directorate in developing four legal documents awaiting approval by the Cabinet and will later be forwarded to the County Assembly: Turkana County Energy Sector Plan 2022-2026, Turkana County Energy Policy, Turkana County Energy Bill and Regulations 2024, and Turkana County Energy Database.
GIZ through ESDS Project has offered to capacity build 20 county staff on matters Renewable Energy, Environment and Climate Change mitigation measures and adaptation.
Senior officials from the Directorate of Energy and Petroleum were present including Geoffrey Eregae, Areman Elim, Hosea Emeripus, and Eng Samuel Ebei.
The GIZ focal person for Energy Solutions for Displacement Settings (ESDS), Veronica Teranoi, and Dr Jeremiah Onunga, a Lecturer at Turkana University College were also present in the meeting. Other representatives from the energy sector present included EPRA, REREC, KUDURA, OKAPI, KNCCI-Turkana chapter, NARE, LCRH, and KPLC.
