KPLC TO PILOT TOSHIBA GAS INSULATED TRANSFORMERS, CUT OIL VANDALISM

National power distributor KPLC will pilot the use of gas-filled transformers in place of the conventional oil insulated ones in a bid to cut losses occasioned by vandalism.

The utility suffers millions of dollars in losses annually owing to vandalism who seek to drain transformer oil for sale.

This leaves the transformers without insulation causing them to blow whenever it rains.

In an MoU with Toshiba Transmission and Distribution India, a 100% owned subsidiary of Toshiba Energy of Japan, KPLC will pilot three technologies that if successful will see it adopt the technology for its nationwide network.

Dr. Katsutoshi Toda, the MD of TTDI said the new Gas Insulated Transformers were capable of replacing the entire stock of conventional transformers on the Kenya Power grid.

These transformers are however about 1.5 times more expensive than conventional transformers because they are yet to go into mass production.

However, they will be roughly the same size but slightly lighter as they will be filled with carbon dioxide gas instead of transformer oil.

TTDI is currently supplying KPLC with 12,000 conventional transformers. This is after KPLC last year decided to stop dealing with traders and brokers for critical equipment and opted for original equipment manufacturers who can provide 5-year warranties for their equipment.