NAIROBI, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will roll out new policy and regulatory incentives to promote uptake of renewable energy in the manufacturing sector, officials said at a forum in Nairobi on Thursday.
Principal Secretary in the ministry of energy, Engineer John Njoroge said that greater uptake of cleaner energy sources by industries is in line with Kenya's quest to accelerate low carbon development.
"Joint efforts by the government and industries are key to promote adoption of green energy in production and supply chains. We are supporting industries reduce their carbon footprints through adoption of cleaner technologies," Njoroge said.
He spoke in Nairobi during a review of energy efficiency measures promoted by local manufacturing lobby to strengthen climate change response in the country.
Kenya has in the recent past enacted progressive legislative and regulatory frameworks to attract investments in renewable energy sources like wind, solar and geothermal.
Njoroge revealed that renewables comprise over 90 percent of Kenya's energy mix and the figure could go higher thanks to huge foreign direct investments coupled with political goodwill to promote their uptake.
"We have encouraged manufacturing and other critical sectors to make a substantial contribution to carbon emissions reduction. The move will promote health of ecosystems and communities," said Njoroge.
He added that tax rebates on imported cleaner technologies has promoted sustainable production and consumption in the country.
Kenya's manufacturing sector has complied with global instruments on carbon emission reduction through investments in resource efficiency at key production and supply chains.
The Chairperson, Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), Flora Mutahi said that adoption of cleaner energy sources has reduced cost of production alongside air pollution within industrial premises.
"Our industrial sector is gradually shifting to green energy whose economic, social and environmental benefits are huge and long-term," Mutahi remarked adding that Kenyan manufacturers have won global acclaim for enacting robust measures to reduce their carbon and water footprints.
