Kenyan Cabinet approves a 421MW Power Generation Programme

The power shortage in Kenya is set to ease following Tuesday’s move by the Cabinet to approve a major generation programme.

Under the New Planned Power Generation Capacity Programme, six power projects are to be initiated this year.They include:

21MW Songoro Hydropower Project.
10MW Tana Hydropower Project.
5MW Ngong Windpower Project.
80MW Early Geothermal Power Project.
25MW Kindaruma Upgrade.
280MW Olkaria 1 and Olkaria 4.

 “In this regard Cabinet forwards for parliamentary approval the establishment of an escrow guarantee fund for semi-concessional loans for external borrowing by KenGen and Kenya Electricity Transmission Company from EIB and KFW to finance the additional power generation of 421 megawatts,” a statement issued by the Presidential Press Service said.

Masinga Dam Scare - Dam Failure Possibilities

In the Tana Delta and Garissa, Masinga dam is currently at 1053.6m against a Full Supply Level (FSL) of 1056.5m, according to KRCS. This means that Masinga is only 2.9m to reaching the FSL. The EOC, KenGen and the UoN School of Mathematics will determine the overspill point or neighborhood. Once this is determined and if the rains persist as projected by the KMD, risk reduction measures ahead of the imminent floods are required.

Hydroelectric Power Station

This is a generating station which utilizes the potential energy of water at a high level for the generation of electrical energy. It uses the gravitational force of falling or flowing water. They are located in hilly areas where dams can be built and large water reservoirs can be obtained. Hydroelectricity is the most widely used form of renewable energy. Worldwide an installed capacity of 77GWe supplied a total of 2998TWe of hydroelectricity in 2006. This was approximately 20% of the world's electricity and accounted for about 88% of electricity from renewable sources...