Consumers are set to benefit from reduced power costs as the Seven Forks scheme’s dams in Kenya have filled up, leading to increased hydropower production, according to KenGen on Monday.
Kenya Electricity Generating Company, responsible for approximately 72% of the nation’s electricity, reported that Masinga Dam, the largest in the country, has filled up due to a substantial influx of water from the Mt Kenya region. The cascade of five dams – Masinga, Kamburu, Gitaru, Kindaruma, and Kiambere – have sufficiently filled up, enabling increased hydropower generation.
KenGen’s Managing Director and CEO, Peter Njenga, stated, “We are happy to report that we are receiving very good inflows from the Mount Kenya and Aberdares catchment areas, which has led to high water levels at our dams. This will see Kenyans reap the full benefit of cheaper electricity.”
Over the last 24 hours, the company recorded a peak output of over 471MW from the Seven Forks, contributing to stabilizing grid-scale electricity costs.
KenGen assured residents near the dams that despite nearing maximum water levels at Masinga Dam, they have not reached spilling level due to effective water management. They pledged to issue an alert should potential water overflow from the large dams be anticipated.
The abundant hydropower generation, facilitated by heavy El Nino rains since October, is a significant development, eliminating the need for extensive production of more expensive electricity, particularly thermal power, which relies on fuel.
Kenya’s dams were replenished after severe drought emptied them, causing concerns about power rationing. Additionally, the country receives power from Ethiopia, which started importing 200MW in January 2023 to address local generation deficits.
KenGen’s announcement provides relief to millions of Kenyans grappling with some of the highest electricity supply charges. Last month, electricity prices increased by about 17.3%, adding to the challenges of the rising cost of living for Kenya’s poorer citizens.
