Kenya: Power Crisis Deepens

The search for an emergency power producer who will add 100 megawatts to the national grid in two months will begin this morning, pointing to rising concern over the country’s energy security.

The Energy ministry and public power producer, KenGen, are expected invite tenders for the supply of emergency electricity to cushion the economy from a looming crisis that industry players say could begin as soon as next month.
A rapid decline of water levels on hydro dams along the Tana basin has exposed the country to an acute power crisis that requires rapid response, said Mr Patrick Nyoike, the Energy permanent secretary.

“There is a serious crisis. Water levels at the Masinga dam stand at 1,036 metres above sea level. This is one metre below the set operating minimum level of 1,056.5 metres,” he said.

The fuel driven emergency power operator will mean that consumers will have to pay more for electricity in the form of high fuel cost charges– a varying item on the bills that is linked to the amount of power on the national grid that is generated from thermal sources.

Masinga Dam is the biggest on the Tana River basin and the drop in water levels to below the operating minimum of 1,037 metres signals that it could soon be shut down – leaving a huge supply gap on the national grid.

AllAfrica