KenGen shuts Masinga dam as water levels drop

By John Njiraini

The power crisis being experienced in the country could deepen after KenGen shut down operations of one of its key generating facilities. The company last week halted electricity generation at the Masinga Power Station after water levels fell below generating capacity leading to a deficit of 14 MW. The decision to close down the station, the biggest within the Seven Folks cascade in terms of water capacity comes after a prolonged drought and insufficient long rains experienced in the last two months.

"KenGen has been running Masinga below the minimum operating level of 1,037 metres for the last three weeks and the remaining water in the dam cannot sustain any further generation at the station," said Richard Nderitu, the company’s acting managing director in a statement. However, despite fears that the country could plunge into darkness, Mr Nderitu said the shutting down of Masinga will have minimal impacts on KenGen’s generation output.

Second Power Station

He added the company engineers are releasing the remaining water in the dam to boost Kamburu Power Station, resulting in better efficiencies. The station is, however, expected to begin operations before December, this year, depending on the performance of the short rains. At the time of closure the water level stood at 1035.5 metres, one and half metres below the recommended minimum operating level. The water level has declined significantly over the past two years from a high of 1056.5 metres in May 2007. The move could spark off a power crisis that is likely to force the country to depend more on thermal generation.