Kenya’s biggest power producer intends to increase electricity generation from geothermal sources to guarantee reliable supply owing to declining production from hydro due to unfavourable and unpredictable weather conditions.

Kenya Electricity Generating Co. (KenGen) said that low water levels at the country’s main hydropower plants are forcing the company to turn to geothermal to guarantee reliable supply.

Media outlet Global Energy quoted KenGen managing director and CEO Peter Njenga as saying that despite the ongoing rains in most parts of the country, the company is receiving very low inflows at its dams at the Seven Forks located along the Tana River.

This has resulted in below par water levels at the dams, with Kenya’s largest hydropower dam, Masinga Dam, recording water levels of 1,039.42 metres above sea level (ASL) against a total capacity of 1,056 metres ASL as of November 6. This was slightly above the minimum operating level of 1,037 metres ASL.

If you would like to read more about the key events shaping the African energy sector, then please click here for NewsBase's AfrElec Monitor.

©2023 bne IntelliNews , source Magazine