The economy of Kenya is the largest in East and Central Africa and has grown over the last seven years. Only about 20% of the population has access to electricity. The country’s technically feasible hydropower potential is about 3,500 MW, though not even a quarter of that has been developed.
On-site HPP Kindaruma
There are no hydropower schemes currently under construction, but several in planning, such as The High Land Falls scheme with 700 MW or HPP Karura, both on the Tana River. An additional 120 MW could be achieved by modernization and upgrading of existing facilities. There is also the potential for several small-scale hydropower plants.
The government has a national energy strategy to boost the economy with the development of more hydropower.
ANDRITZ HYDRO’s activities in Kenya reach back to the 1960s, when the company was involved in the initial installation of HPP Kindaruma (72 MW). In 2010, ANDRITZ HYDRO received the order for the rehabilitation of this hydropower plant, which was successfully recommissioned in 2013. Other projects, such as HPP Masinga and the most recent order for HPP North Mathoyia, further strengthen the position of ANDRITZ HYDRO in Kenya.
The general EPC contractor JIANGXI Water and Hydropower Construction Kenya Ltd. awarded ANDRITZ HYDRO with another two contracts to supply the complete electro-mechanical equipment, including two 930 kW Compact Francis turbines for HPP Lower Nyamindi and one 2,200 kW six-jet vertical Compact Pelton turbine for HPP South Mara.
The two small hydropower plants were developed as pilot projects to generate power for the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA). Commissioning of both hydropower projects, which further secure independent electrical energy supply from two more installations under the management of KTDA Power Company, took place in August 2016.
| Population | 46.05 | Mio. |
| Access to electricity | 20 | % |
| Installed hydro capacity | 820 | MW |
| Hydro capacity under construction | 0 | MW |
| Share of generation from hydropower | 43 | % |
| Hydro generation | 3,308 | GWh |
| Technically feasible hydro generation potential | 40,000 | GWh |
| ANDRITZ HYDRO | ||
| Installed capacity | 113 | MW |
| Installed units | 8 | |
| Fleet share | 13.88 | % |
| The World Bank, IEA, World Energy Outlook, Hydropower & Dams World Atlas 2016 |
Author: Martin Koubek
