Water levels at Kenya’s biggest electricity generation dam have remained at optimum, in what looks set to ensure stable production of hydro power and prevent electricity prices from skyrocketing.
KenGen, the agency that owns the five major hydro dams along the Seven Forks cascade, disclosed that water levels at Masinga Dam hit 1,056.97 meters this week, surpassing the highest level of 1,056.5 metres.
High-water levels at the dam mean that hydropower generation will not drop on account of dwindling water, which will in turn ensure steady supply of the cheapest source of electricity to the national grid.
A unit of hydropower cost Sh3.83 on average last year, followed by geothermal and Ethiopian imports at Sh10.28 and Sh10.69 a unit respectively, according to official data.
“This kind of stability at Masinga and the other hydro power stations is welcome, but it is no longer something we can take for granted,” Peter Njenga, KenGen’s managing director and CEO said on Wednesday.
Hydropower is the second biggest source of electricity to the national grid, accounting for 24.8 percent (797.01Gigawatt-hours), behind geothermal at 42.8 percent or 1,374.07GWh of the 3,208.75GWh locally generated in the three months to March this year.
Power prices have eased in the past one year, a trend that looks set to continue if hydropower generation remains at optimum coupled with a strong shilling. Consumers paid Sh5,877.92 on average to get 200 kilowatt-hour (kWh) last month compared to Sh6,297.78 in the same period last year, underscoring why steady supply of hydropower is key to keeping a lid on electricity bills.
Low water levels at the major dams due to biting drought in 2023 forced Kenya to nearly triple electricity imports from Ethiopia and Uganda in the race to avert blackouts on supply deficits in the national grid.
Dwindling hydro power generation has in the past prompted the country to increasingly use the expensive and dirty thermal plants, hitting consumers with steep power bills.
Official data shows that electricity imports from the two countries hit 913.96Gigawatt-hours (GWh) from 316.02GWh the previous year.
The bulk of Kenya’s hydroelectricity is generated at Masinga, Kamburu, Kiambere, Kindaruma and Gitaru (the Seven Folks cascade). The five have a combined generation capacity of 599.45 Megawatts (MW).
A steady generation from the country’s dams is also key to lowering the need to plug on the expensive thermal plants besides also easing the growing reliance on Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania for electricity supply.
Kenya is also facing growing concerns on the electricity supply due to the frequent peak demands since last year, which have upped pressure on a local generation which has not increased to mirror the growing demand.
The country has opted to ramp electricity imports in a bid to avoid turning to the expensive thermal plants, avoiding steep power bills.
