Poor rainfall and resulting low dam levels may plunge Kenya into a power crisis because of the country’s heavy dependence on hydropower.
According to state-controlled power generator KenGen, the water levels in the Seven Forks dams were now at 1 050.6 metres (m), against their spilling levels of 1050.5 m. The levels are projected to fall further to 1048 metres by March.
“While it is still safe to generate at these levels, continued generation is pegged on resumption of the long rains in March and April,” KenGen managing director Albert Mugo told Smart Company.
“If the rains fail and the dams go below 1 036 m, making generation impossible, a quick-fix solution through emergency diesel generators will have to be procured.” The low levels have forced the Ministry of Energy & Petroleum to call a crisis meeting this month.
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