The High Grand Falls Hydroelectric Power Station, also High Grand Falls Dam, is a planned hydroelectric power station across the Tana River that harnesses the energy of the Kibuka Falls, in Kenya.[1] The planned capacity of the power station is 693 megawatts (929,000 hp). The station is expected to be the most powerful hydroelectric energy source in Kenya.[2]
| High Grand Falls Dam | |
|---|---|
  Location of High Grand Falls Hydroelectric Power Station Placement on map is approximate | |
| Location | Kibuka Falls, Kenya |
| Coordinates | 00°05′09″S 38°16′48″E / 0.08583°S 38.28000°E |
| Construction began | 2025 Expected |
| Opening date | 2031 Expected |
| Construction cost | US$2 billion |
| Owner(s) | GBM Engineering Consortium |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Gravity dam |
| Impounds | Tana River |
| Power Station | |
| Turbines | 7 |
| Installed capacity | 693 MW (929,000 hp) |
Location
editThe power station would lie at Kibuka Falls, across the Tana River, a in the vicinity of Mwingi National Reserve, at the border between Kitui County and Tharaka-Nithi County, approximately 280 kilometres (170 mi) north-east of the city of Nairobi, the country's capital and its largest city.[3] This location is downstream of the Seven Forks Scheme.[2]
Overview
editThis development is part of the Lamu Port and Lamu-Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor project (LAPSSET).[2] The dam is expected to create a lake with a surface area of 165 square kilometres (41,000 acres) and holding 5,600,000,000 cubic metres (2.0×1011 cu ft) of water. An estimated 4,500 families in Kitui and Tharaka Nithi counties, are expected to be displaced by the new dam. In addition to the planned 693 megawatts of electricity, the dam will provide water for the irrigation of more than 250,000 hectares (620,000 acres) of farmland. The dam is also expected to mitigate flooding in the coastal counties during the rainy season.[2]
History
editThe idea to build this dam was conceived in 2009, during the Mwai Kibaki presidency. Following a tendering process, a British entity, GBM Engineering Consortium, based in London, was the only qualifier for the tender. GBM beat six other international construction firms, five of them Chinese.[2] Once initiated, construction is expected to last six years.[1]
Ownership
editThe consortium that is developing the dam and power station, will design, fund, build, own, operate and transfer the project, after recovering their investment, during 20 years of ownership, following commercial commissioning.[2]
Construction costs
editThe estimated costs for the dam and power plant is estimated at US$2 billion (KSh200 billion).[2]
Timetable
editThe dam and power station will be developed in phases. The first phase, with generation capacity of 495 megawatts (664,000 hp), is expected to come online in 2031. The second phase, with capacity of another 198 megawatts (266,000 hp) is expected online in 2032.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Njeru, Alex (19 February 2017). "Work on Sh150 billion High Grand Falls Dam set to start". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g Mutua, Kitavi (7 October 2017). "Ruling paves way for building of Kenya's largest dam". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ Globefeed.com (10 October 2018). "Distance between Posta, Nairobi, Kenya and Mwingi National Reserve, Kenya". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ Mwangasha, Jane (4 October 2018). "British firm to build Kenya's largest water reservoir". Nairobi: Construction Kenya. Retrieved 10 October 2018.