The federal government could also be pressured to shut down a number of the energy manufacturing traces at Masinga Hydro energy station following an enormous drop within the quantity of water on the Masinga reservoir.
The shutdown could drive power generator, Kengen, to revert to geothermal and the dearer thermal technology, Power CS Davis Chirchir mentioned immediately
Mr Chirchir mentioned extended dry climate and insufficient seasonal rains over the past two years had seen the water depleted to a stage the place closing a number of the technology traces would be the solely manner out.
He spoke a Kamburu Hydropower station throughout an evaluation tour of the Seven Forks dams.
“If it doesn’t rain we could shut down the dam on account of low water stage,” mentioned the CS as he toured the dam in Embu County.
The use of diesel to generate energy is dear and consequently Kenyans who’re already paying excessive payments for energy ought to count on to pay extra for electrical energy.
“We’ve got energy manufacturing challenges due to the dry spell and we could shut Masinga dam if the state of affairs doesn’t enhance,” Mr. Chirchir added.
He famous that previously 5 years Kenya has skilled rain failure, a problem which has depleted water in Masinga and different dams that are a supply of hydro-power.
“We’ve got water stage issues and we could also be pressured to push different types of energy technology to fulfill the nation’s energy demand however the one problem we would get is that energy will be barely dearer,” he mentioned.
Accompanied by his Principal Secretary Alex Wachira, the CS additionally toured Kaburu dam which has additionally been affected by the tough climate.
Mr Chirchir nevertheless mentioned ought to it rain within the subsequent fifteen days the dams could have ample water.
Nevertheless he mentioned there needs to be no trigger for alarm as Kenya is “very power various” by way of energy technology.
“Kenya produces 30 per cent of hydro-power, we even have geothermal and diesel energy. With these types of energy technology we will maintain our economic system even throughout these troublesome instances,” he mentioned.
The CS additionally famous that because of the enormous drop in water stage at Masinga, some residents have taken benefit and began farming actions on the dam’s land.
Residents have transformed the massive dry a part of Masinga into farms the place they’re rising maize and different crops for survival.
The residents mentioned they’re solely making an attempt their luck to see if they’ll feed their households who’re exhausting hit by the biting drought.
Different residents are grazing their hungry home animals on the greener elements of the dam to avoid wasting their lives.
“Our animals are additionally ravenous and we’ve to make use of the greener land by the dam to graze them,” one of many residents mentioned.
The residents might be seen taking care of their animals on the dam and others busy planting.
By Steve Gatheru
Supply: kenyanews
