On Friday, Energy Cabinet Secretary Dr. Monica Juma toured the seven folks dam scheme and Garissa Solar Plant.
The two energy generation schemes fall under Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) Eastern Region headquarters command.
After planting a commemorative tree at the headquarters, she toured the energy projects in the region.
“My team and I are honoured to host the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Ambassador Dr. Monica Juma on her maiden tour of KenGen’s Eastern Region”, KenGen MD Rebecca Miano tweeted
The CS was briefed on KenGen business with emphasis on hydro generation and related innovations as well as ongoing projects in Eastern Region.
According to EPRA, the total amount of electricity generated by KenGen through its major hydro power stations exceeded the National Control Centre’s dispatch projections by 1,988MWh, denoting a 25% increase.
Hydroelectricity generation
Hydroelectric generation is one of our main sources of electricity with an installed capacity of 826MW? Eastern hydros contribute 600MW to this capacity.
Kenya’s founding President, HE Jomo Kenyatta commissioned the first hydropower station, 40MW Kindaruma Power Station, here in the Eastern Region. Today, we are generating a total of 599MW from five power stations.
“I am happy to note that KenGen contributed to the largest jump in renewable energy share for Kenya with the company scaling up production in its geothermal, hydro and wind power stations to meet growing demand”, MD Rebecca Miano added.
“Despite this success, we are alive to the challenges in hydro generation globally. Climate change is projected to reduce renewable surface water & groundwater resources significantly in most dry sub-tropical regions, intensifying competition for water”, she said.
Solar energy generation
CS Juma also visited Garissa Solar plant.
“Today toured the Garissa solar plant and Eastern region hydro generation projects including Gitaru, Kindaruma, Kamburu and Kiambere. These four hydro stations are part of the Seven Forks cascade and have surpassed projected power generation output. They form a crucial component of KenGen’s power generation infrastructure, which accounts for about 29 percent of Kenya’s total installed capacity. I commend the teams in each of these stations for their dedication and professional acumen. With me was Maj Gen (rtd) Gordon Kihalangwa, PS MoE and Mrs Rebbeca Miano, MD KenGen,” Monica Juma wrote on her social media pages.
KenGen MD Miano reiterated the company’s commitment to energy generation through renewable sources.
“KenGen is committed to delivering on its energy generation mandate to meet the country’s growing demand for electricity through renewable energy sources such as geothermal, hydro, wind and solar”, KenGen MD Miano said.
Electricity generation through solar plants is still low.
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