KENYA has entered into a partnership with Britain’s GBM Limited to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for the construction of a mega dam that has the potential to generate up to 1,000 megawatts of electricity, the National Irrigation Authority said on Friday.
The proposed High Grand Falls dam, upon completion, is expected to rank among Africa’s largest water reservoirs, as stated in a Reuters-sourced statement from the National Irrigation Authority. This ambitious project aligns with President William Ruto’s vision to bolster irrigation farming in Kenya.
GBM Limited, a consulting engineering firm, has been entrusted with the task of mapping the designated construction area for the reservoir within a six-month timeframe. This crucial study will provide essential data for the final contract award under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Under the PPP model, private investors contribute capital to finance public infrastructure projects and subsequently recover their investments by charging users for the service or selling the project’s output. This approach enables financially constrained governments to expand their infrastructure without incurring additional debt burdens.
The consortium led by GBM, in collaboration with other stakeholders, will spearhead this initiative, according to the irrigation authority, which serves as the project’s implementing agency. Further details about the consortium’s composition were not disclosed at this time.
Officials from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation did not provide additional information about the mega dam project.
Once constructed, the High Grand Falls dam is anticipated to cover an expansive area exceeding 165 square kilometres and supply more than 5.6 billion cubic meters of water for irrigating approximately 400,000 acres of land, as confirmed by the irrigation authority.
This significant undertaking underscores Kenya’s commitment to harnessing renewable energy resources and enhancing agricultural productivity to meet the country’s growing energy demands and food security needs.