Official also moves to allay fears of power rationing as drought continues to bite.
Mr Ochieng now says there is adequate backup to generate more electricity and that KenGen does not heavily rely on hydropower plants.
Energy CS Charles Keter said the dam could be shut down if it does not rain in two weeks, a move that could result in higher electricity bills and power outages.
KenGen #ticker:KEGN has allayed fears that Masinga Dam will be shut in the next few days if it does not rain, contradicting Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter's comments last week.
The State-owned power generating firm's chief energy planner, Willis Ochieng, said Monday that the dam will remain operational for the next 60 days even if there is no rainfall.
“We are waiting to hear from the meteorologist...Once we get how the situation is going to be, we will simulate that into how to release the water to ensure Kenyans don’t get interrupted power,” Mr Ochieng said.
Last week in Mombasa, Mr Keter said the dam could be shut down if it does not rain in two weeks, a move that could result in higher electricity bills and power outages.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum in Mombasa today, Mr Ochieng now says there is adequate backup to generate more electricity and that KenGen does not heavily rely on hydropower plants.
“We only rely on them to manage the systems so that Kenyans do not face any blackout. Hydropower is good at following the load, meeting the pick demand. Since we are not having the pick demand, we only run geothermal power plants,” Mr Ochieng said.
Thermal power
The hydrologist in charge of water resources management in dams across the country also said KenGen has enhanced its thermal power plants to stabilise its systems.
He said 280 megawatts electricity from KenGen has cushioned the country from frequent blackouts, assuring Kenyans there will not be any power rationing due to dam woes.
By Monday, the dam was at 1,041.5 cubic metres, which according to Mr Ochieng is still above the threshold necessitating a shutdown.
“Masinga is closed when it hits 1,035 which means we are still six metres above that. It is going down at an average rate of 10 centimetres per day. Water levels have gone down due to drought,” he added.
He noted that when the dam was closed last year, Kenyans never detected what was going on.
“We promise Kenyans there will not be any power rationing unless there is a fault in power distribution systems. This has been the longest drought.”
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