Bringing power to the Dertu region of Kenya

A renewable energy project in Kenya is being supported by a grant from France. 250,000 U.S. dollars has been granted to the project to provide energy to an area that has a great number of refugees. Resources in the Dertu area of Kenya are also being strained by a prolonged drought.

From Afriquejet, we read more about the power needs in the region.

The Dertu millennium project came at a time Kenya is facing an imminent power shortage and an anticipated increase in the cost of energy.

The country is now looking for alternative sources of power, following a long spell of drought that has led to drastic reduction of water levels in the country’s hydro-power generating dams.

During the last few weeks, there has been drastic reduction of water levels at the country’s main hydro-dam at Masinga, forcing the closure of the 14 megawatt power generating facility.

Ministry of Energy officials said the national power grid had lost 40 megawatts of power as a result of the receding water levels occasioned by the prolonged drought.

Government has, however, appealed to private players to help provide energy through the “Feed in Tariff” policy.