Gitaru Hydroelectric Power Station
Gitaru Hydroelectric Power Station | |
---|---|
Country | Kenya |
Location | Embu County/Machakos County |
Coordinates | 00°47′43″S37°45′09″E/ 0.79528°S 37.75250°E |
Purpose | Power |
Status | Operational |
Construction began | 1975 |
Opening date | 1978 |
Owner(s) | Kenya Electricity Generating Company |
Dam and spillways | |
Type of dam | reservoir |
Impounds | Tana River |
Height | 30 m (98 ft) |
Length | 580 m (1,900 ft) |
Spillway capacity | 4,500 m3/s (160,000 cu ft/s) |
Reservoir | |
Total capacity | 16,000,000 m3(13,000 acre⋅ft) |
Normal elevation | 924 m (3,031 ft) |
Gitaru Hydroelectric Power Station | |
Coordinates | 00°47′43″S37°45′09″E/ 0.79528°S 37.75250°E |
Operator(s) | Kenya Electricity Generating Company |
Commission date | 1999 (Unit 3) |
Type | Run-of-the-river |
Hydraulic head | 136 m (446 ft) |
Turbines | 2 x 72 MW, 1 x 81 MWFrancis-type |
Installed capacity | 225 MW (302,000 hp) |
TheGitaru Hydroelectric Power Station,also known as theGitaru Dam,is a rock and earth-filledembankment damon theTana Riverin Kenya. It straddles the border betweenEmbuandMachakosCounties in the formerEastern Province.The primary purpose of the dam ishydroelectricpower generation. It supports a 225 megawatt power station.[1]
Location
[edit]The power station is located approximately 16.5 kilometres (10 mi), by road, east of the town ofMavuriain Embu County.[2]This is approximately 161 kilometres (100 mi), by road, northeast ofNairobi,Kenya's capital city.[3]The geographical coordinates of Gitaru Power Station are:00°47'43.0 "S, 37°45'09.0" E (Latitude:-0.795278; Longitude:37.752500).[4]
History
[edit]Construction of the dam began in 1975 and was completed in 1978. The third generating set, mobilizing the full potential of the power station was not commissioned until 1999.[5]TheWorld Banklent US$63 million towards the development of this power station. The station is operated by theKenya Electricity Generating Companyand is part of theSeven Forks Scheme.[6]
Overview
[edit]The 30 m (98 ft) tall dam holds a 16,000,000 m3(13,000 acre⋅ft) reservoir. The relatively small reservoir relies on steady releases from theMasingaandKamburuDams upstream. Thereservoirpower station islocated undergroundnear the leftabutmentand contains two 72 megawatt and one 81 megawattFrancis turbine-generators. Water released from the station is returned to the Tana at theKindaruma Reservoirvia a 4.7 km (2.9 mi) long tailrace tunnel. The difference in elevation between the reservoir and power station affords a nethydraulic headof 136 m (446 ft).[7]
See also
[edit]- Kamburu Hydroelectric Power Station– Upstream
- Kindaruma Hydroelectric Power Station– Downstream
- List of power stations in Kenya
References
[edit]- ^KenGen (2010)."About Gitaru Hydroelectric Power Station".Nairobi:Kenya Electricity Generating Company.Retrieved28 September2020.
- ^"Road Distance Between Mavuria And Gitaru Hydroelectric Power Station"(Map).Google Maps.Retrieved28 September2020.
- ^"Road Distance Between Nairobi And Gitaru Hydroelectric Power Station"(Map).Google Maps.Retrieved28 September2020.
- ^"Location of Gitaru Hydroelectric Power Station"(Map).Google Maps.Retrieved28 September2020.
- ^KenGen (17 April 2016)."History of Gitaru Hydroelectric Power Station".Nairobi:Kenya Electricity Generating Company.Archived fromthe original(Archived from the original on 17 April 2016)on 17 April 2016.Retrieved28 September2020.
- ^World Bank (1975)."Kenya - Gitaru Hydroelectric Project (English)".Washington, DC:World Bank.Retrieved28 September2020.
- ^"Kenya - Appraisal of the Gitaru Hydroelectric Project"(PDF).World Bank.23 May 1975. pp. Annex 5.Retrieved21 February2015.