Dam to overcome thirst in Kenya

19 November 2009

A dam project on the River Mwache in Kenya is due to be completed by 2012.

With a capacity of 205,000 cubic metres of water per day, it will serve 1.5 million people in the towns of Kinango, Kaloleni, and Mombasa, which are regularly affected by a lack of water.

The dam will be financed by the Chinese Government, and will cost a total of 48.3 million Dollars. It will also improve irrigation and boost the production of electricity with a capacity of 34 megaWatts.

Nesbert Mangale, Director of the Kenyan Coast Development Authority, told the daily Nation that a preliminary agreement had been signed with the Chinese company Jiangxi, which will be carrying out the work, due to start in the first quarter of 2010.

A little further south, in Ethiopia, the Tekeze hydro-electric plant was inaugurated on 14 November last.

At a total cost of 350 million Dollars, this is the highest dam ever constructed in Africa, standing at 188 metres in height.<br/>