The Gitaru Hydroelectric Power Station, also known as the Gitaru Dam, is a rock and earth-filled embankment dam on the Tana River in Kenya. It straddles the border between Embu and Machakos Counties in the former Eastern Province. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation, and it supports a 225 megawatt power station.[1]

Gitaru Hydroelectric Power Station
Location of Gitaru Hydroelectric Power Station in Kenya
Country	Kenya
Location	Embu County/Machakos County
Coordinates	00°47′43″S 37°45′09″E
Purpose	Power
Status	Operational
Construction began	1975
Opening date	1978; 44 years ago (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″S 37°45′09″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 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity	225 MW (302,000 hp)

Location

The power station is located approximately 16.5 kilometres (10 mi), by road, east of the town of Mavuria in Embu County.[2] This is approximately 161 kilometres (100 mi), by road, northeast of Nairobi, 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

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] The World Bank lent US$63 million towards the development of this power station. The station is operated by the Kenya Electricity Generating Company and is part of the Seven Forks Scheme.[6]

Overview

The 30 m (98 ft) tall dam withholds a 16,000,000 m³ (13,000 acre⋅ft) reservoir. The relatively small reservoir relies on steady releases from the Masinga and Kamburu Dams upstream. The reservoir power station is located underground near the left abutment. It contains two 72 megawatt and one 81 megawatt Francis turbine-generators. Water released from the station is returned to the Tana at the Kindaruma Reservoir via a 4.7 km (2.9 mi) long tailrace tunnel. The difference in elevation between the reservoir and power station affords a net hydraulic head of 136 m (446 ft).[7]

See also

• Kamburu Hydroelectric Power Station – Upstream
• Kindaruma Hydroelectric Power Station – Downstream
• List of power stations in Kenya

References

На других языках

[de] Kraftwerk Gitaru

[ru] Гитару (ГЭС)