Unilever Kenya to expand mini hydro power stations

By Peter Mutai

Unilever Tea Kenya Limited has announced plans to expand one of its mini hydro power stations at Tagabi to generate more electricity for use at its factories and estates.

The company’s Corporate Affairs Director Francis Kaptich said the expansion would increase power generation by more than 2,000 kilowatts.

Kaptich said the company was 55 per cent reliant on power generated from main rivers passing through it’s estates at its four mini hydro power stations in the South Rift region. The multi-national tea company generates electricity at Karenga, Tagabi, Jamji and Chemosot river mini hydro stations. It gets additional power supply from the Kenya Power and Lighting Company.

"We will supply the surplus power to the national grid to be distributed to neighbouring communities," he added.

Kaptich said heavy rains pounding the area would boost the volume of water passing through the rivers, hence increase electricity generation to tea estates.

He said the dry spell experienced early last year led to drastic drop in power generated by the mini hydro stations due to low volume of water.