Masinga Dam, Kenya

Thanks to works on the Masinga Dam, river water resulting from the two rainy seasons in the upper reaches of the river system is stored in a retention basin and released in the dry period as needed, thereby regulating supply natural water that has extreme fluctuations, depending on the time of year, and conserving it for future use.

Load optimum and constant efficiency of the turbines of the downstream power plant in Kamburu, Gitaru and Kindaruma, even in the long dry period is ensured, by the release of 2 x 45m3 of water per second through the Masinga turbines, which is normally the maximum theoretical flow. Another 12,000 hectares of land can be irrigated within the retention basin tracts.

Better exploitation of the existing irrigation system in Bura Hola is achieved, as the amount of water supplied remains constant throughout the year, which, incidentally, allows for more than one harvest per year. A second irrigation system covering 32,000 hectares is planned for the lower reaches. The capacity of the upper basin also provides flood protection, to some extent, for the lower reaches of the Tana River.