Proposed Sagana power plant faces headwinds
A plan to put up a hydroelectric power plant on River Sagana has sparked a dispute between an energy firm and water sports companies that use the water body for kayaking and white water rafting.
Multinational renewable energy company Enel Green Power wants to put up a 19.5 megawatts power plant on the river as part of its plan to develop wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric projects in Kenya.
The company says it is part of the Northern Power Limited 50MW wind project. It has been pre-qualified for 140MW geothermal Olkaria VI PPP tender and is negotiating co-development agreements of solar projects with local developers.
But its planned hydropower plant in South Sagana may not be off to smooth sailing as water rafting companies are fighting back to save the extreme sport that has made Sagana a tourist magnet.
A meeting held in October on the environmental impact assessment saw the sports companies come out to oppose the project.
These are Savage Wilderness, Rapids Camp Sagana – White Water Rafting Centre, Havila Resort, Therema Gardens and Holiday Camp, Napoleons Rafting Camp Sagana, Nokras Riverine Hotel, and Spa and Jangwani Camp Sagana.
Water sporting activities
According to the companies, the figures and ratios that Enel Green Power had given on water flow would mean that those involved in water sporting activities have seasonal working periods and that is not a risk they wanted to take.
“There were concerns by those involved in water sporting activities, which include rafting, kayaking, stand-up paddleboards, duckies, and canoeing that there will reduced water flow in the river because of the proposed project. This will adversely impact the sporting activities that are promoted by major camps located in the area,” the minutes of the meeting read.
The dispute has shifted focus to the viability of the project with some claiming that the company will not be able to attain the 19.5 megawatts it wants to generate.
According to a source at one of the water rafting companies, River Sagana can barely yield the said level of energy to justify the investment.
An update by the company on Kenya and Ethiopia shows the Sagana project will only generate 16 megawatts.
“The only way for this project to return a profit to Enel is if their contract contains a sweetheart deal in that when there is not enough water they will still get paid for the power they are unable to supply,” the source said. BY DAILY NATION
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