Kamburu Dam

The Kamburu Hydroelectric Power Station, also Kamburu Dam is a rock-filled embankment dam on the Tana River in Kenya which straddles the border of Embu and Machakos Counties in Eastern Province. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and it supports a 93 MW power station. Construction on the dam began in 1971 and it was completed in 1975,with the power station getting commissioned the same year. US$23 million of the US$47 million project cost was provided by the World Bank. The power station is operated by Kenya Electricity Generating Company and is part of the Seven Forks Scheme.[1][2]

Kamburu Dam
Location of Kamburu Dam in Kenya
Country	Kenya
Location	Embu County/Machakos County, Eastern Province
Coordinates	0.8291°S 37.6679°E / -0.8291; 37.6679
Purpose	Power
Status	Operational
Construction began	1971
Opening date	1974 (1974)
Construction cost	US$47 million
Owner(s)	Kenya Electricity Generating Company
Dam and spillways
Type of dam	Embankment
Impounds	Tana River
Height	52 m (171 ft)
Length	730 m (2,400 ft)
Reservoir
Total capacity	123,000,000 m3 (100,000 acre⋅ft)
Kamburu Power Station
Operator(s)	Kenya Electricity Generating Company
Commission date	1974
Hydraulic head	82 m (269 ft)
Turbines	3 x 31 MW Francis-type
Installed capacity	93 MW (125,000 hp)

The 52 m (171 ft) tall dam creates a reservoir with a storage capacity of 123,000,000 m³ (100,000 acre⋅ft). The power station is located underground just below the left toe and contains three 31 MW Francis turbine-generators. The difference in elevation between the reservoir and power station affords a net hydraulic head of 82 m (269 ft). Water discharged from the power station travels down a 3,040 m (9,970 ft) long tailrace tunnel before reaching the Tana at Gitaru Reservoir.[3]