Type of dam Arch | Status Operational Construction began 1986 | |
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Opening date 1991; 26 years ago (1991) Operator Kenya Electricity Generating Company | ||
The Turkwel Hydroelectric Power Station, also Turkwel Dam, is an arch dam on the Turkwel River about 76 km (47 mi) north of Kapenguria in West Pokot County, Kenya. The dam serves several purposes to include hydroelectric power production, irrigation tourism and fisheries. It was constructed between 1986 and 1991. It supports the third largest hydroelectric power plant in the country, having an installed electric capacity of 106 megawatts (142,000 hp).
The dam, Kenya's tallest, has a height of 153 metres (502 ft), crest length of 150 m, dam volume of 170,000 cubic metres (6,000,000 cu ft) and retains a water volume of 1,641 million cubic metres (1,330,000 acre·ft). The power station is located underground downstream and contains two 56 MW Francis turbine-generators. The difference in elevation between the reservoir and power station afford a net hydraulic head of 356 m (1,168 ft).