From Nov. 12 to Dec. 19, 2013, Hydrochina Huadong organized a group to carry out detailed investigation for a small hydropower project in Kenya aided by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China. The investigation was supported by the Ministry of Energy of Kenya, and local government and villagers in Kericho, so that the site investigation and measurements were finished successfully and the safety of the investigation personnel was ensured.

    The said China-aided project, Chemosit Hydropower Project, is located on the Chemosit River and about 15km from Kericho, a western city in Kenya. The total installed capacity of the project is 1350kW, and the layout pattern adopted is headrace low weir, open diversion channel, forebay, penstock, and ground powerhouse. As a main tea industrial area in Kenya, Kericho is in acute shortage of power supply currently. Therefore, the construction of this Project will greatly alleviatethe issue of local electricity shortage.

    During their stay in Kenya, the personnel of the investigation group overcame many adverse conditions such as tight schedule, heavy tasks, and harsh natural conditions (including scorching sun, mosquitoes, rainstorm, etc.), worked continuously, and completed all assignments concerning pit and trench exploration, drilling, topographic survey, and hydrologic cross-section measurement, etc.

    The detailed investigation not only laid a solid foundation for the design work in the next step, but also intensified the contact with the Ministry of Energy of Kenya and the local government, and played a positive role in the implementation of the project in the next step.