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Tea Factories to Generate Electricity

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Published on Tuesday, 03 July 2007 05:22

Two tea factories in Masaba district have partnered in a Sh100 million hydro-electric power project to save on energy costs.Nyankoba and Tombe tea factories will use water from River Gucha for the purpose. It was not immediately clear, however, how many kilowatts would be generated by the plant.Tombe chairman Joseph Nyamwaro said experts from the US gave the project a nod. Extra power generated will be sold.However, they are awaiting a second feasibility study.

Speaking to journalists in Kisii town, Mr Nyamwaro said the factories spend between Sh20 million and Sh25 million a year on electricity. The supply is also not reliable."We lose an average of five mortars per week due to power surges and fluctuations. That is why if the project succeeds, it will go far in addressing the high production costs."The sporadic power outages were affecting the quality of tea produced

Mr Nyamwaro appealed to farmers from tea factories in Masaba and Nyamira districts to buy land in Trans Mara for the planting of trees for wood fuel, saying it was cheaper than furnace oil. Farmers at Nyankoba have already endorsed the buying of land for the purpose, while those at Tombe will discuss the issue later this month. Tombe has identified a 200 acre farm."In order to increase returns to farmers, we must reduce production costs. When using furnace oil it costs between Sh10 and Sh12 to produce a kilogramme of tea, compared to Sh6 for wood fuel," he explained.