On June 18 local time, the main construction of the Thwake Dam Project in Kenya, undertaken by China Gezhouba Group Co., Ltd. under China Energy Engineering Group Co., Ltd., was completed with final backfill and topping off. This marks the substantial completion of the dam’s main structure.
The Thwake Dam is the largest water conservancy project in Kenya to date, integrating water supply, irrigation, and power generation. It stands as a pioneering project in the China-Kenya Belt and Road Initiative and a flagship project of Kenya Vision 2030 and the country’s Big Four development agenda.
Located approximately 120 kilometers from Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, the dam reaches a total height of 78.5 meters and spans 1.5 kilometers, with a total fill volume of about 12 million cubic meters, equivalent to the size of 12 Water Cubes, the National Aquatics Center of China.
Since its commencement in 2018, the Thwake Dam project has created around 2,000 jobs, or over 90 percent of available positions, for the local community. The company has also progressively implemented social responsibility projects, including the construction of nine hospital functional buildings and pharmacies, six wells, and the renovation of 16 schools for nearby residents.
Upon completion, the dam will have a water storage capacity of 688 million cubic meters, bringing significant economic benefits to the southeastern region of Kenya by providing water supply, electricity, and agricultural irrigation. It will alleviate water and power shortages for over three million local residents.
