Radat Multipurpose Dam Project, Baringo County

Project overview

The Radat Multipurpose Dam Project is a proposed water-storage, irrigation, flood-control and hydropower development located along the Perkerra River in Baringo County, Kenya.

The project was designed to regulate the highly variable flow of the Perkerra River and provide a reliable water supply for the expansion of the Perkerra Irrigation Scheme. The proposed expansion would increase the irrigated area from approximately 254 hectares to 2,020 hectares and require an estimated water supply of 280,000 cubic metres per day.

The feasibility study assessed several potential dam locations before conducting more detailed investigations at three Radat sites. The studies covered hydrology, geology, topography, environmental and social conditions, reservoir optimisation, preliminary engineering design and economic viability.

The recommended development comprises a zoned rock-fill embankment dam with an impervious clay core and a net reservoir capacity of approximately 124 million cubic metres. Regulated water releases of approximately 3.25 cubic metres per second were proposed to support irrigation and generate approximately 1 MW of hydropower before the water is released downstream.

Radat Site 3 was recommended as the preferred development option because it would avoid submerging the existing Perkerra River bridge and had a comparatively lower estimated construction cost. The preliminary project cost was estimated at approximately KES 12.47 billion, including VAT, based on 2014 prices.

Scope of work

The feasibility study and proposed project scope included:

- Feasibility assessment and comparison of potential dam sites.
- Hydrological and water-resources investigations.
- Geological, geotechnical and geophysical investigations.
- Topographical surveys and reservoir modelling.
- Socio-economic baseline studies and stakeholder consultations.
- Environmental and Social Impact Assessment.
- Preliminary design of the dam, reservoir, spillway and intake structures.
- River-diversion and cofferdam works.
- Hydropower-generation facilities.
- Dam instrumentation and associated infrastructure.
- Project cost estimation and economic evaluation.
- Preparation of detailed designs, prequalification documents and tender documents.

Original sources