Buchangu Dam Hydro Bankable Feasibility Studies, Kenya

Getting Buchangu and Sirwa hydropower schemes finance-ready through upgraded feasibility studies.

Client

KFIR Partners

Project date

2019

Zutari was appointed by KFIR Partners to upgrade the feasibility studies for two hydropower schemes in western Kenya—Buchangu and Sirwa—to bankable level. The project was developed under a project finance model funded by a commercial lender, requiring close coordination with both the lender and their advisor.

The opportunity

The Buchangu (5 MW) and Sirwa (15 MW) sites are located on the Nzoia and Yala Rivers respectively, in south-western Kenya. Previous feasibility studies existed, but required refinement to meet bankable standards and align with international performance criteria.

Zutari’s role was to ensure the technical, environmental and financial readiness of the project, enabling it to secure funding and move towards implementation.

What we did

Zutari undertook a comprehensive review of existing studies and designs, followed by:

  • A full hydrological study including rain-runoff modelling

  • Sedimentation and flood analyses

  • Supervision and interpretation of geotechnical investigations

  • Technical evaluation of the transmission network and power evacuation planning

  • Economic and financial analysis based on Kenya’s Feed-in-Tariff Policy

  • Surge analysis and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling

  • Risk analysis and gap assessment of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

  • Support in negotiations with Kenya Power regarding the power purchase agreement


These efforts led to optimised designs, refined turbine selection and improved cost efficiency.
Hydropower feasibility studies refined to meet international standards and secure project financing.

The outcome

Zutari’s solutions resulted in improved hydrological assessments, enabling better turbine alignment, sizing and selection. This led to reduced construction costs and designs that comply with International Finance Corporation (IFC) performance standards.
A refined method for calculating deemed energy was proposed for inclusion in the power purchase agreement, along with other technical inputs that strengthened the project’s financial viability.

The Buchangu and Sirwa hydropower schemes are now finance-ready, thanks to Zutari’s multi-disciplinary approach and deep technical insight. These projects are poised to contribute to Kenya’s renewable energy goals and provide sustainable power to the region.

Zutari’s expertise helped transform our feasibility studies into bankable documents, unlocking funding and ensuring compliance with global standards.

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