Microhydro - Kenya
Tungu-Kabri project, Mbuiru
- First of its kind in Kenya
- Funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
-Project benefits 200 households (around 1,000 people) in the Mbuiru village river community
-Project is cheap, sustainable and small-scale technology that harnesses the energy of falling water to make electricity
-Also alleviates the environmental problems associated with using wood and dung for cooking, diesel for milling and kerosene for lighting - and keeps on working, even in the face of drought.
"The micro H.E.P scheme at Mbuiru has provided the people with clean electricity, that was built and maintained by local people without the need of the state producing power lines and power plants. It also allows people to use the electricity for occupations and provides a local income. Their quality of life has increased and they are no semi-energy secure.
Energy Pathways and Russia's Energy Strategy
Energy Pathway - Flow of energy from a producer and the means by which it reaches the consumer - Routes can be complicated by:
- Natural / Environmental Issues
- Human / Political Issues
Transit States - A country or state through whihc energy flows on its way from producer to consumer.
Russia's Energy Strategy
- Political or Economical
Russia post cold war is now re-emerging as a global player. It's power politically and economically lies in its natural resources (oil and natural gas).
Energy is not only an economic tool - but a political one too. What energy has done for Russia:
1. Helped it reassert its power over former communist states (former USSR).
2. Increased Russia's power both globally and in its home region.
3. Given Russia a way to restore its international position and regain its geopolitical importance.
- Russia is using its supplies of oil and gas as a weapon - November 2004: Ukraine has a reformist revolution - the "Orange Revolution." They remove all proRussian supporters who were in positions of power - Gazprom cut/reduced fuel supplies.
- In 2006 - Ukrainian gas was fully cut off - Gazprom therefore increased gas/oil prices by 400% solely for Ukraine - the government initially refusing however eventually having to pay as the gas shortages were causing national emergency.
- In 2008, Gazprom again cut supplies by 50% to the Ukraine over a "dispute" claiming that fuel bills had not been paid. It is however coincidental that the Ukraine had plans to join NATO / The EU at the same time - both of which Russia do not get along with.