Small hydro for the tea estates of East Africa

Rural development in East Africa is constrained by inadequate access to appropriate renewable sources of energy. There is considerable potential for small hydro development, but this remains the least developed resource, mainly because it is less familiar to potential investors. The ‘Greening Tea Industry in East Africa’ (GTIEA) initiative aims to increase investment in small hydro, particularly by the private sector, to reduce energy costs in the tea industry. Investor confidence is starting to increase, but a number of challenges remain, including unreliable hydrological data and government policies which need to be streamlined.