KenGen’s construction of the 83 megawatts (MW) Olkaria 1 Unit 6 geothermal plant is nearly complete and is expected to be added to the grid in early 2022.
Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Miano said once the plant is operational, it will help drive down the cost of electricity in Kenya by displacing thermal energy while meeting the country’s growing demand for electricity.
Miano reiterated that the plant would help support the government’s effort to achieve 100% utilization of renewable energy by the year 2030 as a way of fighting climate change.
Last month, the company began drilling of three geothermal wells in Djibouti that will cost KSh0.7 billion. Drilling of the first well is projected to take about two months to complete.
The Djibouti project is the third mega geothermal drilling contract that KenGen is implementing in the continent. The electricity generator has also formed partnerships with countries such as Ethiopia and Rwanda in renewable energy development.
In October 2019, the firm secured a KSh5.8 billion contract to drill 12 geothermal wells in Ethiopia. This contract, signed between the Kenyan firm and an independent power producer, includes installing a water supply system and equipment.
The company is considered among the world’s top 10 geothermal energy producers with a geothermal installed capacity of 706 MW.
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