Kenya’s Geothermal Development Company and Globeleq, UK-based renewable energy firm have performed a ground breaking ceremony for the construction of 35-MW geothermal power project in Menengai, Kenya.
Globeleq is one of the three Independent Power Producers (IPPs) that has been awarded rights to build and operate geothermal power plants in Menengai.
The ceremony was attended by the Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, Department of Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira, H.E. Hon Susak Khika of Nakuru County, British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott OBE, and the GDC Board Chair Hon. Walter Osebe Nyambati.
The US$108 million Menengai project will be Globeleq’s first geothermal plant.
Menengai is a Greenfield geothermal project and part of the first phase of the wider Menengai complex, which is the second large-scale geothermal field being developed in Kenya after Olkaria.
Steam will be supplied to the project by Geothermal Development Company (GDC).
Speaking at the ceremony, H.E Rigathi Gachagua lauded GDC for its role in helping to develop green energy.
He promised government’s support so that GDC can competently deliver on its mandate.
“We will continue to support GDC to effectively play its role; more importantly, these efforts will help Kenya meet its international obligation on decarbonizing the economy on Africa and global front as we push to exploit the full geothermal potential,’’ he said.
He added that: “the government is keen on lowering the cost of power. Electricity from this power plant will cost only 7 US cents… Affordable power will help spur economic development and reduce the cost of doing business.”
Also commenting, Mr. Davis Chirchir, the Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, said: “As one of the countries most affected by climate change, we are determined to attain our target of 100 percent transition to green energy; it is clean, reliable, affordable, and sustainable.
“The de-risking concept, underwritten by the Government of Kenya through GDC, is a critical model to accelerate the development of geothermal energy in Kenya and lower the cost of power for investors and households,” he concluded.
GDC has conducted drilling of 43 wells in Menengai, thus taking the upfront risks of developing the geothermal project.
On his part, the Board Chair, Hon. Walter Nyambati noted that “in just 13 years, we have turned Menengai from a jungle into a complex that is promising Kenya’s green future.”
He assured that GDC, with the government and financiers’ support, will excel.
“We’re happy. This ground breaking a future of lowered cost of power and more revenues for GDC. I want to assure the GDC staff that our Company is great; it has potential and what we need is to all, in one accord, support each other and pull forward together,” he said.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com