Kenya: More Power For Kenyans As 86MW Geothermal Power Plant Commissioned

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has commissioned KenGen’s Olkaria 1 Additional Unit 6 Geothermal power plant, injecting an additional 86 megawatts (MW) into the national grid further advancing Kenya’s green energy agenda.

The power plant propels KenGen’s total installed energy capacity to 1,904MW while its geothermal capacity now stands at 799MW.

Speaking during a brief ceremony to commission the plant, President Uhuru commended the KenGen team and stakeholders involved in undertaking the project which was implemented during the Covid-19 peak periods in 2020 and 2021.

The President noted that the commissioning of the power plants was aligned with the Least Cost Power Development Plan (LCPDP) in support of the Government’s Big Four Agenda.

“This is indeed a great milestone for not only KenGen but the rest of Kenyans as far as developing clean energy is concerned. Clean and safe energy is increasingly becoming vital in energy development, and it is through this approach that we shall attain universal access to electricity in our nation and meet key energy needs,” said Uhuru.

While expressing satisfaction with the country’s clean energy development milestones, the Head of State noted that his government has put in place robust plans to ensure the country attains a 100 per cent transition to clean energy by 2030.

During the event, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Monica Juma, noted that the Ministry would continue to fulfil its mandate of providing clean and affordable energy for the nation with a focus on countering climate change.

“The completion of this project marks another milestone in Kenya’s efforts towards achieving energy security as well as accelerating economic growth through improved energy access. It represents an important moment in our efforts to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels and create a more sustainable future for us all,” said the CS.

For his part, KenGen Board Chairman, Samson Mwathethe, said: “This project is vital for our nation because considering that adequate supply of electricity is undeniably a primary enabler for our economic development.”

His sentiments were echoed by KenGen Managing Director and CEO, Rebecca Miano, who noted that the company’s geothermal agenda was to increase production in line with the growing demand for power while also ensuring that the business lives up to the expectations of shareholders.

Source: https://energynewsafrica.com