Kenya's energy revolution: full steam ahead for geothermal power
You can understand why the Masai gave Kenya's Hell's Gate national park its name, says Isaac Kirimi, drilling superintendent at the site's Olkaria geothermal plant. Here in the active east African rift, fractures in the ground seep sulphur, while rocks are too hot to touch. The Earth's crust is communicating with the magma chamber, Kirimi says.
The region is considered one of the most exciting geothermal prospects in the world. Where Kirimi and his team have drilled wells, water heated by molten lava roars like a jet engine as it bursts out of the ground.
East Africa is undergoing an energy revolution driven by massive offshore natural gas finds in Tanzania and notable oil discoveries in Kenya and Uganda, all in the past three years.
African Union grants Sh714m to private geothermal project in Kenya
An independent power producer Africa Geothermal International Limited (AGIL) is embarking on a Sh52 billion ($600 m) power project at the Longonot steam fields that is expected to generate 140 megawatts (MW) of electricity upon completion in 2017. The firm said it would start drilling exploratory wells at its 132 kilometre square field at Longonot next year and expects to start feeding 70MW of electricity to the national grid by 2016. The plant will then be scaled up to produce 140MW by the following year. “It is estimated that during the construction phase, the Longonot geothermal plant will employ up to 1 000 people for close to $600 million of investment,” said Fassine Fofana chief executive AGIL.
Kenya Needs To Put Its Energy Act Together
This is an exciting announcement from Ethiopia: Ashegoda Wind Farm, an investment of USD290m with a 120MW capacity, has come on stream - great news for Ethiopia.
But I do wonder: What on earth happened to Kenya? Turkana Wind – previously praised as the largest wind energy project in Africa ‑ has a much greater anticipated output of 300MW when completed. But when is that finally going to happen?
Kenya is constantly operating at the limit of its energy generation output (never mind that we all know that power cuts are frequent), plus energy prices are high. If you look at anticipated GDP growth rates – and the GoK is certainly always very bullish about those – then surely you can anticipate how much additional generating capacity you need every year just to stand still.
Kenya Economy to Grow to 5.6 Per Cent This Year
THE Kenyan economy is expected to rise to 5.6 per cent by the end of this financial year, National Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich has said.
Last year, the growth reached 4.6 per cent up from 1.6 per cent in the year 2008 after it went drastically due to the 2007 post election violence.
