Africa's largest geothermal producer

Kenya is endowed with vast geothermal resource potential along the world Kenya Rift that transects the country from north to south. Exploration reveals that geothermal potential exceeds 7,000 MWe and is capable of meeting all of Kenya’s electricity needs over the next 20 years. Out of this potential, only 167 MWe and 18 MWt are being utilized for indirect and direct uses respectively.
read more on installed geothermal and the estimated potential: http://www.geothermal-energy.org/192,welcome_to_our_page_with_data_for_kenya.html
East Africa Rift System
The active East African rift (an incipient plate boundary) runs through Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti and touches six other countries. Active volcanoes occur in Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania. Intensive exploration is under way in Kenya to increase electricity production to keep pace with population growth.


Kenya targets 50% of nation’s power via geothermal
www.globalenergymagazine.com December 2, 2010
The government of Kenya has announced its plans to use geothermal power as a major source of electricity, with the country targeting 50% of its energy requirements to come from geothermal sources by 2018.
Currently, Kenya relies on hydro power, which has become unreliable in recent years due to changing weather patterns, causing blackouts and power shortages nationwide.
Kenya has large amount of untapped geothermal energy. The country has identified over 14 sites in the Rift Valley with the ability to generate between 7,000 and 10,000 megawatts of power.
read moer at source: http://www.globalenergymagazine.com/2010/12/kenya-to-combat-frequent-power-shortages-with-geothermal-investment/

Kenya's Largest Energy Provider Receives $364 Million for Geothermal Development
www.energyboom.com December 15, 2010
The European Investment Bank and the French Development Agency have jointly given Kenyan utility, KenGen a US$364.5 million loan to expand its geothermal capacity.
Under the agreement, the French Development Agency will loan KenGen roughly US$201.3 million to help finance the construction of the 140-megawatt Olkaria IV geothermal power plant. In turn, the European Investment Bank will loan US$153.2 million for the construction of a high-voltage substation and transmission lines from the new geothermal projects the utility is developing.
read more at source: http://www.energyboom.com/geothermal/kenyas-largest-energy-provider-receives-364-million-geothermal-development

Kenya Geothermal Picks Up Major Steam Around World's Second Largest Volcanic Crater
www.energyboom.com May 16, 2011

Kenya, Africa's largest geothermal producer, has discovered significant exploitable steam deposits in the world's second largest volcanic crater, a place also known as one of the area's main tourist attractions.
The Geothermal Development Company (GDC), out of Kenya, made the discovery about 138 miles northwest of the country's capital, Nairobi, while working on its current program to sink 120 wells by 2018. Anticipating lesser amounts of steam deposits, the company was elated by the unpredicted turn of events.
Even more interesting was that the find happened at only 900 meters, which could mean a quicker turnaround for conversion to electricity. Some much needed good news for a country working hard to make itself economically viable, and for a region striving to capitalize on goethermal energy potential.
read more at source: http://www.energyboom.com/geothermal/kenya-geothermal-picks-major-steam-around-worlds-second-largest-volcanic-crater

Kenya signs deal for largest African geothermal project

www.ntv.co.ke  November 7, 2011

Kenya will play host to the single largest geothermal power project in Africa, a 280 megawatt geothermal project consisting of expansions by 140 megawatts each for Olkaria One and Olkaria Four power plants.This follows the signing of a 1.3 billion US dollar deal between KENGEN and Japanese and South Korean firms towards the expansion of the two power plants.Construction is expected to end in 2014 with Japan's Toyota Tsusho Corporation and South Korea's Hyundai Engineering and Construction forming the consortium that is expected to make the project a reality

Toyota to build Sh40 billion geothermal power plants
www.businessdailyafrica.com November 8 2011

Japanese trading firm Toyota Tsusho Corp and Hyundai Engineering Co of South Korea have won the bid to build new geothermal plants worth Sh40 billion, cementing Japan’s involvement in Kenya’s geothermal power generation.

They will build a new 140-megawatt (MW) plant and expand the capacity of another to 185 MW, up from 45 MW— setting the stage for cheaper and more reliable power supply.

The consortium beat four other bids that included Japanese Mitsubishi Corporation—which was involved in an earlier geothermal plant in Olkaria. Rival Chinese firms are showing interests in building geothermal power plants in Kenya.
read more at source: http://www.businessdailyafrica.com/Corporate+News/Toyota+to+build+Sh40+billion+geothermal+power+plants/-/539550/1268894/-/4udnqsz/-/index.html