State-owned power producer Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) is in discussion with Rwanda over the exploration and exploitation of Geothermal resource in the country.
According to KenGen CEO Rebecca Miano, Rwanda has sent the firm a proposal for the partnership to go and do exploration in the country.
Just a month ago KenGen won a tender worth Sh710 million to drill geothermal wells in Djibouti.
In 2019, the company won contracts worth Sh.5.8 billion to drill 12 geothermal wells in Ethiopia. KenGen won another Sh7.6 billion contract to expand geothermal drilling in the same country. It is looking forward to a third win in Ethiopia. The latest contract with an independent power producer includes installing a water supply system and equipment.
KenGen, which has embarked on a diversification strategy, leverages its expertise in geothermal energy by offering commercial drilling services, geothermal consulting and other energy-related services across Africa.
During the signing of the contract in Djibouti, Ms. Miano said the company’s strategic plan is to harness opportunities geared towards driving growth beyond Kenya. “It is therefore our desire that in the next couple of years, we shall have considerable presence in countries within the Continent. It is also worth noting that we are not only keen on increasing our presence in Africa, but also enhancing energy capacities across the region,” she said.
KenGen has invested in experts with considerable experience in geothermal exploration and drilling and will build the capacities of teams from Djibouti who will be working on the project.
Kenya is Africa’s number one geothermal energy producer and among the top 10 in the world. KenGen has a geothermal installed capacity of 706 MW and is the leading geothermal power producer on the continent.
The country will also join the top five geothermal energy producers once KenGen’s public private partnership plan on the Olkaria VI plant is done with an additional 140MW power which will see Kenya’s capacity climb to 1,080MW in the next three years.
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