…nears completion of major geothermal power plant
Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and the continent’s most populous nation may need to learn from Kenya’s drive toward a clean energy future.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier this year at the Abu Dhabi sustainability week said Nigeria’s energy transition plans, “like many nations, are aimed at diversifying energy sources and reducing dependency on fossil fuels, prioritising the transition to cleaner energy sources as a cornerstone of our national development strategy”.
Meanwhile, Kenya, an East African nation has received a major boost in drive toward clean energy future with the state-owned Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) disclosing the arrival of critical equipment for its newest geothermal power plant at the Olkaria geothermal complex.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Africa Energy Forum (AEF) in Cape Town, South Africa, Peter Njenga, Managing Director and CEO, KenGen said: “The timely arrival and installation of these critical components mark an important step in our mission to deliver affordable, reliable, and green energy to the people of Kenya.”
He added: “We have a large team of 928 people including elite project engineers, technicians, foremen, artisans, and general workers, led by the General Manager, Business Development & Strategy, Elizabeth Njenga and the Design and Construction Manager, Isaack Maina working day and night to deliver the project ahead of time and on budget.
“We are now at 70 percent on the key project milestones and are confident to commission the first turbine by June 2026.”
The planned Olkaria I project, located in the geologically active Rift Valley, is expected to add 63MW of renewable energy to the national grid once completed, further cementing Kenya’s reputation as a global leader in geothermal energy production.
“This project is a major boost to our solid reputation built over the years in provision of renewable energy solutions and demonstrates the significant role geothermal power continues to play in securing Africa’s energy future,” Njenga further said.
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KenGen further said on Wednesday that two steam turbines and two generators destined for Units 2 and 3 of the facility have been successfully delivered to the project site after being shipped from Japan earlier this year.
The equipment, which arrived through the Port of Mombasa, was transported to Olkaria in time to meet key construction milestones.
The Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) listed energy generator said the final set of turbine and generator units, assigned to Unit 1, was dispatched in late May and already in transit.
KenGen expects the equipment to dock
at Mombasa and to arrive at the Olkaria site by the end of the month. Other major plant
components have already been delivered, and several have been installed as work on the facility moves into its final stages.
When commissioned, the Olkaria I expansion is expected to improve electricity reliability getting Kenya closer to its 100 percent clean energy target by 2030 as the East African nation works to phase out use of fossil fuels for energy generation.
“We are conscious about our carbon footprint and that is why we are deliberate about our focus on green energy projects which are not only climate-sensitive but are also sustainable thereby preserving our planet for future generations while supporting economic development,” Njenga said.
The Olkaria I project falls under the Kenyan government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), which emphasises the role of infrastructure and green energy in job creation and
industrial development.
Kenya is already Africa’s largest producer of geothermal energy, with much of its power derived from the volcanic Rift Valley. Olkaria has been central to these efforts, with several power stations contributing to the country’s energy mix.
The addition of the 63MW will bring the installed capacity of Olkaria I to new heights and continue over seven decades legacy of homegrown innovation and investment in clean energy. This will bring Kenya close to joining the elite 1GW club of largest geothermal producers.
