President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday, July 26 commissioned new KenGen Geothermal Power plants, Olkaria V and Olkaria I AU6, in Nakuru's Naivasha area.
The new Ksh 600 million KenGen Power plants that were constructed in conjunction with the government of Japan have seen Kenya move to position six in global ranking in geothermal power capacity.
Speaking during the commissioning of the project, Uhuru acknowledged Kenya will achieve more because the geothermal project will help the country realize its wealth for the people.
“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" President Uhuru stated
The new geothermal power plants, Olkaria V is a 158MW plant while Olkaria I AU6, with the largest single turbine unit ever installed in any of the 5 geothermal units, at a capacity of 83.3MW.
“We have a tremendous wealth that lies just below the ground, a gift from God in the form of geothermal energy,” President Uhuru stated
The commissioning of Olkaria I AU now brings KenGen’s total installed capacity to 1,904MW, while the government’s geothermal capacity now stands at 799MW.
The construction of the Olkaria I AU6 started in November 2018 and will feed into the national grid and boost the country's capacity.
The focus on geothermal power stations is geared towards the government's long-term strategy to embrace sustainable energy as well as adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change.
KenGen Managing Director Rebecca Miano revealed that Kenya is the first country in Africa to install a Fuji Turbine in Africa.
"This is the largest single unit of turbine we will be installing in any of our power plants with a capacity of 83.3MW and with its installation we are now entering the final phase of construction of the power plant," Miano stated.
Kenya has successfully adopted more renewable energy than her peers in the region. The country has been using less than 20 percent of its electricity mix which is derived from fossil fuels, leading to low marginal costs in electricity.
The president also stated that the energy will play a key role in powering manufacturing and growth of cities.
“We have energy that is environment friendly that will not serve only the industrial park but even cities and towns here in Naivasha, we have made Naivasha a strategic and convenient place to establish and do business.”
As of June 2021, Kenya had installed 863.128MW contributing to 82.6% (713.128W) with the independent power producers producing 150MW. Currently, geothermal power production is providing nearly 50 percent of the total power generation.
The new geothermal power stations have made Japan commit itself to Kenyan industrialization through the use of renewable energy.
