This archive report was first published on 17 May 2021.
KenGen, Kenya's leading electricity generating company, is poised to make a significant breakthrough in geothermal power generation in the Horn of Africa. The company is set to start drilling geothermal power in Djibouti in June, marking a major milestone in its expansion plans.
The Sh700 million project, awarded to KenGen in March 2021, involves the drilling of two geothermal wells at the Galla Le Koma geothermal field in the Lake Assal region. The project is a collaborative effort between KenGen and the Djiboutian office of geothermal energy development (ODDEG).
According to Abel Rotich, Geothermal Development Director at KenGen, preparations for the commencement of the drilling works are 80 percent complete. The official contract signing was done in Djibouti in mid-February between KenGen and ODDEG.
KenGen has already made significant strides in geothermal power generation in the region. The company has completed the first drilling at Tulu Moye site in Ethiopia, while the drilling of the second well is underway. Under the Sh5.5 billion contract, KenGen will drill eight wells in the Ethiopian rift valley, with each well costing Sh630 million.
KenGen's expansion plans in geothermal power generation are expected to significantly increase the company's production capacity. With an installed geothermal power generation capacity of 706 MW today, the addition of the Olkaria 1 Unit 6 geothermal power plant, which is expected to start commercial production before the end of 2021, will bring the total capacity to around 944 MW or to the same level as Italy.
