This archive report was first published on 11 July 2019.
Kenya's electricity generation is set to surge by 200MW by 2021, according to the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen). The company's CEO and Managing Director, Rebecca Miano, announced the plan during a visit to the Olkaria V power plant in Naivasha.
Speaking at the event, Miano revealed that KenGen aims to generate 165MW by the end of 2019 and an additional 83.3MW by 2021. The power will be generated from the Olkaria V power plant, which produces geothermal power, a renewable energy source that is cheaper to generate regardless of weather patterns.
KenGen currently contributes 1,631MW to the national grid, accounting for 60% of the country's electricity production. The remaining 40% is generated by Independent Power Producers (IPPs). Geothermal power leads the way, accounting for 40% of the country's electricity production, followed by hydro at 35%, and wind and solar at 13% and 2% respectively.
KenGen's commitment to geothermal power production is evident in the 310 wells drilled around the Olkaria area in Naivasha. The company aims to drill more wells to increase production and reduce reliance on thermal power, which is more expensive.
KenGen has also entered into a partnership with countries in the sub-Saharan Africa region to explore geothermal energy. The partnership involves consultancy services, where KenGen will use its expertise to develop geothermal plants and capacity build engineers in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Djibouti, Zambia, Comoros, and Sudan.
