Kenya Set to Boost Its Geothermal to 4000 MW by 2030

By Harry Tournemille on December 1, 2009

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Kenya's burgeoning geothermal capabilities are set to be boosted even further, with predictions of power generation of 4000 MW by 2030.

Two rival utilities: the private KenGen and the state-run Geothermal Development Company (GDC) are making plans to exploit the country's geothermic capabilities to their fullest.

Silas Simiyu, managing director of GDC said the firm plans to buy 12 drilling rigs, sink 60 wells annually and install well-head generators.

"In essence our plan is that every year we should be able to install 200 MW of new power from geothermal," Simiyu told Reuters in an interview.

"This will enable the Geothermal Development Company to put online about 1,000 MW in the next five years, and 2,000 MW in the next 10 years and then in the next 20 years we will have the 4,000 MW."

It won't be cheap. Kenya needs $1.02 billion in the next three years to tap its geothermal power potential, which is seen as an energy answer to Kenya's over-reliance on drought-hit hydroelectric power, Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi said on Monday.

In May, GDC sought funding for several geothermal projects, and their requests did not fall on deaf ears. According to Simiyu, the Kenyan government to date has given GDC a guarantee of about 20 billion shillings per year to help offset the initial drilling costs. GDC has acquired two drilling rigs and the French Development Agency has pledged 60 million euros for two more.

The firm is also negotiating with Exim Bank of China to get three additional rigs.

With only 200 MW of energy currently coming from geothermic sources, the lofty goal of 4000 MW seems far off. Even previous hopes of 2000 MW by 2014 require substantial financing.

Murangi concedes the main obstacle in investing in geothermal is the high costs involved. For instance, it costs $6.2-$6.5 million to drill a well and a well-head generator costs between $7 million and $8 million.

So, while progress is being made, the country's reach may still be exceeding its grasp until all proper funding can be procured.

A fiction writer who has won awards for his work, Harry has recently shifted focus to society’s role in bettering the world. For him, this means a keen interest in sustainable living, which also includes renewable energy. His regular contributions to Energyboom often deal with the highly-debated biofuel industry, a topic he finds to be a continuous source of learning and controversy.

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