Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) is set to commission a newly completed geothermal power plant at Olkaria which is expected to add 86MW of electricity to the national grid with more exploration in offing.
According to the company Geothermal Development Director, Peketsa Mangi, the new power plant located at its Olkaria one-unit VI power station will be commissioned by the president in the next three months after the Covid – 19 pandemic delayed the process.
Mangi said the additional units will see the company total generating installed capacity drilled at the Olkaria wells located in Naivasha stand at approximately 790 MW of electricity achieved through decades of clean energy exploration.
The director said the milestones in geothermal exploration has been achieved through the government’s full commitments in developing policies that enhance and support the use of clean, renewable and environmental friendly energy.
“The additional power units to the national grid underscores KenGen and government commitments to the use of clean energy and reduce the carbon footprints in the environment,” said Mangi.
He said that KenGen achieved its major milestone through exploration of 280 MW of electricity at its Olkaria IV and I units which were commissioned in 2014 – 2015 and which to date is the country’s largest geothermal power project.
Mangi at the same time said that KenGen is at its final stages in upgrading the geothermal development at the Eburru Wellhead plant area through drilling of additional wells to achieve a generation capacity of up to 25 MW from the current 2.5 MW.
Additionally, the director said the company is undertaking the final feasibility study of a new geothermal plant which is set to produce 140 MW of power at its developing Olkaria 7 plant.
The director was addressing the press during the distribution of water tanks to over 300 beneficiaries including schools, hospitals, police posts located within Olkaria area.
According to KenGen Foundation managing trustee Antony Igecha, the company has invested Sh20 million to various water projects in the surrounding communities to enhance water security.
By Erastus Gichohi and Calvin Osiemo
