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Nairobi, Tuesday, 29th March 2022: Kenyans have yet another reason to smile after Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) announced that it has completed the construction of the 83MW Olkaria I, Additional Unit (AU) 6 Geothermal Power Plant, setting in motion activities to add it to the national power grid.

This milestone follows a successful delivery of full steam to the power plant, setting in motion technical processes to commercial operation which is expected by June 2022. This is a double win for Kenyans, firstly on climate action as geothermal is renewable and secondly on reliability and affordability considering that geothermal will predictably displace other more expensive sources of energy.

KenGen Managing Director and CEO, Rebecca Miano, lauded the milestone as a big step forward in the country’s progress toward 100% utilization of renewable energy by the year 2030 which she also said will ensure a reliable supply of clean electricity to drive Kenya’s economic development.

She said, “The construction of Olkaria I Unit 6 is aligned to the company’s long-term strategy and Kenya’s Least Cost Power Development Plan (LCPDP) focused on sustainable supply of renewable energy in support of the Government’s Big Four Agenda.”

The plant which is expected to inject 83.3MW into the national grid is currently undergoing reliability tests to confirm its output. This is the final process signaling completion of construction period.

The initial steam admission, which is an integral part of verifying the performance of the turbine was conducted by the turbine manufacturer, Fuji Electric Global in conjunction with the project Contractor, Marubeni Corporation.

The tests come nearly nine months since the commencement of works to install the steam turbine at the new power plant. The turbine is now the largest single unit of turbine ever installed in any of KenGen’s geothermal power stations. This was also the first time a Fuji turbine was being installed not only in Kenya but in Africa.

Today, geothermal accounts for up to 39% of KenGen’s total installed generation capacity. With the additional 83MW, geothermal is expected to grow from the current 713MW to 796MW pushing up the share of KenGen’s geothermal installed capacity to about 42%.

Construction of Olkaria I, Additional Unit 6 geothermal power plant commenced in December 2018 following a groundbreaking ceremony which was graced by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Ends...//

Note to Editor:

About KenGen

Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC - KenGen is the leading electricity generation company in Eastern Africa region with an installed generation capacity market share of more than 60%. The company’s primary business is to provide safe, reliable, and competitively priced electric energy for the country in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner while creating value for its stakeholders.

Today, KenGen PLC has an installed generation capacity of 1,818MW, of which over 86% is drawn from green sources namely: Hydro (826MW), Geothermal (713MW), Thermal (253MW), and Wind (26MW).

 

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KenGen Energy Park

Promoter: Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen)

Private sector participation: O&M; DEVELOPER, INVESTOR, TENANT

Location: Olkaria, Naivasha

KenGen has completed plans to set up an Energy park at its geothermal power generation hub at Olkaria-Naivasha in order to take advantage of the competitively priced geothermal steam and electricity as key economic drivers of production. The park will provide industrial, commercial and recreational facilities and will be developed in two phases, the completion of the first phase planned by 2022. The park is strategically located along regional transport routes with access by road and rail. The park will provide quality and reliable utilities and energy supply (Electricity, high pressure stream and brine at 130 degree Celsius) which will be managed through an appointed developer who will develop infrastructure for a plug and play environment

 

Seven Forks 40MW Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Project

Promoter: Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen)

Private sector participation: EPC

Location: Embu County

The project entails development of a 40MW solar photovoltaic (PV) pilot plant in seven forks area to utilize abundant solar energy, reduce consumption of fossil fuels, diversify energy sources for electricity generation, and to master solar power generation technology. It will be undertaken on approximately 80 Hectares of land wholly owned by KenGen and free of human settlement. The site has a high solar irradiation of above 2,000kWh/m2.

 

Raising of Masinga Hydropower Dam

Promoter: Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen)

Private sector participation: EPC

Location: Masinga

The Masinga Hydropower dam is the largest dam on Seven Forks cascade with a storage capacity of 1,560 million cubic meters and installed generation capacity of 40MW. The project entails increasing the reservoir storage capacity to enhance power generation and storage. The feasibility study conducted recommended the option of raising the dam by 1.5 Meters to a full supply level of 1,058 metter above sea level.

 

Ngong Wind Farm

Within the period of 2009 and 2014, KenGen implemented and commissioned the Ngong I and II wind projects with an installed capacity of 5.1 and 20.4MW respectively.

The Ngong Wind Farm is located on the Ngong Hills, near Ngong town in Kajiado County and is approximately 20 Kilometres from the capital, Nairobi.

The Ngong I plant consists of 6 Vestas V52-850 KW 50 Hz turbines while the Ngong II plant consists of 8 Vestas V52-850 KW 50 Hz turbines and 16 Gamesa turbines G52-850 KW 50HZ turbines. Total generated power of 25.5MW is evacuated via an 11/66 kV line to the Ngong Substation.

Plans are at advanced stage for the development of Ngong Phase 3 wind farm with an 18-month implementation period. Once completed, the project will add 10MW to the national grid. Also planned for development is the Ngong Phase 4 wind farm which will bring on-stream another 40MW at a cost of USD70 million.

 

Olkaria 1 Units 1, 2 & 3 Rehabilitation Project

The 45MW Olkaria 1 (Units 1, 2 and 3) Geothermal Power Plant is located at the Olkaria geothermal field in the Rift Valley. This was the first geothermal power plant in Africa commissioned in 1980.

Due to the normal wear and tear experienced by the plant over years of operation, KenGen wishes to restore the plant to its former glory and is currently in the process of procuring a Contractor to carry out the rehabilitation works.

Upon completion of the project, the plant will be upgraded from the current 45MW to 50.7MW.

 

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