Nairobi, Monday, January 10, 2022: Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen), has completed Phase One of the 25 acres Ngong Forest Restoration Project.
Commenced in October 2018, the project involved planting 7,000 indigenous trees around a degraded site in Ngong hills forest power station, where KenGen generates 25.5MW of electricity from wind energy.
The initiative is in line with the company’s Environmental Conservation Program and Corporate Environmental Sustainability Policy, which seeks to undertake an additional 10 Hectares ecosystem restoration project in Phase II within the KenGen lease area at Ngong during the 2021/2022 financial year.
According to Ngong forest restoration Phase I's completion report, KenGen attained a 100% trees survival rate, marking the project as completed and successful.
The report read: “The project’s final milestone verification for milestone 3 final quarter was carried out on 21st June 2021 followed by a final Project Implementation Team (PIT) meeting at Ngong project site where 7,134 seedlings were verified as surviving against a target of 7,000 seedlings thus a 100% success achieved rehabilitating an area covering 10.7 acres (est).”
Speaking on the achievement, KenGen’s Managing Director and CEO, Rebecca Miano, said the company has fully aligned itself to climate action agenda and rolled out various environmental conservation projects across the country which will go a long way in in helping to slow down the effects on climate change.
“As an organisation committed to ensuring environmental sustainability in our areas of operations, we shall keep on ensuring that the plans for subsequent phases in the Ngong forest restoration project are delivered successfully,” said Miano, adding “this will complement other climate action efforts including our deployment of green energy power projects including construction of 83MW Olkaria I unit 6 which is almost complete.”
KenGen’s Environment and Sustainable Development Manager, Joshua Were, said that KenGen had rolled out plans to undertake an additional 10 hectares ecosystem restoration project within KenGen lease area during the 2021/2022 financial year. This he said will be achieved through planting, protection, replacing and maintenance of 10,000 assorted indigenous tree seedlings.
“Our aim is 100% growth rate, we do not only plant trees but also go a step further to ensure that all the trees are well taken care of and natured to maturity,” said Mr. Were.
KenGen has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with partners including Kenya Wildlife Services. In the MoU, KenGen is required to carry out conservation and management activities of Ngong Forest while also carrying out mitigation measures identified in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment study for the proposed construction of 10MW Ngong Phase IIIA wind project at Ngong Hill.
The project supports the commitment towards NETFUND 2 billion campaign where the company has pledged to plant and grow 400,000 seedlings per year.
Over the years, KenGen has supported initiatives to mitigate the effects of climate change while maintaining ecological balance. The initiatives such as the Green Initiative Challenge (GIC) launched in 2013 has been under the KenGen Foundation’s environmental pillar and community sensitization.
................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 (25.5MW).
For media queries please contact:
Frank D. Ochieng, Tel:0721816896
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Naivasha, February 10, 2022: Residents of Naivasha have a reason to smile after KenGen PLC through its philanthropy arm, the KenGen Foundation today donated 300 (1,000 litre capacity) water tanks to several public institutions in Naivasha sub-county as part of its Corporate Social Investment (CSI) program.
The initiative which is part of KenGen PLC’s commitment to address water and sanitation challenges faced by communities, especially those neighboring its power installations has so far benefitted more than 10,000 families in marginalized areas.
The tanks are expected to reduce the infection rates of waterborne infections and person-to-person transmission of diseases related to poor hygiene within Naivasha sub-county; a problem that is faced by an estimated 41% of Kenya’s population.
KenGen Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, who is also the Chair of KenGen Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Rebecca Miano said, “Access to clean water is one of the most effective ways of curbing the spread and lowering the rates of waterborne infections and other related diseases. That is why KenGen has invested in the construction, installation and supply of water systems and water points among communities around our installations.”
Speaking during the distribution exercise, KenGen Foundation Managing Trustee, Anthony Igecha said the company has designed a Clean Water Accessibility Program to help equip communities living around KenGen installations with best practice skills on water harvesting and storage.
Over the years, KenGen has continued to invest heavily in the construction, installation and supply of water systems and water points in Machakos, Embu, Kitui, and other host counties across the country.
“We have a robust CSI strategy, which recognizes that Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects must be inclusive to achieve the basic human right to water and sanitation and reach the most vulnerable, while setting the tone for inclusion in other community- based projects,” said Mr. Igecha.
Through the KenGen Foundation, KenGen implements its social activities through sustainable projects focusing on three core pillars namely Education, Environment, Water and Sanitation. The Foundation complements the Company’s efforts in contributing to the general health and welfare of host communities.
Other related community-beneficial activities implemented by KenGen in partnership with key stakeholders, donors, and County Governments include building of sand dams, construction of water tanks, and provision of piped water.
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).
For media queries please contact:
Frank D. Ochieng Tel:0721816896
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.