• 0711036000
  • Mon - Thur 07:45 - 17:00 (Fri 07:45 - 16:30)
  • KenGen Pension Plaza II

KenGen's Centre of Excellence (COE) offers premium industry services as outlined in the tabs below:

Consultancy

Consultancy

The consultancy team is responsible for seeking consultancy opportunities and coordinating all activities relating to consultancies within the Geothermal Division.

KenGen offers Consultancy Services in the following areas:

  1. Geology
  2. Geochemistry
  3. Environment
  4. Geophysics
  5. Reservoir Engineering
  6. Drilling
  7. Geomatics and Information Management 
  8. Power Plants Engineering

Training Centre

The Training Centre is domiciled within the Olkaria Geothermal Development Division with the mandate of facilitating capacity building for the staff in the Olkaria geothermal project area as well as other KenGen operation areas. The GTC was inaugurated on July 10th 1989 for drilling operation staff through sponsorship by Petro-Canada International Corporation.

However the centre has grown into offering other trainings including geosciences, basic computer skills, environmental sciences, geothermal technology, safety, management skills and drilling technology.

Currently KenGen is utilizing the GTC services at Olkaria in training its staff in Olkaria and other areas and offering internships for students from local and international students.

KenGen-Geothermal Training Centre is one of the five Regional Flagship TVET institutes under the Government of Kenya initiative and World Bank to offer specialized skills that are market driven for industry.

Vision
To be globally recognized regional Centre of Excellence in development of skills requirement in energy sector that will contribute to sustainable development of energy resources.

Mission
To provide quality, practical and technology based learning, research and innovation for competency in the development of energy resources in a sound environmental and sustainable manner that addresses challenges of skills inadequacies in the energy sector

Objectives
The KenGen-GTC objectives are as follows;

  1. To build capacity in energy sector and close technological gaps through hands on training and practical training
  2. Promote innovative research and collaborations in energy technology in both academia and industry for optimised capacity development
  3. Strengthen linkages with academia and industry to foster attainment of trainings that provide societal solutions
  4. To add value to its stakeholder that includes partner institutions by advocating for their involvement during project implementation

coex

Current Training Areas

  1. Geothermal resource exploration and development
  2. Drilling technology
  3. Geothermal resource exploitation and monitoring,
  4. Production and environmental management.
  5. Project planning & management,
  6. Geothermal Reservoir
  7. Steam field management
  8. Occupational health and safety
  9. Procurement and materials management
  10. Environmental Science Studies
  11. Power systems
  12. Applied sciences; analytical chemistry, GIS, Geology, Geophysics, geochemistry

Our Strengths

  1. Accessibility to training facilities within all KenGen projects
  2. Availability and accessibility to modern drilling, power plants, labs and workshops equipment
  3. Capacity Development Pioneers & leaders in Geothermal in Africa
  4. Majority of our instructors are recipients of various advanced trainings and exposure in Germany, New Zealand, USA and Japan among others.
  5. Pool of Trainers/experts selected from an experienced group of company staff
  6. Collaboration with Local & International Universities on research

MOU’s and Collaborations

KenGen GTC has been key in establishment of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with other institutions both (local & international) so as to leverage on benefits of partnership and linkage and to keep up with advances in research and technology. These include institutions like United Nations University-Geothermal Training Programme, University of Twente-ITC, University of Texas El Paso, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Kenyatta University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Utilities of Power Africa (APUA).

Through the partnerships with such institutions, GTC has been able to build capacity and offer exposure to staff via sponsored and joint programmes in which staff have benefitted

GTC has been active in seeking external funding support and from various agencies including; Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA), World Bank, UNEP, UNU-GTP through which we’ve acquired funds and scholarships for staff

KenGen GTC has also been selected as a Centre of Excellence (CoE) and beneficiaries of three (3) different initiatives and projects that will support training centre infrastructure, training programmes and equipment who are highlighted below;Association of Power Utilities in Africa (APUA)

  1. Association of Power Utilities in Africa (APUA)
  2. East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP)
  3. African Geothermal Centre of Excellence (AGCE)

Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA)

KenGen Geothermal Training Centre (GTC) is among the eight Centers of Excellence appointed by Association of Power Utilities in Africa (APUA) to offer training to the power utilities, which are members of APUA in the African Region. In June, 2017 an MOU was signed between KenGen and APUA and this set the stage for Geothermal Training Centre to offer training in the Africa Region. The Centre is part of the eight Centres of Excellence under the auspices of African Network of Centres of Excellence in Electricity (ANCEE)
KenGen was awarded a training contract by APUA under ANCEE training Cycle 3 to train Rwanda Energy Group (REG) on various programmes

gtc

Rwanda Energy Group (REG) employees trained in six (6) modules

East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP)

EASTRIP is a capacity building project World Bank (WB) funded project with support from government of China and Korea. The proposed project is participated by three (3) East Africa Countries that are along the Northern Corridor Integration Project namely; Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania. The project is being implemented by 16 Regional Centres of Excellence (CoEs) that have been competitively selected from the 3 East Africa countries as follows; Kenya (5), Tanzania(4) and Ethiopia (7).
KenGen-GTC has been selected as the regional TVET Centres of excellence in geothermal energy. The Centre was awarded 10.8 Million USD grant towards upgrading of GTC; training and accommodation infrastructure development.

china

Workshop participants at the 2nd Africa-China-World Bank Education Partnership Forum

UNU-GTP Short Course on Geothermal Exploration and Development
KenGen in collaboration with the United Nations University Geothermal Training Program have been hosting the short course training on geothermal exploration.

Apart from capacity building, the training provides an opportunity for the Company to market its human resource expertise in geothermal development, being the pioneer organization that has developed geothermal resource for the last 50 years.

gtc 1

UNU-GTP short course participants
Other partnerships include:

  1. Africa Geothermal Centre of Excellence (AGCE)
  2. University of Twente-ITC, Netherlands
  3. Dedan Kimathi University of Technology
  4. Kenyatta University
  5. Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology
  6. Moi University School of Environmental Studies,
  7. Egerton University, University of Nairobi Institute of Nuclear Science
  8. Ministry of Energy Department of Geothermal
  9. Kabarak University
  10. University of Potsdam

Geomatics

Geomatics team provides survey, cartography and GIS services to the Company, and other organizations. The section has state of the art equipment such as total station, Geodetic GPS Surveying system and modern ammonia printing machine. Data processing is computerized.

Information Services

The Information Science Subsection is responsible for information management within the project.
Provides custody for all geothermal knowledge resources and literature through their library and archives. The sub-section also controls usage and dispensation of the knowledge resources and also provides relevant update information and news to the division e.g. energy news, internal weekly news via trails of ongoing project activities and update and acquisition of journals.

Research

Research 

KenGen cooperates with national and international institutions in carrying out important research on various aspects of geothermal development and .

Some of the areas of cooperation have included:-

reseach

Other research areas of Collaboration

KenGen has continued to collaborate with local universities, the United Nations University as well as other government departments in research and training in such areas as environment, geology and hydrogeology, and sustainability of use of Lake Naivasha. 
Areas of research and collaboration currently being pursued include:-

  1. Assessment of suitability of Bentonite deposits in Meru and Isiolo as geothermal wells drilling mud.
  2. Use of brine for geothermal well cementing.
  3. Conversion of power station blowdown into potable water.
  4. Use of geothermal brine for rehabilitation.
  5. Use of geothermal brine for fish farming.
  6. Use of brine for horticulture.
  7. Use of geothermal steam for cooling.
  8. Modification of silencers.
  9. Design of Improved Well Testing Facility and Commercial Heat Exchanger- Grant of about 9 million from National Council of Science and Technology.
  10. Increasing Efficiency in the Utilization of Brine to run a Binary Power Plant.
  11. Pre-cast Pre-stressed Concrete Pavement (PPCP).
  12. Use of Modern Survey Techniques in Optimization of Geothermal Power Harvest.
  13. Real Time Relaying of Geothermal Information and Data Directly from the Field to Computer Server using GSM and GPRS Technologies of Mobile Mapping and GIS.
  14. Improvement of Cooling Towers in Olkaria I.
  15. Investigating the Possibility of Harnessing Gravitational Energy using an Actuating Lever Arm Mechanism.
  16. Designing & Fabrication of Aluminium Sheet Rolling Machine and Aluminium Ridge Making Machine.
  17. Sustainability of Lake Naivasha
  18. Well testing facility, commercial heat exchanger, and gas abatement.
  19. Remote management of water levels in tanks at Olkaria.
  20. Assessment of cooling circuit water to control acid erosion, elemental sulphur deposition and microbiological fouling: case study of Olkaria II
  21. Precipitation chemistry and air quality monitoring associated with geothermal operations

Services Underaken

Consultancy Services Underaken

 KenGen has undertaken a number of projects for other institutions regionally and internationally. They include the following:-

  1. The Tulu Moye Geothermal Operations Plc in November 2018 issued a tender for Provision of Drilling Services for Geothermal Wells in Tulu Moye, Ethiopia. KenGen won the bid to provide geo-scientific survey and drilling eight geothermal wells. Works to begin soon
  2. KenGen in consortium with Shandong Kerui Petroleum Equipment Company Limited and Shandong Kerui Oilfield Service Company limited was awarded a contract in December 2018 by the Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) for the supply of drilling rigs and its accessories as well as rig operation and maintenance for drilling geothermal wells at Aluto, Langano in Ethiopia
  3. Geoscientific Investigations for AKIIRA an Independent Power Producer in July - August 2019
  4. Detailed geoscientific study of Barrier Volcanic Complex (BVC - use of the techniques of geology, geophysics and geochemistry to develop a geothermal conceptual model of Barrier Volcanic Complex for siting target wells for drilling in March 2019
  5. Hydrogeological survey for ground water mapping and assessment in Wajir County using geophysical methods in Jan 2019
  6. Geological studies in Djibouti- with Iceland GeoSurvey (ISOR) in 2018
  7. Seismic Refraction and multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW) surveys for Sogea Satom Company November 2018
  8. Drilling services and water supply for AKIIRA an Independent Power Producer in 2017
  9. Well tests measurements for OrPower4, Inc, an Independent Power Producer
  10. Geoscientific Investigations of the Kapisya and Chinyunyu Geothermal Fields, Zambia
  11. Sudan geoscientific studies in Bayuda from April 2012- July 2012
  12. Geophysical investigations in Djibouti in 2008
  13. Geoscientific Investigations in the Comoros in 2008
  14. Geoscientific Investigations in Rwanda in 2008
  15. Reconnaissance survey in the Comoros in 2008

GTC TVET tracer studies for graduates

The Geothermal training centre carries out TVET tracer studies to measure the relevance of TVET trainings. These tracer studies are seen as management tools for planning and monitoring of Geothermal Technology program (e.g., which courses to add, to change or to phase out). They also provide information for programmatic changes (e.g., adding new elements into your Geothermal Technology program) and review of training curricula. TVET tracer studies help to monitor the delivery of training. By getting into contact with your TVET graduates and by offering your TVET graduates support services you may improve your public image and foster public relation, thus TVET tracer studies are useful as a marketing tool as well.
KenGen GTC usually carries out these studies to know whether the TVET graduates are adequately settled in terms of employment and the type of courses they undertook as part of further studies. Upon leaving KenGen-Geothermal Training Centre, the TVET graduates, suddenly face the reality of the market and the "world of work". Many factors will decide upon their success. (1) Do their qualification, skills, and personality match with the expectation of employers and (2) do they have enough competence and knowledge to compete in the market.  
For instance, in November 2021, KenGen GTC offered a three-week short course on Geothermal technology. We had 50 participants attending the course from Kenya and the African rift region. We initiated a tracer study to track their employment status six months after graduation. The following is a summary of their responses.

No

Name

Country

Gender

Age

Employment Status

Company

Relevance    of Job to Training

 

1

Jollife Mwadime

Kenya

Male

25-35

Empoyed

KenGen

Yes

2

Grace Wanjiku Guchu

Kenya

Female

25-35

Employed

KenGen

Yes

3

Biniam Assefa

Ethiopia

Male

Above

35

Employed

Ethiopia Electric Power

Yes

4

Donald Mpokama Manengo

DRC

Male

25-35

Employed

SNEL SA /DRC

Yes

5

Enock Palapandu

Malawi

Male

25-35

Employed

Ministry of Energy

Yes

6

Fikre Feleke

Ethiopia

Male

Above 35

Employed

Ministry of Mines

Yes

7

William Kedienye

Kenya

Male

25-35

Employed

KenGen

Yes

8

Joseph Gitau

Kenya

Male

Above

35

Employed

KenGen

Yes

9

Joseph Mwangi Maina

Kenya

Male

25-35

Employed

KenGen

Yes

10

Nelly Moraa

Kenya

Female

Above 35

Employed

KenGen

Yes

11

Sheila Nafula Wanjala

Kenya

Female

25-35

Employed

KenGen

Yes

12

Eleyeh Farah Adaweh

Djibouti

Male

25-35

Employed

ODDEG

Yes

Questionnaires were sent to the graduates to fill and 12 out of the 50 responded to the questionnaires which represented a response rate of 24%. The composition of the class was 31 male and 19 female which represented 62% and 38% respectively. Of the respondents 9 were male and 3 female which also represents a percentage of 75% and 25% respectively.

The tracer study analysis was a success and showed that KenGen GTC is gender sensitive in enrolment of students and more focus is put on giving women an opportunity to study at the centre. It was also noted that all GTC graduates who responded were employed in relevant sectors to the training they got.

The centre will also utilize should utilize other methods of data collection for future tracer studies apart from emails only e.g. making personal telephone calls, making physical visits to the institutions they are employed in.

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ftOur Contacts

Head Office

  • KenGen Pension Plaza II
    Kolobot Road, Parklands
  • P. O. BOX 47936, 00100, Nairobi
  • TEL:
  • +254 711 036-000
  • +254 732 116-000
  • +254 020 366-6000
  • Email: pr@kengen.co.ke

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