About KenGen GTC

About KenGen-GTC

KenGen is among the top success stories of geothermal development in the region and the world. This success has been anchored on professionalism exercised by its highly trained personnel. Geothermal Training Centre (GTC) has been key in ensuring that staff members are equipped with the required skills and expertise. GTC was established in 1989 with the main aim of building capacity of staff members through organizing trainings in collaboration with the human resource department, to enable them effectively deliver on their mandate. Over the years, the center has grown in leaps and bounds and now offers both internal and external technical trainings in various aspects of renewable resource exploration, exploitation and generation. The Centre currently plays a major role in training and development of a critical mass of professionals and resource persons in the energy sector within the continent. This will aid in accelerating efforts towards energy resource exploration and development across the continent. This has ensured continuous development and knowledge sharing amongst professionals working within the energy sector in the region. Training programmes have been facilitated by a pool of highly dedicated and experienced trainers drawn from various departments within the Company. It is estimated that Africa’s geothermal potential is over 20,000 MWe and only less than 10% is currently exploited and being utilized. With the continent’s desire to develop renewable energy sources, there is an increasing need to shift to geothermal, wind and solar, which are some of the most sustainable, clean, green energy sources. To achieve this important objective, the Geothermal Training Centre is committed to develop the much-needed human capacity and expertise in the exploration, generation and utilization of geothermal resources. This will see the continent efficiently exploit this reliable energy in a cost effective and affordable manner. .

Registration with TVET

Previously mandated to organize, facilitate and co-ordinate internal trainings, KenGen GTC has over the years built internal capacity to offer external training services in the region. This necessitated the need for accreditation with TVET to ensure compliance with TVET Act, 2013. The Centre was accredited and registered as a TVET Center in 2019. This allows KenGen GTC to engage, implement and certify training initiatives both locally and regionally, while ensuring alignment to the legal frameworks outlined by TVET.

Application registration form can be found here < Click Here Form to be completed in full with all required documents no later than 15th July 2021.

Collaborations

ENGENDERING UTILITIES WORKFORCE GENDER EQUALITY ACCELERATED PROGRAM (US AID)

(i) ENGENDERING UTILITIES WORKFORCE GENDER EQUALITY ACCELERATED PROGRAM (US AID)

KenGen has partnered with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to offer Engendering Utilities Workforce Gender Equality Accelerated Program. This is a leadership program that develops skills and tools needed to increase gender equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Designed for male and female managers especially in male-dominated fields, the program seeks to develop skills needed to identify gender equality gaps within organizations and develop a business case on how gender equality benefits the bottom line. Through the program, companies will strengthen their leadership in change management skills for an equitable and diverse workplace while engaging both male and female leaders to support envisaged change. Under the training collaboration, KenGen’s Geothermal Training Centre (GTC) will be USAID’s training partner in the region. Currently, USAID and KenGen are coordinating a call for proposals to target institutions to express interest in gender training which will be offered by KenGen-GTC.

(ii) APUA-ANCEE
In March 2017, the Geothermal Training Centre was enlisted by the Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA) to join the African Network of Centers of Excellence in Electricity (ANCEE). This was after a rigorous assessment process that was conducted by APUA aimed at determining the capacity of the Center to host and train students from across the continent. The Africa Network of Centers of Excellence in Electricity (ANCEE) is a continental initiative set up by the Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA) and supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the French Development Agency (AFD). Since enlistment, the Centre has offered trainings and hosted capacity building programmes for trainees from the region, under sponsorship of APUA and other stakeholders. This has not only ensured the growth of KenGe as a household name in Africa but has played a significant role in ensuring knowledge and skills transfer in the renewable energy sector in the continent. APUA has previously sponsored trainees from Rwanda Energy Group (REG), Electricity Generation Company Limited (EGENCO)-Malawi and Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) to train at GTC.

(iii) GRO-GTP UNESCO GRÓ-GTP (formerly UNU-GTP),
holds the six months geothermal technology course annually. The training is aimed at building capacity for geothermal development in the world. The programme has contributed highly to building staff competence in geothermal exploration and technology. A good number of our highly skilled staff have undergone capacity building in the six months programme. Under the programme, the GRÓ-GTP runs various training modules with students invited form various parts of the world.

(iv) THE UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE, NETHERLANDS
To foster joint research and development in the areas of Environmental and Geoinformatics, KenGen-GTC signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Twente, June 2016, between KenGen and the ITC-Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente an International University based in the Netherlands that specializes in Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation. The MoU was established on the understanding that both parties have common interest in training, research, technology development and technology transfer in so far as geothermal and other renewable energy sources and development is concerned.

(iv) THE UNIVERSITY OF TWENTE, NETHERLANDS
To foster joint research and development in the areas of Environmental and Geoinformatics, KenGen-GTC signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Twente, June 2016, between KenGen and the ITC-Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente an International University based in the Netherlands that specializes in Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation. The MoU was established on the understanding that both parties have common interest in training, research, technology development and technology transfer in so far as geothermal and other renewable energy sources and development is concerned.

(vi) AFRICA GEOTHERMAL CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE (AGCE)
The Africa Geothermal Centre of Excellence (AGCE) is a continental initiative supported by the African Union Commission (AUC), Governments of member countries and the UN Environment. The main objective of its formation is to train and develop a critical mass of professionals and resource persons in the geothermal sector within the continent, aimed at accelerating efforts towards geothermal resource exploration and development across the continent. AGCE has previously sponsored trainees from Ethiopian Electricity Agency (EEA), Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) Ltd.

The EASTRIP Project

KenGen-Geothermal Training Centre (GTC) was selected as one of the Regional Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centres of Excellences (CoEs) to be supported under the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP) project. The EASTRIP project is a special skills development project and an initiative of the Ministry of Education and the World Bank. Centre (GTC) is one (1) of the five (5) Regional Flagship TVET Institutes (RFTI’s) selected in Kenya to develop demand driven skills for the Energy sector, under the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP). The Project is an initiative of the Ministry of Education and World Bank (WB) supporting 16 RFTI’s in the East Africa region (Kenya (5), Ethiopia (7) and Tanzania (4)). Through EASTRIP, KenGen-GTC is granted financial support to implement key project activities that include; upgrading of training infrastructure and equipment, enhancement of governance and management of the Centre, institutionalizing of linkages with academic institutions/industry and development of a Competency Based Curriculum (CBA) that will address skills gaps in the energy sector. The project aims to increase access, improve the quality of TVET programs and support regional integration. The project targets the development of skills in five (5) thematic areas of energy, transport, ICT, agriculture and light manufacturing (textiles and leather).

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

KenGen- Geothermal Training Centre (GTC) is currently developing a Curriculum, a key project activity under implementation the EASTRIP project. Under the guidance of the Technical Vocational Education and Training- Curriculum Development, Assessment and Certification Council (TVET-CDACC), the Centre is in the process of developing Diploma and Certificate Courses under the first phase as listed below;
No. Course Name Qualification
1. Power plant Operations and Maintenance Diploma
2. Geological Technology Diploma
3. Geochemistry Technology Diploma
4. Geophysical Technology Diploma
5. Steam field Monitoring Technology Diploma
6. Reservoir Monitoring Technology Diploma
7. Energy Project Management Certificate
8. Drilling Operations Diploma
9. Natural Resource Management Diploma
10. GIS & Remote Sensing Diploma
11. Geothermal Direct Use Applications Diploma
12. Battery Energy Storage Technology Diploma
13. Environmental Chemistry Diploma

Courses Offered

Courses Offered

The Geothermal Training Centre currently offers courses in various disciplines ranging from scientific, engineering, statutory and other related areas. The training costs are inclusive of registration costs, tuition fees, transport, meals and accommodation for the durations of the trainings as itemized in the table below;.

Courses Offered at GTC-

FACULTY OF SCIENCE DURATION (DAYS)
1 Geothermal Technology 21
2 Geothermal Drilling (Roustabout) 21
3 Environment and Social Management 24
4 Geothermal Energy Engineering 24
5 Geothermal Sciences 24
6 Geothermal Geology 45
7 Geothermal Geochemistry 45
8 Geothermal Geophysics 45
9 Geothermal Project Management 45
10 Environmental Impact Studies,
11 GIS & Remote Sensing 45

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
1 Geothermal Direct Use Technology 24
2 Geothermal Drilling (Rigfloorman) 24
3 Geothermal Drilling (Derrickman) 24
4 Geothermal Drilling (Driller) 24
5 Geothermal Drilling Technology 45
6 Geothermal Reservoir Management 45
7 Geothermal Utilization 45
8 Intermediate Electrical & Safety Operations 45
9 Power System Control Operation& SCADA System for Substation 45
10 Switching Operation procedures for transmission substation 45
11 High Voltage power cables termination and jointing 45
12 Grid Power System Operation 45
13 Training on gas Turbine & Engine System Steam Turbine 45

FACULTY OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, PROCUREMENT & MANAGEMENT

1 Engendering Utilities Program 40
2 Corporate Administrative Management 24
3 Procurement and Materials Management 24
4 Strategic Energy Contracts Management. 24
5 Power purchase agreements & environmental attributes 24

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