Good News for Kenya as KenGen Completes Construction of Olkaria I Unit 6 Geothermal Power Plant

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.

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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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Davis Chirchir - Cabinet Secretary, Energy and Petroleum

@_DavisChirchir

CABINET SECRETARY, ENERGY AND PETROLEUM- KENYA

Mr. Davis Chirchir is the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Energy and Petroleum in Kenya. He provides policy, oversight and leadership in the corporate institutional framework of the Ministry. The institutions under this framework include:

Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC)
National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK)
Kenya Petroleum Oil Refineries (KPRL)
Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA)
Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC(KenGen)
The Kenya Power and Lighting Company PLC (KPLC)
Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Corporation (REREC)
Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO)
Geothermal Development Company (GDC)
Energy Tribunal
Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA)
Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

He has in-depth experience in project development, management and execution and is skilled in strategic analysis and financial management

Mr. Chirchir previously led the Ministry in the same capacity from 2013 to 2015. This is therefore his second appointment as the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum; a testament to his in-depth understanding of the sector and the impact he had. Prior to his nomination and appointment as the Cabinet Secretary, he was the Chief of Staff to the Deputy President.

He was also a Commissioner at the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) where he spearheaded the introduction and application of information technology and reform initiatives in voter registration and election results management.

This was preceded by his role as General Manager at Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation (KPTC) where he coordinated the restructuring of KPTC to create Telkom Kenya, Communication Commission of Kenya, Postal Corporation of Kenya and staff Pension Fund. He also coordinated the privatization of Telkom Kenya and establishment of Safaricom. He was a member of the Technology Committee at Nairobi Stock Exchange and supported the computerization of the Central Depository and Trading System.

Mr. Chirchir holds a Masters of Business Administration in International Management from Royal Holloway School of Management, University of London. He also holds a postgraduate diploma in Tele-traffic Engineering and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Physics from the University of Nairobi.

Kamau Alex Wachira - Principal Secretary

@_AlexKamauWachira

Alex Kamau Wachira - Principal Secretary

The Principal Secretary joins the State Department for Energy with a wealth of experience from the private sector where he worked variously as an investment banker. His latest assignment was with Faida Investment Bank where he traded and structured Treasury bonds and Corporate bonds at the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE). Other assignments include working with Dyer & Blair Investment Bank and Genghis Capital limited in the same capacity.

PS Wachira has served in various leadership’s positions right from his university days. He was a founding member of the Bonds Market Association as well as a member of the Steering Committee of the Kenya Association of Stock Brokers and Investment Bankers (KASIB). His contribution to the Bond’s market saw him being appointed to the Central Depository Project at the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK). In 2021, the project dealt in government securities worth 900 billion, the highest turnover ever in Kenya.

The PS launched his career in the financial sector after participating in the issuance of the Safaricom IPO in 2008 where he interned. He had prior completed a Bsc Degree course from the University of Nairobi. At Campus, he served as the Secretary General NUNSA and Treasurer for the Confederation of Medical Students Association. He is currently pursuing an MA in Leadership at Pan African Christian University.

A strong believer in servant leadership through community engagement and development, in that position, the PS was able to spearhead initiatives such, as free medical camps for Cancer Screening, Tree planting, Youth Mentorship Programmes, and Sports Tournaments among others. Born and bred in Kieni Constituency, Nyeri County, the PS is a family man who’s strict up bringing is instrumental in shaping him into the person he is.