Country Update Report for Kenya 2000-2005

Abstract

Electricity generation from geothermal in Kenya has increased by 82 MWe over the last five years. Construction of 2 x 35MW Olkaria II geothermal power station, started in August 1999 and was commissioned late 2003. The completion of this plant makes the total geothermal output in Kenya to be 127MW which is about 11% of the effective capacity. The independent power producer, Orpower 4 Inc, a subsidiary of Ormat International, commissioned a 12 MW binary pilot plant for Olkaria III in the year 2000. Simultaneous to power plant construction, 9 appraisal and production wells were drilled phases. From the results of these wells, the field was assessed as capable of supporting 48MW over a period of 20 years. The proposed Olkaria IV development continued to suffer from lack of funding. Oserian Development Company, a flower growing company, installed a green house heating system in May 2003 using a 1.28MW steam well leased from KenGen. Oserian has also constructed a 1.8 MWe binary plant for use at the flower farm. A prefeasibility study for multiple uses of geothermal for generation and water production for agriculture and domestic use was carried out at Eburru geothermal field. Detailed surface exploration work at Menengai geothermal prospect was completed.