Kenya's Geothermal Expansion Strategy for Developing 1260MWe by 2018

Abstract

Kenya is endowed with vast geothermal potential along the world famous East African Rift valley that transects the country from north to south. Exploration reveals that geothermal potential exceeds 3,000 MW and is capable of meeting all of Kenya’s electricity needs over the next 20 years. Out of this potential, only 130 MWe is currently generated at the Olkaria geothermal field. The Least Cost Power Development Plan (2008-2028) prepared by the Government of Kenya indicates that geothermal plants have the lowest unit cost and therefore are suitable for base load and thus, recommended for additional expansion. Electric power demand growth in Kenya currently stands at over 8% annually. In order to meet the anticipated growth in demand, The Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has embarked on an ambitious generation expansion plan to install additional 1260 MW of electric power by 2018 from geothermal sources. The planned geothermal developments require over 300 production and 60 re-injection wells to be drilled in the next ten (10) years and about 10 large power stations of about 140 MWe each to be built at a total cost of over US$ 5 billion inclusive of wells and steam gathering system.