Expansion of Geothermal Development in Environmentally Significant Areas: The Case of Olkaria Geothermal Project in Hell’s Gate National Park, Kenya

Abstract

Due to a growing national demand for electricity, the Kenya Electricity Generating Company Limited (KenGen) developed plans to increase production of geothermal energy within the Greater Olkaria Geothermal Area. The plans call for the establishment of additional power plants and enhancement of the existing capacity in the Olkaria I power generating station. But these plans come at a cost: the proposed location of the additional plants is home to a variety of wildlife and vegetation species. This paper describes the environmental management plans put in place by KenGen to promote environmental and wildlife conservation, in cooperation with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), to mitigate the anticipated adverse impacts arising from the introduction of additional power plants within the Hell’s Gate National Park.