The government’s dream of generating 105 megawatts of green energy through Geothermal Development Company is on course as one of the three Independent Power Producers is ready to inject 49 megawatts into the national grid.
GDC Regional Manager in charge of North Rift, John Lagat, said one of the IPP would be releasing 49MW into the grid by December this year although the initial agreement was that each power producer would process 35MW bringing it to a total of 105 MW.
Lagat who was speaking on behalf of the company's Chief Executive Officer, Jared Otieno, said the injection would reduce carbon dioxide emissions as well as the cost of electricity.
Speaking in Nakuru during a meeting with representatives of the Japanese International Agency (Jica) on Tuesday, Lagat said GDC’s role was to produce steam while the IPPs converted it to electricity.
He said Jica's new support in strengthening capacity for geothermal steam supply and management will enhance the company’s technical competence and increase efficiency and reliability in relation to steam supply.
“Kenya’s massive geothermal potential of 10,000 megawatts can only be fully exploited through such kind of technical support,” said Lagat.
The manager who was accompanied by Jica’s Director-General, Infrastructure Management Department, Tanaka Hiroo and Special Advisor, Mihara Asahiko observed that the thriving geothermal sector in Kenya was critical to the economy and lifestyle of the people.
He thanks Jica for its continued financial and technical support for Kenya with GDC having benefited from the partnership since its inception in 2013.
“For close to a decade, Jica has proved its commitment to help Kenya towards self-reliance on green energy,” he said
Lagat said the initial funding of 20.5 million US dollars for the period ending 2019 was very to GDC’s development strategy and the master plan for Baringo Silali Geothermal Project.
He said the cooperation will accelerate business and steam generation.
On the capacity building of GDC staff, he said 475 staff members had been trained by Jica with 76 of them having been trained internationally
Mihara said production of clean energy in Kenya was still a challenge adding that Jica was doing its bid in supporting the reduction of carbon emissions.
