Kenya bets big on clean energy

2009 Dec 5

By Erick Wamanji

Plagued by incessant power shortages due to unreliable rainfall that feeds the country’s hydropower plants, the Government is turning to alternative sources of power production.

Ahead of the UN’s climate change summit in Copenhagen, many believe power shortages are more than an immediate crisis.

Even the current rains have not eased the burden off Kenyans’ shoulders as electricity bills continue to soar.

But this may soon change as the newly created Geothermal Development Company (GDC) — a parastatal in the Ministry of Energy — is promising to turn the energy sector around as early as next December.

Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi says the country’s electricity base load will shift from hydro-based to geothermal in the next 10 years.

"With 7,000 MW geothermal potential, why should Kenya not be a leading producer of geothermal electricity?" poses Kirairu.

His sentiments are echoed by Energy PS Patrick Nyoike.

A break with the past

"We are at the tail end of hydropower production. We can only add another 75 MW from this source to the national grid and it is important to explore alternative sources," says Nyoike.

Already GDC has mapped out potential areas to drill for geothermal steam. Last week, it signed a contract to sink about 10 wells at Olkaria Domes in Naivasha beginning January, next year.

The 10-month project is expected to supply electricity equivalent of 140 MW to the Olkaria IV power plant.

GDC Managing Director Silas Simiyu says once this resource is tapped, the cost of electricity is expected to reduce by about half.

Read more: http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1144029679&cid=4

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