Geothermal Development Company Baringo Silali project
Image: HANDOUT
Geothermal Development Company (GDC) will inject an extra 22mw into the national grid as the government gears towards phasing out thermal power.
The 22mw from one geothermal well from Paka Geothermal Project in Silali Baringo brings to 70mw the total amount of energy tapped by GDC from the region.
This came as the company announced plans to tap over 100mw from the area by 2030 enhancing government plans to phase out thermal power by then.
According to Energy CS David Chirchir, the move was a major achievement in increasing green energy and phasing out thermal power in the country.
Chichir added that with the accelerated rate of drilling operations in the region, Kenyans should expect cheaper power from the prospect sooner.
He noted that hitting big geothermal wells was a major milestone because it saved investors a great deal on drilling costs and speeded up the maturity of a geothermal project.
“With such a major milestone, we expect to increase more green energy into the national grid and in the process bring down the high cost of electricity,” he said during the unveiling ceremony.
Chirchir said that the market will be open to investors who would offer Kenyans the best tariffs adding that the interest of the government was to find ways of lowering the cost of power.
“The Geothermal Development Company will soon advertise to invite investors to express interest in taking up geothermal steam at the Paka Geothermal Project,” he said.
On his part, GDC Managing Director Paul Ngugi lauded the staff for the mega geothermal well noting demand for electricity was on the rise.
He added that with the accelerated development across various parts of the country, the company expected to attain financial stability in three years.
“The 22mw geothermal well in Silali marks one of the major milestones for GDC and we shall continue exploring more geothermal power plants across the country,” he said.
Ngugi added that with climate change affecting weather patterns, the only solution to addressing the country’s rising power demand lay in geothermal.
“GDC is also selling steam to Sosian Power which has started to generate 35MW of power at the GDC-owned Menengai Geothermal Project,” he said.
KETRACO CEO John Mativo who accompanied the CS to Paka Geothermal Project noted that a 197KM evacuation line had been designed ready to evacuate the power
