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Geothermal Centre of Excellence being established in Nakuru, Kenya

Geothermal Centre of Excellence being established in Nakuru, Kenya Geothermal well at Menengai, Kenya (source: flickr/ ScientificDrilling)
Alexander Richter 7 Nov 2013

With the support of the Kenyan government, the country's Geothermal Development Company (GDC) announced the establishment of a Geothermal Centre of Excellence, at the start of a training course held by the UNU Geothermal Training Program today.

A Geothermal Centre of Excellence is being established in Nakuru, Kenya, as reported by GDC today. The Kenyan government “has upped its plans for the development of the Geothermal Development Company’s (GDC) Geothermal Centre of Excellence, Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Hon. Davis Chirchir said.

Speaking during the official opening of a three-week United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme (UNU-GTP) in Naivasha, Hon. Chirchir stressed the need to fast track human capacity development in Kenya for the nation to realize its dream of adequate energy and subsequent economic growth in line with Kenya’s national development plans.

“The Kenya Government has already given GDC some funds, part of which have already been used to acquire 100 acres of land in Nakuru for the development of Geothermal Centre of Excellency,” he remarked.

The Cabinet Secretary also regretted the current high cost of energy in the country terming it  “punitive.” He assured Kenyans of better energy cost in the next 40 months as a result of the 5000 MW + initiative.

“Today the consumer pays Ksh. 17 per kilowatt-hour. However in the next 40 months, geothermal energy will help lower the cost of energy to Ksh. 6 per kilowatt-hour,” said Chirchir.

The training brought together 68 participants drawn from across Africa including Yemen, Burundi, DRC Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Malawi, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Niger, Uganda, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Comoros, Cameroon and Zambia, making it the largest ever group of students since its inception.

Among the dignitaries present during the ceremony included GDC MD and CEO Dr. Silas Simiyu, UNU-GTP Director Ludvick Georgeson, KenGen Ag. MD Simon Ngure and UNEP’s Meseret Teklemariam.”

Source: GDC