KenGen confident in start of 168 MW Olkaria V geothermal plant in 2019
Olkaria I Geothermal Plant (Source: Toshiba Press Release)
Alexander Richter
22 Feb 2018
KenGen expects to be able to finish the 168 MW Olkaria V geothermal power plant and start operation of the plant in 2019, according to Rebecca Miano, CEO of KenGen during a recent press tour through Olkaria.
During a press tour through Olkaria, KenGen CEO, Rebecca Miano has confirmed that KenGen expects the 168 MW Olkaria V geothermal power plant will be operational by next year. The plant is part of the Kenya Electricity Generating Company’s (KenGen) ambitious green energy project aimed at delivering an additional 701 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy by 2019 at a cost of Sh135 billion ($1.3 billion).
The company has installed 1,631MW out of which 533MW is geothermal. The rest is hydro and wind.
The Olkaria V project started early construction work in January 2017, and will ensure Kenyans benefit directly from reliable, clean, and affordable electricity. “Our focus is on geothermal energy, which is an eco-friendly, renewable, and reliable source that can reduce consumers’ utility costs by up to 50 per cent,” Mrs Miano said. She further confirmed that designing and manufacturing of the plant’s equipment, mainly in Japan and Germany, was on schedule, with several pieces already tested in readiness for shipment to Kenya.
“A substantial portion of the materials to be incorporated in this project have been sourced locally. These include cement and concrete materials, reinforcement steel bars, steel beams, and fencing materials,” she said. The project is funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Government of Kenya.
Source: Standard
