News

KenGen targeting textile players for geothermal industrial park at Olkaria

KenGen targeting textile players for geothermal industrial park at Olkaria Construction of Olkaria V geothermal power plant, Kenya Oct. 2018 (source: LinkedIn/ Roberto Razo)
Alexander Richter 14 Jun 2019

KenGen is pushing forward in its development of a green industrial park near its geothermal operations at Olkaria, Kenya, now concretely targeting Kenya's textile industry.

KenGen is pushing forward on its planned industrial park near its geothermal operations in Naivasha, Kenya. The goal is to diversify its revenue streams, and invite investors to set up export-only textile and apparels plants on a 309-acre industrial zone in Naivasha. This is reported by Business Daily Africa.

The “KenGen Green Energy Industrial Park” has four zones and is connected by rail to the important port of Mombasa, providing not only access to shipping but also cheap and stable electricity, and hot water.

“Under the lease, the manufacturing/processing firms (locators) will be supplied with utilities such as geothermal steam and brine (hot water) as well as raw water,” reads the advertisement in the dailies.

The move will also open new business lines for the power generator that have remained untapped such as commercial production of sulphuric acid.

The textile industry in Kenya is strong with around 46,000 people employed and exports of around $415 million.

At Olkaria, KenGen also runs a geothermal spa, a big tourist attraction in the region.

Similar plants are hinted for similar facility at Menengai with studies showing the viability of a five-star resort facing 90-kilometre-wide Menengai crater, a world-class tourist attraction.

Making land available for special economic zones addresses a shortage that garment factories eyeing export markets said slowed down investments in new factories to meet the growing demand for their products.

Source: Business Daily Africa