GDC has developed up to 490 MW in steam output
Drilling crew at Menengai, Kenya (source: flickr/ GDC5000)
Francisco Rojas
15 Sep 2014
GDC has been accelerating the development of geothermal developing 490MW worth of steam and 84 geothermal wells, 59 of which have been drilled within the last five years.
The Geothermal Development Company (GDC) has spent more than Sh60 billion in the last five years, despite certain criticism over progress in recent months.
In an internal report that was to be presented to the Energy committee of the National Assembly this week, the State-owned company, which is tasked with accelerating the generation of geothermal power, says that since its inception, it has developed 490MW worth of steam. In addition, it has 84 geothermal wells, 59 of which have been drilled within the last five years at a cost of Sh29 billion.
GDC has also bought seven deep drilling rigs and drilling materials for 100 wells at a cost of Sh28 billion, undertaken infrastructural works required for geothermal drilling, including access roads and water pipelines at an approximate cost of Sh3 billion.
“We know what we have been up to and time will reveal it all,” said Rose Musembi, GDC’s corporate affairs and marketing manager. “We are really in the background.”
On average, it costs Sh300 million to drill a well, a capital requirement that has kept many private investors away from venturing into geothermal power generation as it is not guaranteed that a well will prove viable.
Source: Standard Digital Website
