NZ funding for Kenya geothermal development efforts

An agreement has been signed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand with the African Union Commission on financial support to Kenya’s geothermal development.

The funding of KhS 76 million (around USD 692,000) is earmarked to efforts to expand access to affordable, reliable and clean energy through the increased use of geothermal energy resources, so Jared Othieno, CEO of Geothermal Development Company (GDC).

The funding comes through the New Zealand – Africa Geothermal Facility implemented under a partnership arrangement between New Zealand and the African Union Commission Partnership Arrangement. The NZ AGF, as we have been reporting on before, seeks to provide technical assistance and capacity building services to help alleviate barriers to geothermal development. And it aims to improve understanding and regulation of geothermal resources, and to help progress, de-risk and secure financing for geothermal development.

Othieno added that the financial support will strengthen Kenya’s technical and managerial capacities to undertake geothermal steam operations at the Menengai Geothermal Field.

He said the facility will provide GDC with technical assistance in the areas of steam-field operational management, geoscience and reservoir management, compliance processes and sustainable field development.

Source: Xinhua.net