Second drilling contractor engaged for Tulu Moye geothermal project
TMGO has announced spudding of Well GD1 by Marriott Drilling, a new drilling contractor for the Tulu Moye geothermal project in Ethiopia.
In a post made on the company’s official Twitter account, Tulu Moye Geothermal Operations (TMGO) announced that the Marriott Drilling Group has spudded Well GD1, signaling the start of drilling. The Marriott Drilling Group is the second contractor engaged for this geothermal project in Ethiopia after the drilling contract was signed with KenGen in 2019, as we reported.
Drilling of the first well in Tulu Moye, Well GA1, started in March 2020. However, progress was hampered initially by the COVID-19 pandemic. Drilling of GA1 was completed by early 2021 and quickly followed by drilling of GA2 and GA3. By early 2022, drilling of Well GB1 was completed.
The Tulu Moye geothermal project with an estimated total capacity of 150 MW will be developed in two phases (Phase 1 – 50 MW and Phase 2 – 100 MW) with an investment of $800 million. The project is located in a site with an estimated geothermal energy capacity of over 1 GW. Electricity generated in the Tulu Moye geothermal power plant will be sold to Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP).