Tender: EOI for research services on mineral extraction from geothermal brine, Kenya

Olkaria geothermal plant, Naivasha, Kenya (source: Lydur Skulason, creative commons)

Alexander Richter 13 Dec 2018

Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) a limited liability company, 70% owned by the Government of the Republic of Kenya has published a call for Expression of Interest (EOI) for research services for mineral extraction from geothermal brine.

KenGen is the leading electric power generation company in Kenya, producing about 80% of the electricity used in the country. It has a total installed capacity of 1,631MW with power plants located in different parts of Kenya. Over the years KenGen has invested heavily in generation of electricity using geothermal energy. All the geothermal plants owned by KenGen are single flash condensing type. The flashing process yields brine that contains mineral elements like silica that could have commercial application.

Owing to this KenGen invites expression of interest from eligible firms and entities to provide application research on mineral extraction from the geothermal brine.

Objectives

To enhance value creation and sustainability of the geothermal reservoir, the company wishes to engage an eligible firm or consortium in the research into mineral extraction from Brine.

The objectives of the research are to:

• Provide practical applied research approaches to mineral extraction from brine
• Develop technological know-how on mineral extraction from brine.
• Facilitate and foster collaborative research, planning and development with a focus to piloting mineral extraction technology.

The research is focused on data collection, methodological development, instrument/equipment development in mineral extraction technology. All intellectual property developed through this process will belong to KenGen.

Scope of Services

The scope of work and services for the research will include but not limited to the following:

1. Study the presence of commercially viable minerals in the separated brine. Establish the available quantities of those minerals, Demonstrate market need for those minerals locally, regionally and/or globally.
2. Development of a mineral extraction technology for extracting the minerals from brine
3. Application of the technology developed by designing and developing a pilot extraction plant to demonstrate the functionality of the technology.

Eligibility Criteria

The expression of interest must be accompanied by the researcher’s qualifications, professional capabilities and details of past experience related to the requested research services. Such information may include research papers, description of similar research projects, experience in similar conditions, and availability of appropriate skills among research team with their most recent profiles showing their experience, qualifications, capabilities, referees and details of past experience especially in their areas of expertise. This research requires the services of competent firms or entities knowledgeable in geochemistry, geology, mechatronics, electrical & mechanical engineering

Interested firms or entities should provide specific information as indicated in the official tender notice, see link below.

Deadline is January 22, 2019

Source: Official Tender notice (pdf)

Disclaimer: we are taking no liability for the details as laid out above, please refer to the official tender notice linked to above.