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Works starts on Olkaria I geothermal power station rehabilitation, Kenya

Works starts on Olkaria I geothermal power station rehabilitation, Kenya Olkaria I Unit 1, 2, and 3 geothermal power plant, Kenya (source: Steam Srl)
Carlo Cariaga 22 May 2023

Olkaria I, the oldest geothermal power plant in Kenya, has been temporarily shut down to give way to rehabilitation and capacity expansion projects.

The Olkaria I geothermal power station of KenGen in Naivasha, Kenya has been shut down in preparation for its two-year rehabilitation programme. The plan includes changing the turbines of the power plant and introducing new technology to increase its installed capacity from the current 45 MW to 63 MW.

Plans for the redevelopment of Olkaria I (along with Olkaria IV) were announced at the end of 2022.  Earlier this year, KenGen received funding from the EU for the planned refurbishment project. Olkaria I holds the distinction of being the oldest geothermal power station in Kenya.

Kengen geothermal development general manager Peketsa Mangi is optimistic that Olkaria I will come back bigger and stronger after the temporary shutdown. He further explained that the deficit due to the shutdown of Olkaria I will be made up by the 86-MW Olkaria I Unit 6 power plant, which went online in July 2022.

Mangi also announced that the multi-million Geothermal Training Center, funding by the World Bank with USD 2.8 million, will start to offer training in renewable energy by next year. The center is expected to receive students from Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia.

A few weeks ago, the Olkaria geothermal fields was visited by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. During the visit, Chancellor Scholz committed that Germany will provide funding and technical support for the capacity expansions plans in Olkaria.

Source: The Star