KenGen strategy to phase out thermal power has got a significant boost, with construction on the Olkaria I unit 6 geothermal plant slated to be finished by January of next year.
When completed, the facility will add an additional 83 megawatts to the national grid, even as the country’s power consumption rises.
Kengen CEO Rebeca Miano stated that development on the geothermal facility was nearing completion as the business prepared to replace thermal electricity with green energy.
Speaking the weekend after a visit to Olkaria Naivasha, Miano said that the plant would help push down the cost of electricity in the country.
“We are at an advanced stage of construction of 83MW Olkaria I unit 6 and we expect this to be added to the grid between December this year and early next year,”
“This will further push our green energy portfolio and help drive down the cost of electricity in Kenya by displacing thermal energy,” she said.
Miano expressed Kengen’s commitment to delivering on its energy generation mandate to meet the country’s growing demand for electricity through renewable energy sources.
She said that Kengen was doing this by accelerating the deployment of renewable energy sources such as hydro, geothermal, wind and solar.
Miano said that Kengen was doing this by accelerating the deployment of renewable energy sources such as hydro, geothermal, wind and solar.
“KenGen is committed to ensuring a steady and reliable supply of competitively priced electric energy to support Kenya’s economy,” she said.
On her part, the CS for Energy Monica Juma lauded Kengen for its global leadership in the field of renewable energy, as was demonstrated during the COP26 Conference in Scotland.
The Energy CS urged Kengen to ensure a reliable supply of power while underscoring the link between energy and dignity for humanity.
She said the Government had launched a campaign to ensure that all Kenyans use clean cooking by 2028 as part of conserving the environment.
Juma said renewable energy was the preferred option for Kenya adding that the move would also help attract foreign investments in Kenya’s energy sector.
“It is always a befitting moment to witness the glowing recognition that Kenya continues to receive for promoting the generation of clean and renewable energy,” she said.
KenGen Chairman, General (Rtd.) Samson Mwathethe, reiterated their commitment to clean energy deployment and thanked the government and development partners for support in the delivery of power projects.
“The Board will continue to work with the Government and other stakeholders in the energy and development sectors to ensure we grow Kenya’s energy capacity,” he said.
