News flash
- The groundbreaking ceremony for the Orpower 22 Geothermal Power Plant in Kenya — the first phase of the Menengai Geothermal Power Project undertaken by POWERCHINA — was held on Oct 24.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ruto said the project’s groundbreaking is a milestone marking a leap toward the country’s target of using clean energy nationwide by 2030.
The Menengai Geothermal Power Project near Nakuru County is part of Kenya’s “2030 Energy Plan”. It will consist of three geothermal power plants with a total planned capacity of 105 megawatts. POWERCHINA’s first plant, Sosian Geothermal Power Station, was commissioned in June 2023. It is the first of its kind in Africa to be independently designed, manufactured, constructed, and commissioned by a Chinese enterprise.
Kenya’s Geothermal Development Company said the Menengai complex harbors an estimated 1,600 MW of energy potential, with a long-term goal of generating 465 MW of geothermal steam through similar partnerships.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
