A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed between the predominantly (70%) State-owned Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) and Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (Toshiba ESS) of Japan, as a precursor to the creation of a partnership between the two groups in the area of geothermal power. The intent is to combine the expertise of the two companies and provide operation and maintenance services for geothermal power plants in developing countries, initially in East Africa.

“Geothermal energy provides sustainable power supply,” highlighted KenGen MD and CEO Rebecca Miano. “It is a resource we have in abundance in Kenya, an advantage that has enabled us to build a considerable wealth of expertise in its exploration and development. This we have done for more than 50 years.”

KenGen currently has 799 MW of geothermal energy capacity, produced by four power stations in the Olkaria area of the Kenyan portion of the Great Rift Valley. These are Olkaria I, Olkaria II, Olkaria IV and Olkaria V (Olkaria III is owned by a private sector power company). The group is planning a fifth such power station, Olkaria VI, which will be developed as a public-private partnership. KenGen produces about 60% of Kenya’s electricity and has a total installed generating capacity of 1 904 MW (with hydroelectricity providing 826 MW, thermal 253 MW and wind 26 MW).

“I’m delighted to announce this cooperation with KenGen, Toshiba ESS has collaborated in the development of geothermal power generation and human resources in Uganda, Malawi, and other East African countries,” pointed out Toshiba ESS business development executive Toyoaki Fujita. “Through this collaboration, I’m convinced that we can contribute to supplying clean and safe energy in the regions with KenGen.”

To date, Toshiba ESS has delivered 60 geothermal power generation sets to customers all around the world, including Africa. These had a total capacity of about 3 790 MW. They included four sets of 70 MW steam turbines for KenGen’s Olkaria I and Olkaria IV power stations.

Africa’s Great Rift Valley is a region where two tectonic plates are splitting apart. This creates a huge potential for geothermal power, and there is a continuing survey under way to locate geothermal resources throughout the valley. The two groups see considerable opportunity in this situation, and, under their MoU, KenGen will become the African ‘point of geothermal expert reference’. The MoU was signed at the recent eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, held in Tunisia, although the signing was only announced on Wednesday.