In the heart of the Rift Valley, near Nakuru, northwest of Nairobi, work on the 105-megawatt Menengai geothermal project is advancing rapidly. The project, which consists of three modular power plants, each with a capacity of 35 megawatts, is set to provide clean, affordable, and sustainable energy to half a million Kenyan households by 2025.
The first plant, built by Nairobi-based Sosian Energy, is already operational. The second, currently under construction by Globeleq, one of Africa's top independent power producers, is expected to come on stream by the end of 2025. Once the third plant Is added, the Menengai geothermal facility will boast a total installed capacity of 105 megawatts, generating 1,000 gigawatt hours of electricity annually. Beneficiaries of the power will include 70,000 in rural areas, as well as 300,000 small businesses and industries.
Geothermal power harnesses heat from the earth's crust to convert groundwater into steam, which then drives turbines to generate electricity. The project, which taps into Kenya's vast geothermal reserves, will help reduce the country's dependence on fossil fuels and combat climate change.
African Development Bank Group spearheading collaborative support
The Menengai project is backed by a $198.4 million investment from international partners, including the African Development Bank Group, which provided $120 million in financing through its concessional lending window. The Bank Group also mobilized additional funding from partners such as the Strategic Climate Fund, the Eastern and Southern African Trade & Development Bank, and the Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation.
Kenya's state-owned Geothermal Development Company is responsible for exploring and developing geothermal steam resources. Globeleq will develop and operate one of the plants at the Menengai fields. "Globeleq will begin receiving steam as soon as construction is completed," explains Geothermal Development Company engineer Stephen Onyango.
The electricity generated by the Menengai power plants will be fed into the national grid via the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company and distributed to consumers by the Kenya Power and Lighting Company.
Gobeleq Managing Director Edouard Wenseleers is optimistic about the project's future. "We are right at the heart of the Menengai Caldera. Once completed, the project will provide reliable and affordable baseload power to Kenya's national grid," he said.
The Menengai geothermal project aligns with Kenya's Vision 2030 development plan and aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.95 million tonnes of CO2 annually. It's also part of Kenya's broader commitment to renewable energy, with geothermal sources already accounting for 45 percent of the national energy supply.
"The beauty of geothermal energy is that it is abundant in Kenya," says Mr Wenseleers. "This abundant, clean resource is supporting the economic and social development of one of East Africa's leading economies."
The project also brings significant social benefits. Caroline Mpaima, Head of Environment, Social and Governance at Globeleq, shared that the project employs 175 people from the local community. "The power plant not only generates electricity but also creates jobs and develops local skills," she stated, noting that many local workers are learning skills like welding, which can provide them with new career opportunities.
Additionally, the food consumed by the workforce comes directly from local farms, helping to boost the local economy. "We are providing jobs, boosting the local economy and creating business opportunities for local inhabitants," Mpaima added.
