Page 16 - AfrElec Week 36 2022

AfrElec GEOTHERMAL AfrElec

Toshiba, KenGen to cooperate ln

geothermal in East Africa

JAPAN A Toshiba subsidiary and Kenya’s power util- Under the MoU, 70% state-owned KenGen
ity have agreed in principle to work together to will contribute to the development of geother-
operate and maintain services for geothermal mal power plants in East African countries and
power plants in developing countries, beginning become the continent’s point of expert reference,
in East Africa. said KenGen chief executive and managing
Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corpo- director Rebecca Miano.
ration (ESS) and Kenya Electricity Generating “Geothermal is a resource we have in abun-
Company Plc (KenGen) signed a memoran- dance in Kenya, an advantage that has enabled
dum of understanding (MoU) to that effect at us to build a considerable wealth of expertise in
the recent Tokyo International Conference on its exploration and development. This we have
African Development (TICAD 8) in Tunisia. It done for more than 50 years,” she said.
anticipates them forming a partnership utilising Toshiba ESS has delivered 60 geothermal
their respective know-how and networks. power generation sets all over the world, includ-
“Toshiba ESS has collaborated in the devel- ing in Africa, with a total capacity of about 3,790
opment of geothermal power generation and MW. It also supplied four sets of 70MW steam
human resources in Uganda, Malawi, and other turbines for KenGen’s Olkaria I and IV power
East African countries,” said Toshiba ESS Busi- stations.
ness Development Executive, Toyoaki Fujita. There is an ongoing survey to identify geo-
“Through this collaboration, I’m convinced that thermal resources in the Great Rift Valley, a tec-
we can contribute to supplying clean and safe tonic plate boundary running through Kenya
energy in the regions with KenGen.” and several other countries that has immense
Nairobi-listed KenGen produces about 60% geothermal potential.
of electricity installed in Kenya, with 86% gener- KenGen and Toshiba have said they plan
ated from renewable energy such as hydropower, to cooperate on Rift Valley’s opportunity to
wind power, and geothermal power. Its total advance business expansion.™
799MW installed capacity includes the Olkaria
geothermal plants.

P16 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 36 08•September•2022