Renewable energy: DP Gachagua seeks partners for geothermal venture

Globeleq aims to supply 35MW of power to the national grid by 2025.

The government has licensed three independent companies to extract steam from the site's wells. Currently, green energy constitutes 87.42% of the nation's power, with geothermal contributing 45.5%.

Gachagua pointed out that the country is on track to meet the national power demand, which increases at 3.1 per cent annually.

The Kenya Kwanza administration, he added, is keen to push further in transitioning from fossil fuels to renewables as part of its climate change combat strategy. "Green energy is also affordable, a factor that will significantly bring down the cost of power, especially for domestic consumers. For instance, upon completion, electricity from this power plant that we launch today will cost about 7 US cents," he said.

Gachagua was accompanied by Governor Susan Kihika, Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir, and outgoing UK High Commissioner Jane Marriott.