Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Kenya: Silica and Lithium Could be By-Product from Geothermal Power Plants

KenGen eyes sale of valuable minerals in geothermal fluids (Business Daily Africa)

The Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) is eyeing the sale of valuable minerals such as silica and lithium found in geothermal fluids as a strategy to diversify its revenue base.

The State-owned power generator is seeking a consultant to assess the feasibility of extracting minerals from the hot brines — the waste stream that geothermal power plants pump out of the ground.

KenGen managing director Albert Mugo said the firm is turning to innovation to exploit the minerals found in geothermal fluids which come from rocks below the earth’s surface.

“We want an expert to establish the technical and financial viability of this project.” Mr Mugo told the Business Daily. He declined to offer any timelines or capital commitments, saying it is still “very early” in the project cycle. “If found feasible, we’ll go ahead,” he said.