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Monday, January 14, 2019

Kenya: Drilling to Resume at 70 MW Akiira One Geothermal Project

Centum set to resume geothermal exploration (Business Daily Africa)

Centum Investment Company Plc and its partners plan to resume exploration for geothermal steam in Naivasha by March after previous two wells yielded less resource than what is required to sustain electricity generation.

Akiira Geothermal Ltd, a consortium where Centum controls a 37.5 per cent stake, banks on the planned drilling to kick-start building of a 70-megawatt power plant whose cost is projected at €310 million (Sh36.04 billion).

The first two wells, whose drilling works started in 2015, encountered some steam which was, however, not enough to support power generation to be connected to the national grid.

Centum chief executive James Mworia said: “We are in advanced discussions with strategic partners to do a joint development of the field and we expect to conclude that in the first quarter and to carry on with the drilling activities.”

“The field is rich in geothermal. It’s just next to KenGen’s Olkaria field. So, I have no doubt it’s going to be a successful operation. It’s just that it has taken us a long time,” he added.

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