American geothermal firm Orpower4 pocketed Sh11.3 billion ($113 million) in geothermal power sales in the last financial year, cementing its spot as the top independent power producer (IPP) in Kenya.
OrPower4 is a subsidiary of US-based Ormat Technologies Inc. and is currently the only private company generating geothermal electricity in Kenya. The American firm has an installed capacity of 139 megawatts (MW) of steam power in Naivasha’s Olkaria steam fields, accounting for 20 per cent of Kenya’s total installed geothermal capacity of 690 MW. OrPower4 operates Olkaria 3 Unit 1-9 plant, along with wellheads.