S. Sudan seeks Kenya support to tap geothermal power

South Sudan has shown a keen interest in partnering with Kenya's Geothermal Development Company (GDC)  to assist it explore and develop its own geothermal energy resources.

A high-powered delegation from the Energy sector in the emerging new nation toured the multi-billion Menengai project in Nakuru and said they were impressed by the development and would like to do the same in their country.

“GDC should come to Sudan and begin undertaking assessment of our country’s geothermal potential,” said Engineer Elhadi Mohammed Ali, who was the head of the delegation.

South Sudan is set to become an independent nation next month.

The high powered delegation also included Engineers Rahid Ali Abdallah, Adil Farah Elgasim Elgalili, Yasir Abdalla Saeed who is the Director of Renewable Energy and Hind Elamin Elnour.

Eng Elhadi, who is also the general manager of Investment and Finance, said Sudan was keen in developing a partnership with Kenya to help it tap its geothermal potential.

He said his country had three potential sites which they would like to develop in collaboration with GDC.

“Without doubt, GDC is the best company to collaborate with in the area of geothermal exploration and development,” said Eng Elhadi.

GDC manager in charge of Public Relations and Communication Ruth Musembi said her company was awaiting for a formal request from South Sudan before they could send their technical staff to undertake the initial assessments.

She said they will send one engineer, a geologist and a scientist to help the country unlock its geothermal resource.

“We are willing to assist South Sudan any time and once we receive the formal invitation we shall send three technical staff to Sudan,” said Ms Musembi.

Ms Musembi said the Sudanese delegation was  interested with he Menengai project as it is a new field and wanted to see how Kenya was tapping geothermal from a new field.

GDC is set to drill at least 120 wells at Menengai Project and already the first well in the phase one of the project is complete and generating 10MW of electricity.

The first phase of the Sh70 billion project is expected to generate 400MW by 2015.

She said once GDC establishes the existence of geothermal energy in South Sudan, it will undertake surface exploration studies.

The official revealed that GDC was also undertaking consultancy for geothermal in other countries such as Comoros, Rwanda and Yemen.