KenGen seeks geothermal consultants to rev up steam
What you need to know:
- The experts will specifically advise KenGen on field exploration and development, drilling technology and management, geothermal power plant development and project management.
- In the plan by the government to increase power production capacity in the short term, generation from geothermal resources is expected to take the leading role.
- “Two of the six experts must be local experts. One local expert will be specialized in geothermal drilling while the other will be specialized in geothermal field exploration and development,” reads an expression of interest notice published by KenGen.
Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has announced a plan to set up a geothermal board of consultants as it seeks to step up power production from the resources.
The state owned company Thursday begun the recruitment exercise of the six consultants, four foreign and two local.
The experts will advise KenGen’s management on geothermal development activities and power plants operations annually, subject to yearly renewal for a period of four years.
“Two of the six experts must be local experts. One local expert will be specialized in geothermal drilling while the other will be specialized in geothermal field exploration and development,” reads an expression of interest notice published by KenGen.
In the period to 2018, KenGen is seeking to increase its geothermal power production capacity to 1,260 megawatts, to support growing demand for electricity estimated to be 8 per cent annually.
LEADING ROLE
In the plan by the government to increase power production capacity in the short term, generation from geothermal resources is expected to take the leading role.
In October 2014, geothermal overtook hydro as the leading source of electricity in the country. It is estimated that the country has a potential of up to 10,000 megawatts of geothermal power.
A study carried out by KenGen last year revealed that Kenya is among the top ten leading producers of geothermal power in the world with the installed capacity surpassing that of economic giants like Germany, Japan, Russia and China.
Apart from KenGen, geothermal power is also produced by Ormat Technologies which increased its output to 139 megawatts early this month with the commissioning of plant 4 located within the Olkaria III complex.
The experts will specifically advise KenGen on field exploration and development, drilling technology and management, geothermal power plant development and project management.
