The soaring cost of electricity has become a pressing concern for the government, prompting a shift towards renewable energy as a solution. The Ministry of Energy, recognizing the urgency, has issued a challenge to Kengen, urging them to tap into geothermal, wind, hydro, and solar power sources.

In a recent report featured in the company’s weekly newsletter, Alex Wachira, the PS in the Ministry, commended Kengen for its significant contribution of up to 75 percent of the country’s energy. He emphasized the need for the company to prioritize the expansion of electricity base load through the utilization of renewable energy sources.

“The capacity of Kengen to harness geothermal, hydro, wind, and solar energy is immense, and this will undoubtedly help in reducing the cost of electricity,” he asserted.

Highlighting KenGen’s consistent delivery of value to shareholders, the PS attributed this success to the company’s corporate strategy, which included diversification into new revenue streams. Wachira emphasized the importance of KenGen’s continued growth, emphasizing its vital role as a major player in the energy value chain, contributing between 67 and 75 percent of the country’s electricity consumption at any given time.

Previously, the company embarked on the rehabilitation of the Olkaria I geothermal power plant in Naivasha, with plans to increase power supply by an additional 20 MW. Peketsa Mangi, the General Manager of Kengen Geothermal Development, revealed that the power plant had been temporarily shut down to facilitate the ongoing works.

Optimistic about the outcome, Mangi shared that the refurbished power plant would emerge even more formidable as the old turbines were being replaced. “The power plant initially generated 45 MW, but we anticipate that this figure will rise to 63 MW once the rehabilitation process is completed in the coming years,” he explained.

Addressing concerns about the power deficit caused by the temporary shutdown, Mangi stated that 86 MW from Olkaria I (unit 6) plant had been allocated to compensate for the shortfall. In addition, the government has taken steps to enhance electricity security by launching the Ethiopia-Kenya transmission line, which will provide an additional 200 MW of power supply.

Mangi also announced that construction of the Geothermal Training Center in Naivasha, a multimillion-dollar project funded by the World Bank with a budget of $2.8 million, is set to commence in a few weeks. The center aims to provide training in renewable energy and is expected to be operational by next year, reinforcing the government’s commitment to sustainable power generation.