- The plan includes changing the power plant’s turbines and introducing new technology to increase its installed capacity from the current 45 MW to 63 MW.
- Chancellor Scholz committed that Germany would provide funding and technical support for the capacity expansion plans in Olkaria.
The Olkaria I geothermal power station of KenGen in Naivasha, Kenya, has been shut down in preparation for its two-year rehabilitation programme. The plan includes changing the power plant’s turbines and introducing new technology to increase its installed capacity from the current 45 MW to 63 MW.
Plans for the redevelopment of Olkaria I (along with Olkaria IV) were announced at the end of 2022. Earlier this year, KenGen received funding from the EU for the planned refurbishment project. Olkaria I holds the distinction of being the oldest geothermal power station in Kenya. Kengen geothermal development general manager Peketsa Mangi is optimistic that Olkaria I will return bigger and stronger after the temporary shutdown. He further explained that the deficit due to the shutdown of Olkaria I will be made up by the 86-MW Olkaria I Unit 6 power plant, which went online in July 2022.
Mangi also announced that the multi-million Geothermal Training Center, funded by the World Bank with USD 2.8 million, will start offering renewable energy training by next year. The centre is expected to receive students from Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. A few weeks ago, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited the Olkaria geothermal fields. During the visit, Chancellor Scholz committed that Germany would provide funding and technical support for the capacity expansion plans in Olkaria.