Menengai II Geothermal Power Station

Menengai II Geothermal Power Station, is a 35 MW (47,000 hp) geothermal power station under construction in Kenya. The power station is owned and under development by Globeleq, an independent power producer headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Globeleq is 70 percent owned by British International Investment and 30 percent by Norfund.[1]

Menengai II Geothermal Power Station
Location of Menengai II Geothermal Power Station
Country
LocationMenengai, Nakuru County, Kenya
Coordinates00°11′46″S 36°03′47″E
StatusUnder construction
Commission date2025 (Expected)
Owner(s)Globeleq
Power generation
Nameplate capacity35 MW (47,000 hp)

Location

The power station is located in the Menengai Crater, approximately 30 kilometres (19 mi), north of Nakuru, the location of the district headquarters. This is approximately 185 kilometres (115 mi), by road, northwest of Nairobi, the capital and largest city in Kenya. The coordinates of Menengai Crater are:0°11'46.0"S, 36°03'47.0"E (Latitude:-0.196105; Longitude:36.063062).[2]

Overview

Geothermal Development Company (GDC), a company wholly owned by the Kenyan government has drilled geothermal wells in the Menengai Crater, whose total capacity can generate up to 130 MW (170,000 hp) of electric energy. GDC will sell the steam to three independent power producers (IPPs) to build three geothermal power stations, each with capacity of 35 MW (47,000 hp).[3] The power stations are:[4][5]

  1. Menengai I Geothermal Power Station - Owned by Orpower Twenty Two
  2. Menengai II Geothermal Power Station - Owned by Globeleq
  3. Menengai III Geothermal Power Station - Owned by Sosian Energy

Ownership

Menengai II Geothermal Power Station, whose construction costs were budgeted at KSh4 billion (approx. US$40 million), is owned by Quantum Power East Africa, an independent power producer (IPP).[6] *US$1.00 = KSh100.80 on 4 April 2016

In February 2021, Afik21.africa reported that Quantum Power East Africa, the developer of this power station, had been majority acquired by Globeleq, a subsidiary of the CDC Group of the United Kingdom.[7]

Construction and timeline

In June 2023, the foundation stone for the power station was laid by Rigathi Gachagua the vice-president of Kenya and Jane Marriott, the British High Commissioner to Kenya. The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor was revealed to be a consortium comprising Toyota Tsusho Corporation and Fuji Electric, both of Japan. Construction is anticipated to conclude in 2025.[8]

Cost and funding

In June 2023, the cost of construction was reported as US$108 million. Partial funding to the tune of US$72 million has been granted to Globeleq by several financial institutions, including the African Development Bank, the Trade and Development Bank and Finnfund. A 25-year power purchase agreement has been signed between Globeleq the independent power producer and Kenya Power and Lighting Company, the off-taker.[8]

See also

References
  1. Sonal Patel (9 February 2023). "Kenya Gearing Up to Build 35-MW Geothermal Power Plant at Menengai Steam Field". Power Magazine. Houston, Texas, United States. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  2. Google (4 April 2016). "Location of Menengai II Geothermal Power Station" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  3. ESI Africa (25 February 2015). "GDC reports current steam output of 130 MW at Menengai". Thinkgeoenergy.com/. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  4. Owori, Tony (7 January 2015). "Menengai geothermal to save nation KSh 13 billion". The Standard (Kenya). Nairobi. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  5. Mureithi, Francis (14 February 2015). "Geothermal power from Menengai to be cheaper... at Sh7khw". Daily Nation. Nairobi. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  6. Simon Ciuri and David Herbling (12 May 2014). "US power firm in shortlist for Menengai plants". Business Daily Africa. Nairobi. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  7. Jean Marie Takouleu (9 February 2021). "Kenya: CDC invests in Quantum and relaunches the Menengai II geothermal project". Afrik21.africa. Paris, France. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  8. Jean Marie Takouleu (12 June 2023). "Kenya: Globeleq starts work on its first geothermal power plant in Menengai". Afrik21.africa. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
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