from MARIA MACHARIA in Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya Bureau
NAIROBI, (CAJ News) – WHEN it comes to geothermal energy in Africa, Kenya stands firmly at the forefront.
The country is the continent’s largest producer of geothermal power and ranks among the top producers globally.
Much of Kenya’s geothermal development is concentrated in the Great Rift Valley, particularly at the Olkaria Geothermal Power Station, located near Naivasha.
Kenya began exploring geothermal resources in the 1950s, but significant development took off in the 1980s through government-backed investment and international partnerships.
The state-owned KenGen has led much of the expansion. Today, Kenya generates over 900 megawatts (MW) of geothermal power, accounting for nearly half of its electricity supply.
The Olkaria complex alone contributes the majority of this capacity.
Geothermal energy is expensive to start but relatively cheap to run.
Initial costs include geological surveys, exploratory drilling and plant construction — all of which require significant capital and technical expertise.
Drilling a single well can cost millions of pounds, with no absolute guarantee of success. However, once operational, geothermal plants have low fuel costs because they rely on naturally occurring underground heat.
Successful geothermal development requires specific geological conditions: high underground temperatures, permeable rock formations and accessible reservoirs of steam or hot water.
These conditions are commonly found in tectonically active regions such as the Rift Valley. Infrastructure for drilling, steam gathering systems and turbine technology is also essential.
A well-managed geothermal power station can operate for 25 to 50 years or more. Some reservoirs can produce energy sustainably for decades if properly maintained and reinjected with water.
Despite Africa’s vast Rift Valley potential, geothermal projects remain limited due to high upfront costs, drilling risks, lack of technical capacity and limited financing.
Political uncertainty and weak energy infrastructure in some countries also slow progress.
Geothermal energy is renewable, reliable and produces minimal greenhouse gas emissions compared to coal or diesel.
It provides stable baseload power, unlike solar or wind which depend on weather conditions. However, it is location-specific, capital-intensive and carries exploration risks.
With growing energy demand and climate concerns, geothermal holds strong promise for Africa and the world.
Countries such as Ethiopia and Djibouti are expanding exploration. If investment barriers are addressed, geothermal could become a cornerstone of Africa’s clean energy transition.
– CAJ News