Nairobi, 18th August 2021: Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) has surpassed a crucial stage in the ongoing USD 6.2 million geothermal drilling contract in Ethiopia further giving impetus to its corporate diversification strategy.

The team of KenGen engineers have so far crossed the 450 meters of drilling depth of the first of eight geothermal wells for the state-owned electricity producer, Ethiopia Electric Power Company which commenced in May this year amid COVID-19.

“The first 450 meters is the most difficult phase of the entire geothermal well drilling process which can go upto a depth of 3,000 meters,” said Managing Director and CEO, Rebecca Miano adding, “this particular one is being done under peculiar circumstances including unforeseen delays occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“We will be drilling at a rate of about 50 meters per day going forward and therefore expect to complete the remaining part on schedule in about two months,” said Mrs. Miano.

In February 2019, KenGen won a joint contract with Shandong Kerui Petroleum Equipment Company and Shandong Kerui Oilfield Service Group to offer geothermal drilling services. The project is being managed between the two consortium members under the contract.

"We are glad that the progress of drilling at Aluto-Langano is remarkable, and optimistic our team will deliver it within the set timelines. We commend our team for surpassing the 450 metres depth of drilling, overcoming all the challenges usually encountered at the initial stages of drilling a geothermal well," said Miano. 

She added: "We have a team of experts comprised of aerated drillers, directional drillers, and reservoir engineers actively working on this project and have also dispatched a team to mobilize a second rig to fast track the process and achieve our goal of drilling eight wells much faster.”

The drilling of the second geothermal well under the Aluto-Langano project started early this week and was at a depth of 36 meters by Wednesday August 18, 2021.

KenGen is hopeful that under the ongoing project, which is financed by the World Bank through a loan to the Ethiopian Government, depending on the outcomes of Lot 1 wells, an additional 12 wells may be drilled under Lot 2 of the contact to bring the total to 20 wells.

At the same time, also in the Horn of Africa, under a contract signed in October 2019, KenGen has completed drilling two geothermal wells for Tulu Moye Geothermal Operations PLC (TMGO) in Ethiopia and is currently drilling the third well.

These two projects are hinged on the Company’s diversification strategy which has led to the organization’s expansion in the Horn of Africa. Besides Ethiopia, KenGen has also secured a Ksh.709 million project to offer commercial drilling services in Djibouti.

In February this year, the company signed the contract with Office Djiboutien De Development De lenergie Geothermique (Djiboutian Office of Geothermal Energy Development) (ODDEG). KenGen is also prospecting for similar businesses in Rwanda.

Kenya is Africa’s largest geothermal energy producer and among the top 10 in the world. The country has an estimated potential of 10,000MW along the Rift Valley.

Nairobi, Thursday 15th July, 2021: Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) has distributed more than 1.9 million tree seedlings to communities and institutions as part of its efforts to reduce carbon emissions.

KenGen’s Managing Director and CEO, Mrs. Rebecca Miano said the tree seedlings, which is equivalent to 3,167acres of forest cover have been distributed over the last seven years, further enhancing the sustainability of the country’s ecosystems. The move has also supported the Government’s efforts to attain at least 10% forest cover by 2022.

Mrs. Miano made the revelation during a panel discussion following the launch of Standard Chartered Bank’s Carbon Dated Report this morning. The report examines the impact of multi-national companies’ net zero plans on their supply chain.

In her submission during the panel discussion, Mrs. Miano emphasized the need for coordinated action across all sectors of the economy in transitioning to a net-zero emissions economy.

“Transitioning to a net-zero emissions economy requires coordinated action across all sectors of the economy supported by enabling policy frameworks. This is where suppliers are required by clients to take action with respect to establishment of targets aimed at transitioning to net-zero emissions in tandem with their clients’ commitments,” she stated.

She called upon corporate organizations to take up their global responsibility by establishing programs aimed at transitioning to net-zero.

Other panellists were Mr. Kariuki Ngari, CEO Standard Chartered Bank Kenya and Mr. Peter Odhengo, Director, Climate Finance Unit at National Treasury.

The KenGen MD indicated that Kenya had submitted her updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2020 making a commitment to abate greenhouse gas emissions by 32% by the year 2030.

Mrs. Miano further stated that whereas the timeframe for the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) extends to the year 2030 with milestone targets pegged around the year 2025, KenGen, besides distribution of tree seedlings has embarked on priority mitigation activities with a focus on increasing the share of grid scale renewable energy.

Note to Editor:

About KenGen

Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC - KenGen is the leading electricity generation company in Eastern Africa region with an installed capacity market share of more than 60%. The company’s primary business is to provide safe, reliable, and competitively-priced electric energy for the country in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner while creating value for its stakeholders.

Today, KenGen PLC has an installed generation capacity of 1,818MW, of which over 86% is drawn from green sources namely: Hydro (826MW), Geothermal (713MW), Thermal (253MW), and Wind (26MW).

For media queries please contact:

Frank D. Ochieng, Tel:0721816896

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Nairobi, Monday, July 5, 2021: Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) is set to benefit from its Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Projects further giving impetus to the company’s efforts to combat climate change.

This follows the issuance of additional 309,495 Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) for the organization’s Olkaria II CDM Project by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), bringing the total amount of issued carbon credits to 550,981.

Speaking on the issuance of the CERs, KenGen Managing Director and CEO, Mrs. Rebecca Miano said climate change has become one of the biggest global environmental challenges and has created an urgent need for mitigating against its effects.

“KenGen has a dedicated team to spearhead environmental sustainability and contribute to the reduction of the effects of climate change. So far, we have developed and registered six CDM projects comprising of Olkaria II Geothermal Expansion Project, Redevelopment of Tana Hydro Power Station Project, Optimisation of Kiambere Hydro Power Project, Olkaria IV Geothermal Project, Olkaria I Units 4&5 Geothermal Project and Ngong Wind,” she said.

These projects, she added, contribute to off-setting on an annual basis 1.5 million tonnes of Carbon Dioxide (C02) equivalent annually. Out of this, 550,981 Tonnes of CO2e has already been issued by the UNFCCC and are now available for sale. The sale process has been initiated as guided by the applicable disposal laws and regulations for the public sector organizations.

The CDM projects contribute to national sustainable development by providing clean energy which ensures improved environmental quality, positive health impacts and increased productivity. CDM was developed as part of the output of a global concern to contribute to climate change mitigation and to foster sustainable development for non-industrialized countries.

KenGen has been focusing on the production of green energy and currently more than 86 percent of the energy produced by the company is from clean sources namely wind, hydro and geothermal.

As a way of enhancing its portfolio of climate change mitigation projects, the company intends to incorporate additional geothermal, wind and solar projects which will reduce between 100,000 to 600,000 carbon emissions every year, in the process reducing the impact of climate change on the environment.

KenGen which is listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) will now earn about Ksh.119 million from the 550,981 carbon credits issued so far.

Note to Editor:

About KenGen

Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC - KenGen is the leading electricity generation company in Eastern Africa with an installed capacity market share of more than 60%. The company’s primary business is to provide safe, reliable, and affordable electric energy for the country in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner while creating value for its stakeholders.

Today, KenGen PLC has an installed generation capacity of 1,818MW, of which over 86% is drawn from green sources namely: Hydro (826MW), Geothermal (713MW), Thermal (253MW), and Wind (26MW).

For media queries please contact:

Frank D. Ochieng, Tel:0721816896

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Nairobi, June 24, 2021: Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) has so far earned Ksh.2.6 Billion in revenues from commercial innovation initiatives over the last nine years.

This emerged as the company held its 9th Global Innovation Seminar which was held virtually for two days ending today. It also emerged that the company made a savings to the tune of Ksh.1.3 Billion drawn from process improvement and implementation of continuous improvement ideas.

Energy Cabinet Secretary, Hon. Charles Keter, whose speech was read by Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the Ministry, Mr. Zachary Ayieko urged the company to continue with its tradition of generating ideas adding that their candle will be used to light the way for other players.

He also challenged the energy sector to continue harnessing natural resources efficiently to not only avail clean power but also assure Kenyans of its reliability.

Every year, since 2012, KenGen has held the Global Innovation Seminar that has special focus on business growth driven by idea generation, creativity, and continuous improvement. The forum brings together employees, local, and international stakeholders. Delegates deliberate and discuss innovative ideas, geared towards enhancing the organization’s value proposition and service offering as it continues to execute its mandate and core objectives.

“I look forward to proposals aimed at improving the generation process, reducing overall electricity cost along the supply chain or adding efficiency solutions such as storage of energy as this is what our country is in dire need of,” said the CS.

Energy, he added, is critical in delivery of Kenya’s development blueprints - Vision 2030 and the Big Four Agenda and ideas generated from the G2G seminar may be the catalyst required to transform the country’s economy for future generations.

He however stressed the need for development of solutions geared towards improving energy generation process, reducing overall cost of electricity, and adding efficiency solutions such as storage.

For her part, KenGen Managing Director and CEO, Mrs. Rebecca Miano said the organization is making good progress to bring on board its first solar project of 42MW which may in future be coupled with its existing hydro generation to efficiently utilize both resources.

“This is in line with our pursuit for green, sustainable energy, aimed at positively exploiting the available resources while reducing the country’s thermal power bill,” she added.

She reiterated that currently the company is on track to commission the Olkaria I Unit 6 geothermal power plant later this year, adding that at 83.3MW, it will be the single largest geothermal generating unit in Africa.

“This power plant being an extension of Olkaria I Units 4 and 5 means that when complete the power plant will be a 233MW geothermal giant. This addition will push our installed capacity to 1.9GW, double the 956MW KenGen had when we embarked on our ‘Good to Great’ journey in 2008 and only 100MW shy of the two Gigawatts mark,” she said.

Speaking during the same event, KenGen Board Chairman, Gen. (Rtd) Samson Mwathethe said: “Our focus shall be on efficiency to ensure prudent utilization of resources, resilience in line with the innovation seminar theme and delivering on the promises we make to ourselves and to others. Energy is a core ingredient for any nation’s development, hence the need to step up and deliver in provision of the reliable resource.

“The national clean energy percentage of 92.5% is borne heavily by the 1,565MW of renewable sources that KenGen has invested in and we shall continue to focus the industry’s efforts on bring onboard sustainable energy at minimal cost to allow for mutually beneficial power purchase agreements,” he added.

From the innovative ideas, KenGen has been able to provide geothermal drilling and consultancy services locally and regionally, established the Gitaru drinking water project which currently supplies drinking water to staff, commissioned a Calibration Centre, established an energy saving initiative through the installation of a solar grid tie system in Eastern and Thermal regions within the administration block and street lighting as well as operationalization of the Geothermal Spa.

Currently, KenGen has registered 3 patents with 37 under application, 12 trademarks with 12 being under application, 89 copyrights with 67 being under application and three utility models under application.

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Note to Editor:

About KenGen

Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC - KenGen is the leading electricity generation company in Eastern Africa with an installed capacity market share of more than 60%. The company’s primary business is to provide safe, reliable, and affordable electric energy for the country in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner while creating value for its stakeholders.

Today, KenGen PLC has an installed generation capacity of 1,818MW, of which over 86% is drawn from green sources namely: Hydro (826MW), Geothermal (713MW), Thermal (253MW), and Wind (26MW).

For media queries please contact: Frank D. Ochieng, Tel:0721816896, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Nairobi, June 16, 2021: Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) has joined the UN-backed global campaign to combat global warming, becoming the first public service agency in Kenya company to do so.

The campaign dubbed ‘Business Ambition for 1.50C’, is backed by a global coalition of the United Nations leaders, business organisations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

By committing to this ambition, KenGen is expected to establish emission reduction targets through investments in green and clean energy that will go a long way in limiting the earth’s warming to 1.5°C as per the Paris Agreement of 2015.

Under this arrangement, the company commits to annually disclose its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions as a way of checking and reducing its carbon footprint.

Speaking soon after receiving confirmation on its admission to the Business Ambition for 1.5°C, KenGen Managing and CEO, Mrs. Rebecca Miano said the platform reiterates the organization’s position as a regional business champion and pacesetter in the Climate Change Action.

“By joining the below 1.5-degree global campaign, we are only reiterating our business as usual. We have shifted our investments to green and renewable energy and harnessing of low carbon sources of energy,” said Mrs. Miano, adding “we have also intensified environment conservation activities and energy efficiency improvement across the company.”

KenGen is a participant member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). The Global Compact is a non-binding United Nations pact to encourage businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies and to report on their implementation.

The CEO said the organization joined UNGC in May 2019 as a tier II Participant. The Participant tier is ideal for business leaders such as KenGen because it accelerates their sustainability efforts while scaling up their impact across the globe.

The UNGC Kenya is the local network office that spearheads and catalyzes actions aimed at promoting good business practices.

KenGen’s commitment comes as a time when the world is working towards stemming the climate change crisis by setting science-based reduction targets aimed at halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and hitting net-zero emissions by 2050.

Data on Climate Action from the 2019 World Meteorological Organization (WMO) report indicates that if governments and businesses do not slow global emissions, temperatures could rise to above three degrees Celsius by 2100, causing further irreversible damage to our ecosystems.

Currently, KenGen produces about 72% of the electricity consumed in Kenya, with over 80% of this being sourced from renewable sources. The company, which has a total installed generation capacity of 1,818 MW has been focusing on renewable energy development including the latest Olkaria 1 AU 6 geothermal project which is envisaged to add 83.3 MW to the national grid this year.

Apart from green energy generation, the company is leading on the Clean Mechanisms Development initiative. Already, six of its power generation projects are registered under CDM’s United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

These projects include; Olkaria II Geothermal Expansion, Olkaria IV Unit 1 & 2, Olkaria I Additional Unit 4 and 5, Redevelopment of Tana Hydropower project, Optimization of Kiambere Hydropower project and Ngong Wind 5.1 MW.

Under the Business Ambition for 1.5 Degrees Campaign, companies will have a role to play in advocating for government policies and goals that are essential to delivering a net-zero emissions economy.

The campaign also encourages governments, businesses and NGOs to build resilience against threats to global warming and unite behind science-based targets to reduce emissions.

So far, Science Based Targets Organisation indicates over 500 companies, representing more than US$13 trillion in market capitalization, have responded to the open letter from global leaders, and signed the Business Ambition for 1.5°C commitment.

More than 1400 companies globally are leading the zero-carbon transition efforts by setting emissions reduction targets through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

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Nairobi, June 10th, 2021: Leading energy producer, Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) has started installing a Steam Turbine into the Olkaria 1 AU 6 Power Plant, signaling a major breakthrough in the on-going construction of the power plant.

This is a great achievement, given that the Steam Turbine is the heart of the power plant. It is the component that is usually rotated to drive the generator that produces electricity.

KenGen Managing Director and CEO, Mrs, Rebecca Miano said the installation of the turbine’s lower casing starts today, Thursday 10th June 2021.

“This is the largest single unit of turbine we will be installing in any of our power plants with a capacity of 83.3MW and with its installation we are now entering the final phase of construction of the power plant,” Mrs. Miano said.

She further revealed that this was the first time a Fuji Turbine was being installed not only in Kenya but in Africa.

Fuji Electric who is the Turbine Manufacturer has deployed Technical Adviser who will oversee the whole installation process and ensure success. He will be assisted a team of Engineers from both Fuji Electric and KenGen.

The turbine installation and its auxiliaries will take approximately three (3) months including dynamic balancing. This Installation will run alongside other major installations such as Generator Step Up Transformer (GSUT), Auxiliary transformers, MV and LV Switchgears, Non Condensable Gas extraction system, Cooling water system, Air Compressor system, Heating and Ventilation system and Emergency Diesel Generator.

Mrs. Miano said KenGen is happy with the progress of the project as it is on schedule despite challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. “With these activities running concurrently, it will ensure that the power plant’s commissioning is achieved in the last quarter of the year 2021,” she added.

In January this year, a team of 15 engineers and experts in heavy lifting successfully mounted a generator weighing 99 tonnes (99,000 kilograms) onto the power plant’s Steam Turbine in Olkaria, Naivasha. Upon completion, the power plant will generate 83.3MW of electricity which will be injected into the national grid.

The generator which is worth Ksh 600 million was manufactured by Fuji Electric of Japan. It took five days to transport it from Mombasa to Olkaria with several stops along the way owing to its size.

Construction of Olkaria 1 AU 6 geothermal power plant started in December 2018 following a ground-breaking ceremony which was graced by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The construction of the additional power plant is aligned to the company’s long-term strategy and the Least Coast Power Development Plan (LCPDP) focused on sustainable supply of renewable energy in support of the Government Big Four Agenda.

Currently, KenGen supplies about 72% of the electricity consumed in Kenya, with over 80% of this coming from renewable sources. The company has a total installed generation capacity of 1,818MWcomprising hydro (826MW) geothermal (713MW) thermal (254MW) and wind (26MW).

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