The government is determined to fully transition the country from fossil fuel to green energy in its effort to combat Climate change, Deputy Preside Rigathi Gachagua has said.
He observed that at least 87.42 per cent of power in the country was green with geothermal power contributing the largest share of 45.5 per cent to the national grid.
The DP said green energy is affordable and has the capacity of significantly bringing down the cost of power, especially for domestic consumers.
He said being a catalyst to development pillar under manufacturing, the reduced cost of power will attract foreign investors, reduce the cost of production and accelerate job creation, especially for the youth.
"Progressively affordable and sustainable electricity which is more reliable compared to fossil or hydro power will contribute to lowering the cost of living in the long term," the DP said.
Gachagua was speaking at Menengai Geothermal Development Company (GDC) exploration project when he officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the second Independent Power Producer (IPP) by Globeleq Limited.
The phase one of Menengai Geothermal Project is set to produce 105 MegaWatts with each of the three IPPs injecting 35MW into the national grid.
The three IPPs were competitively procured in 2014 to finance, design, construct, install, operate and maintain their systems on a Build-Own-Operate basis for a period of 25 years.
One of the IPPs, Sosian Menengai Geothermal Power Limited, which is also the only Kenyan Company among the three, is complete and is set to be launched in mid-July.
Development of the Menengai field which which has a potential of producing 1600MW started in 2009 and GDC hit steam in 2011.
On Thursday, Gachagua who was accompanied by Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary, Davis Chirchir, GDC chief executive officer, Paul Ngugi, British High Commissioner to Kenya, Jane Marriot and Nakuru Governor, Susan Kihika commended the Geothermal Development Company and the other agencies for the tremendous work in unlocking Kenya’s green power potential.
"Geothermal energy is putting Kenya on the global map having been ranked position seven worldwide and number one in Africa in geothermal production," he said.
He urged the IPPs and other investors in Menengai to employ locals from the neighbouring subcounties of Bahati, Subiki and Rongai.
CS Chirchir said Kenya was ready to harness its geothermal resources to boost the national energy mix and distribution as it has a potential of producing more than 10,000 MW.
He noted that GDC had laid down robust mechanism to de-risk the geothermal sector and make it attractive to private investors like the three IPPs on ground.
He added that the 35 MW being produced by a single IPP was enough energy to directly power additional 25,000 households or support approximately 100,000 people.
"Beyond electricity generation, GDC is leading the research on using geothermal heat for industrial processes, agriculture, leisure and recreation,” Chirchir said.
Governor Kihika said Nakuru was the home of geothermal energy being home to Ol Karia Geothermal project which has been generating electricity for Kenyans for decades and Menengai Caldera.
She said power proximity created an enabling environment for local and international investors due to the cost and distance advantage.
Nakuru County leaders present were the host MPs, Irene Mrembo, Bahati and Samuel Gachobe, Subukia, Njoro MP, Charity Kathambi and Senator Tabitha Karanja.