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GDC expanding geothermal direct use efforts of its activities in Kenya

Video screenshot, Kenya Broadcasting Corp.
Alexander Richter 10 Haz 2016

Geothermal Development Company (GDC) is putting increased efforts into direct use projects that would utilise geothermal energy in various applications, such as heating greenhouses.

As reported before, Kenya’s Geothermal Development Company (GDC) has been seeking to develop direct use projects alongside its activities for geothermal power generation development. The company has now announced that it “will heavily expand its research and innovation on the direct uses of geothermal energy in support of community and national economic sphere”, according to Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Eng. Johnson P. Ole Nchoe in Standard Media in Kenya.

The MD was speaking at the Menengai Geothermal Project this week at a tour of the the geothermal direct use facilities of GDC. “We are forging diverse relationships with development partners such as USAID, African Development Bank and ICEIDA among others to leverage on the abundant geothermal resources in the country,” he said.

Geothermal energy is versatile and prolific. Apart from its uses in the generation of electricity, geothermal has other dozens of uses such as in heating greenhouses, milk pasteurisation, laundry, leisure and recreation, among many other uses.

In Menengai, GDC is already running a pilot on four projects for heating fish ponds, heating greenhouses, milk pasteurisation and laundry. READ MORE Long jump Champion Greg Rutherford freezes sperm amid Zika fears When tax-avoidance is not criminal President Uhuru Kenyatta must defend Constitution

“We need to expand our investment portfolios and opportunities as a country. That way, we shall support the government’s endeavour’s in job and wealth creation,” he said. The Menengai project is near completion to generate at least 105 Megawatts. Now,  the company has covered 80 per cent of the steam gathering system that will channel the steam to the power plants.

Ketraco is almost at 95 percent in the construction of a sub-station and power evacuation lines, while the company has 135 Megawatts of steam at the well heads. Three Independent Power Producers are set to construct the power plants at the project area.

Source: StandardMedia