Kenya’s GDC buys rigs for Menengai exploration

In Kenya, the state-owned Geothermal Development Co. will begin drilling steam wells for power generation in Menengai, Nakuru in October using two rigs it acquired from China. As a result of using its own rigs, drilling costs will be reduced by 46%. Kenya’s current peak power demand is 1,070 MW and the country has an installed capacity of 1,160 MW. Demand is expected to rise 10% per year for the next 20 years, to over 8,000 megawatts. Menengai has 800 MW of power potential and five drilling pads, each with a capacity of five to eight steam wells were prepared in 2004 by the government before GDC was formed.