Douglas Mwiti 
- KenGen’s Olkaria I is 70pc Complete;
The Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has said that Olkaria 1 power project construction is 70 percent complete and will be operational by June next year.
This follows the installation of two steam turbines and two generators for Units 2 and 3 that were received from Japan early this year for the 65 megawatts facility.
Peter Njenga, KenGen Chief Executive Officer, said the timely arrival and installation of these major components is a major milestone in Kenya ambition to deliver affordable, sustainable, and green energy to the people.
Speaking at the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town, South Africa Njenga stated the final consignment of turbine and generator units, which had been destined for Unit 1, was shipped in late May and already in transit and expects the equipment to reach the port of Mombasa and at the Olkaria site by the end of this month.
The firm reports that other significant plant items have been delivered already and some installed as construction of the facility enters its concluding phases.
“We are now at 70pc on the key project milestones and are confident to commission the first turbine by June 2026,” he said.
Njenga noted that Olkaria I expansion will increase Kenya electricity reliability which is a step towards 100 percent clean energy by 2030 as the East African nation works towards phasing out the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation.
“We are concerned about our carbon footprint and that is why we are deliberate in our focus on green energy projects which are not only climate-sensitive but are also sustainable hence keeping our world safe for future generations while promoting economic development,” he added.
The additional 63MW is expected to further boost the capacity of Olkaria I and drive Kenya towards becoming a member of the exclusive 1GW club of largest geothermal producers in the world.
KenGen is the leading electric power generating company in East Africa.
KenGen was incorporated in 1954 under the Kenyan Companies Act as Kenya Power Company (KPC) with the mandate to generate electricity through the development, management and operation of power plants.
