Olkaria: The Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has received a significant boost in its plan to attract green investments at its Olkaria Green Energy Park, with an Electric Vehicle (EV) company set to establish a manufacturing plant at the site. KenGen has designated 342 hectares of land within its geothermal-rich fields in Naivasha to host investors looking to leverage its reliable and affordable geothermal energy. The move marks a key step in transforming the Olkaria Green Energy Park into a hub for sustainable industrial development.
According to Kenya News Agency, Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Opiyo Wandayi, announced at the close of the three-day Sustainable Energy Conference in Olkaria that the EV company will break ground next week for the new facility. This development is expected to create over 3,000 direct jobs and an additional 10,000 indirect jobs. Wandayi highlighted that by utilizing clean and renewable geothermal energy, investors are advancing the government's sustainable development goals, particularly through Special Economic Zones that encourage climate-smart industrialization.
This announcement follows the recent signing of a USD 1 billion deal between the government, Microsoft, and G42 to build a state-of-the-art data center at the Green Energy Park, underlining Kenya's growing appeal as a green investment destination. Wandayi reiterated Kenya's role in the Vision 300 initiative, which aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030 through a USD 90 billion funding program. He revealed plans by the government in finalizing its Energy Compact Policy, a blueprint designed to prioritize and drive the country's transition to sustainable energy.
The Cabinet Secretary called on global partners to support Kenya's ambition of achieving 100% transition to clean energy by 2030. He stated that the government is pursuing a diversified renewable energy portfolio including geothermal, wind, and solar through public-private partnerships, regional cooperation, and adoption of innovative technologies. Plans include the integration of smart grids, efficient energy storage systems, and affordable clean energy solutions to ensure steady power supply to consumers.
KenGen Managing Director Eng. Peter Njenga reaffirmed the company's commitment to expanding geothermal power generation, with a goal to add 1,500 MW of clean energy by 2034. KenGen Board Chairman Alfred Agoi emphasized the importance of increased partnerships in clean energy financing, noting that sustainable development is deeply tied to access to clean, reliable energy. According to KenGen's official data, the company has an installed capacity of 1,786 MW, capturing 60% of the national market share. The current country energy mix includes hydro (826 MW), geothermal (754 MW), thermal (180 MW), and wind (26 MW) with over 90% of KenGen's power generation coming from renewable sources.