Celebrating win: The Cabinet Secretary , Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Hon. Opiyo Wandayi (Centre) Mr. Alex Wachira, PS, State Department for Energy (left) and Mr. John Ololtuaa, PS for the State Department of Tourism, cut a cake in Nairobi to celebrate Kenya’s win to host the World Geothermal Congress 2029. Company’s innovations, rapid development and multi-stakeholder model some of the key wins for the country.
Today, GDC joined sector actors in congratulating the Kenya Geothermal Association for winning the bid to host the World Geothermal Congress in 2029.
As a corporate member of GAK, GDC contributed immensely through its diverse expertise to the committee that prepared the bid that earned Kenya license to host the congress.
“It’s a moment of pride for GDC and Kenya,” enthused Mr. Stephen Busieney the AG. Managing Director and CEO of GDC. He is also the Vice Chairman of GAK.
Kenya, Ag. CEO observed, stands to gain a great deal for hosting the congress. He noted that congress will be a great boon to the tourism sector and will also be an opportunity to attract more investment into the geothermal economy.
“We’re thrilled that finally our work in geothermal will contribute to the nation beyond power. We are contributing reputation, admiration and thereby, geothermal is finding its rightful place as a key cog in building Brand Kenya,” he explained.
GDC, just formed 16 years ago, has robustly transformed the geothermal landscape in the country. It’s innovative approach to geothermal development so Kenya’s steam-driven power rise from 210 MW in 2009 to 985MW to date. Of this output, 36 % is because of GDC’s steam as follows: 320MW at Olkaria and 35 MW at Menengai. Besides, two more power plants with a capacity of 70 MW are nearing completion at Menengai. Indeed, it is the GDC effort that will finally see Kenya jump into the Gigawatt club by mid next year.
Further, the Kenya’s dynamic geothermal landscape is thanks to GDC’s aggressive development efforts. Today, apart from our Steam in Olkaria and the Menengai Geothermal Project, GDC is the developer Paka field, Silali, Korosi and Suswa.
“Our footprint alone in terms of fields, is massive. We run the length and breadth of the Rift Valley. We boast of the largest number of fields and attendant experiences. This richness of concept, model and practice is what stakeholders look for in a portfolio. We are proud that it is GDC that is leading in the space across Africa,” noted Mr. Busieney.
The Ag. CEO also pointed out the fact that other unique experiences and innovation that GDC has introduced into the country and by extension the continent include attracting and working closely with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and even now strategic investors.
Besides, the fact that GDC is the leader in Direct Uses of geothermal resources makes it the ultimate Company that Kenya’s future energy is anchored on.
“We are sure that come 2029, everyone will be keen to see how we succeeded with a dynamic development model. They will be seeking to pursue further investment opportunities and for
scholars, room to learn and master our unique ways of development geothermal in the country. Basically, they will be keen to establish what makes GDC tick,” Mr. Busieney observed.
GDC boasts of a network of unparalleled strategic assets such as a rig simulator, deep drilling rigs, coiled-tubing units and geoscientific laboratories.
