This year’s GRO Geothermal Training Program on exploration and development of geothermal resources closed on a high recently with 42 participants completing the course. GDC, KenGen, and Iceland’s GRO–GTP organized the course. Experts from these three entities, as well as seasoned practitioners from within the East African region, facilitated the course.
The three-week program, which comprised fieldwork and classwork sessions, brought together representatives from 13 countries within the East African Rift region.
The participants had an opportunity to visit Menengai, Baringo-Silali, and Olkaria Geothermal Projects where they encountered firsthand the geothermal milestones that Kenya has covered over the years.
In a speech read on his behalf by Ag. General Manager Strategy, Research and Development Eng. Martha Mburu, the GDC Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Paul Ngugi, encouraged the participants to be active ambassadors of geothermal resources in their countries.
“In these three weeks, I believe you have been able to appreciate the potential that geothermal resources hold to ensure energy security for Africa,” said Mr. Ngugi. “As you return home, you are going back as committed geothermal brand ambassadors spreading the message that geothermal is one of Africa’s clean, green, indigenous, and abundant energy resources,” he added.
Mr. Ngugi also noted the timeliness of the training, given that the world is currently gathered in Dubai for the UN climate change conference – COP28. “The world is looking to green energy sources such as geothermal as one of the solutions to the climate change issue in a bid to achieve Net Zero status,” remarked Mr. Ngugi. “Just this week, at GDC we signed an agreement with Karsan Ramji and Sons who are seeking our steam for power generation and heating during cement production. The investor was categorical that geothermal energy would strategically help lower the cost of power as well as cut emissions,” explained Mr. Ngugi.
On his part, GRO GTP Deputy Director Mr. Ingimar Haraldsson was pleased with the consistent increase of geothermal experts within the East African rift region, which is the objective of the short course.
The participants described the training as “interesting”, “engaging”, and “timely”. “The project was the highlight of the training, showing how different skills and expertise complement each other in this geothermal energy development space,” said Zambian participant Allan Chivunda, who gave the valedictorian speech. “Now to the 2023 SDG short course class, let us use our newfound knowledge and network of geothermal experts to address regional energy challenges for sustainable development,” he encouraged.
Kenyan participant and GDC Drilling Technician Ms. Maureen Atieno also found the interdisciplinary approach to the training enlightening. She noted that it “opened up her understanding of geothermal development beyond her drilling specialization”.
