The Geothermal Development Company (GDC) signed three strategic agreements on the sidelines of the Geothermal Conference 2026, marking a major step in expanding geothermal energy beyond electricity generation into regional collaboration, industrial application, and critical minerals research.
In one of the agreements, GDC signed a Collaborative Framework Agreement with DR Congo-based Holintec SARL to support the sustainable development of geothermal resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The partnership will focus on technical cooperation, knowledge exchange, infrastructure development, and advancing access to reliable clean energy across the region.
GDC also signed a commercial agreement with Fresh Fru-Flow (FFF) Limited to commercialize fruit and vegetable drying and preservation using direct-use geothermal technology. The initiative seeks to harness geothermal heat for sustainable food processing, reduce post-harvest losses, and support value addition for local and export markets.
The third agreement saw GDC partner with Ascension Earth Resources Limited, an Oxford University spin-out developing innovative technology to extract critical minerals from silica-rich volcanic tuffs using geothermal heat.
Under the Collaborative Research Agreement, the two institutions will undertake joint research in geophysical surveys, subsurface characterization, data analysis, and critical minerals exploration within GDC concession areas, opening a new frontier for sustainable mineral extraction powered by geothermal energy.
The agreements were signed by GDC Ag. MD/CEO Stephen Busienei, alongside representatives of the partner organizations, in the presence of delegates attending the conference.
