A 10-member delegation from the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has begun a benchmarking mission at GDC to gain first-hand experience in geothermal exploration, drilling and steam field development as Zimbabwe advances plans to harness its geothermal resources.
The delegation, comprising officials from ZESA, Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Energy and Power Development and the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), will also benchmark GDC’s policy, financing and institutional frameworks that have underpinned Kenya’s geothermal success.
Welcoming the team, GDC General Manager, Audit, Risk and Compliance Mr. Godfrey Shitsama, who represented the Ag. Managing Director and CEO, said GDC was ready to partner with Zimbabwe by sharing its technical expertise, drilling capability and geothermal infrastructure.
“We are delighted to welcome you to GDC and assure you of our commitment to partnering with Zimbabwe in advancing geothermal development. We have built substantial technical expertise, modern facilities and drilling capacity, including our geothermal rigs, which we are ready to leverage in supporting your geothermal journey. We are open for collaboration and ready to do business with Zimbabwe, “said Mr. Shitsama.
“Our aspiration is to see Zimbabwe build a strong and sustainable geothermal industry. We are committed to sharing our knowledge and experience so that your country can develop its geothermal resources as successfully as Kenya has,” he added.
Delegation leader Mr. Isaac Chiridza, Deputy Director of Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy at Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Energy and Power Development, praised GDC’s achievements, saying the visit would help shape Zimbabwe’s geothermal programme.
“We chose to benchmark with GDC because of the remarkable milestones Kenya has achieved in geothermal development. We are confident that by the end of this programme, we will return home better prepared, with a clearer understanding of the technical, institutional and operational requirements needed to successfully develop our geothermal resources. Kenya’s contribution to our geothermal journey will be remembered as an important milestone in building Zimbabwe’s renewable energy future,” he said.
Today, the delegation will tour the Menengai Geothermal Project then proceed to Suswa, tomorrow (Saturday).
