Our Story

Geothermal Development Ccompany’s formation is a result of the enactment of the Energy Act No. 12 of 2006, after the adoption of Sessional Paper No. 4 on Energy in 2004 that unbundled the country’s energy sector into five sub-sectors: generation, transmission, distribution, regulation and policy. GDC is in the generation sub-sector.

GDC is tasked with developing steam fields and selling geothermal steam for electricity generation to Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) and private investors.

Geothermal steam is an environmentally friendly and abundant raw material used for generating electricity. Once the steam is captured, it is used to turn a turbine which leads to production of power.

The Government of Kenya and several development partners have been financing geothermal exploration and drilling.

MISSION

To contribute to lowering the cost of energy in Kenya by fast-tracking the development of geothermal resources

VISION

The Leading Geothermal Resource Developer

VALUES

Integrity
Professionalism
Teamwork
Innovativeness
Excellence

Our Mandate

1

Undertake geothermal resource development through surface exploration, infrastructural development, exploration, appraisal, and production drilling

2

Management of proven steam fields

3

Promote and develop direct uses of geothermal resources

4

Develop human capacity for geothermal development

5

Support Government in resource mobilization for geothermal development

6

Facilitate private sector entry by selling geothermal resources and services to power producers and other users

7

Early power generation through installation of well head generating units

MILESTONES

2008

Start

GDC incorporated as a special purpose vehicle to accelerate development of geothermal resources in Kenya

2009

Offices & Staff

GDC opened its offices, recruited staff and commenced drilling operations in the Olkaria geothermal field to avail steam for KenGen

2010

Rigs

• Acquired our first two (2) high capacity drilling rigs
• Completed surface scientific studies in Menengai
• Started drilling operations

2011

First well

Discharged the first well at the Menengai Geothermal Project, MW-01, proving the presence of steam in the field. The well has a capacity of 12.5MW

2012

Support

Received support from our partners to develop the Menengai Geothermal Project

2013

Feasibility

• Feasibility study for the power plant at the Menengai Geothermal Project commissioned.
• GDC invited bids from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) for power plant development for the Menengai Phase I Project

2014

30 MW

• Struck a 30 MW well (MW-1A) at the Menengai Geothermal Project
• Acquired three (3) additional high capacity drilling rigs.
• Three IPPs competitively selected and awarded contract each to construct 35MW power plant for the Menengai Phase I Project.

2015

Direct Use

• Launched Direct Use pilot projects at Menengai which include a geothermal-powered dairy unit, geothermal-powered laundromat, geothermal-heated fish pond and geothermal-heated greenhouse.

2016

Revenue

Within the FY 2015/2016, earned revenue from steam sales worth approximately KShs. 3B from the Olkaria Geothermal Project in Naivasha

2017

North Rift

Completed construction of 25 km of additional access road and carried out maintenance of the already existing road network in the Baringo-Silali geothermal project area

2018

Steam Gathering System

Completed construction of the Steam Gathering System (SGS) in the Menengai Geothermal Project.
• Carried out the first rig mobilization to Paka Prospect in the Baringo - Silali Geothermal Project to commence drilling operations.
• International partnerships: Carried out capacity building consultancy program for a team from the Djibouti Office for Geothermal Development (ODDEG).
• Africa Geothermal Centre of Excellence (AGCE) approved 32 instructors from GDC staff to give training in various areas of expertise at the GDC’s Centre of Excellence.

2019

Grain Dryer

• Grain dryer for Direct Use demonstration was installed and tested. Testing was successfully done using wheat and maize.
• Water supply system installed and commissioned in Baringo - Silali Geothermal Project

2020

Drilling in Paka prospect and Korosi prospect, Baringo - Silali Geothermal Project

• Finished exploration drilling at Paka prospect
• Started Korosi prospect drilling
• The Steam Gathering System (SGS) commissioned on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 at the Menengai Geothermal Project
• Success in coil tubing exercise on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at the Menengai Geothermal Project

2021

ISO

• GDC was ISO 9001:2015 certified.

2022

Baringo - Silali Geothermal Project

• Marked the completion of 14 wells in the Baringo-Silali Geothermal Project
• Ongoing power plant construction at the Menengai Geothermal Project.

2023

35 MW

• The first 35MW power plant started to generate power at the Menengai Geothermal Project