GDC’s formation is as 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.
To develop, market and utilize 1065MW from geothermal resources by 2030.
To be the regional leader in the development of geothermal resources.
Integrity
Professionalism
To promote rapid development of geothermal resources in Kenya
To avail steam to power plant developers for electricity generation
To manage the geothermal reservoirs and ensure constant supply of steam
To promote alternative uses of geothermal resources other than electricity generation
GDC incorporated as a special purpose vehicle to accelerate development of geothermal resources in Kenya
GDC opened its offices, recruited staff and commenced drilling operations in the Olkaria geothermal field to avail steam for KenGen
Acquired our first two (2) high capacity drilling rigs
Discharged the first well at Menengai, MW-01, proving the presence of steam in the field. The well has a capacity of 12.5MW
Received support from our partners to develop the Menengai Geothermal Project
• 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
• Struck a 30 MW well
(MW-1A) at Menengai
• 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.
• 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.
Within the FY 2015/2016, earned revenue from steam sales worth approximately KShs. 3B from the Olkaria Geothermal Project in Naivasha
Completed construction of 25 km of additional access road and carried out maintenance of the already existing road network in the BogoriaSilali geothermal project area
• Completed construction of the
Steam Gathering System in the
Menengai Geothermal Project.
• Carried out the first rig
mobilization to Paka Prospect in
the Bogoria- 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.
• 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 BogoriaSilali Geothermal Project