18 October 2014, Naivasha – President Uhuru Kenyatta has commissioned the 140 MW Olkaria IV Geothermal Power Plant in Naivasha.
Uhuru said the plant, key to Jubilee’s infrastructure strategy, is expected to reduce the cost of electricity in Kenya.
Energy CS Davis Chirchir said the plant is the largest in the world.
German Development Cooperation partially funded the plant and the German government contributed more than €70.6 (Sh10.1 billion) million to Olkaria I and IV for construction and drilling.
The money will fund the addition of another 210 MW to the national grid through both power plants, supplying electricity to more Kenyans.
“The support of the geothermal plants in Olkaria is a good example of the strong partnership between Germany and Kenya to promote renewable energies,” said Lars Wilke, Head of German Development Cooperation.
The promotion of renewable energies and energy efficiency is a key aspect of the Kenyan-German development cooperation.
Germany intends to provide more than €73.7 million (Sh10.5 billion) to renewable energies and energy efficiency between 2014 and 2017 as part of its contribution to the national “5000+MW” goal.
Other projects that Germany supports are: the exploration of geothermal energy in Bogoria-Silali by up to €80 million, the promotion of solar energy in rural areas in Northern Kenya, the rehabilitation of the Kindaruma Hydro Power Plant and the Lake Turkana Wind Park.
