The Geothermal Development Company is laying infrastructure in readiness for steam conversion into power at its Menengai plant.
GDC chief executive officer Dr Silas Simiyu said the company was constructing the necessary infrastructure to enable the three contracted Independent Power Producers (IPP) to generate power into the national grid.
Speaking during a tour of the plant on Wednesday, Simiyu said the GDC had 105MW ready for conversion, adding that his organisation was quickly drilling more wells to ensure there was about 20 percent extra megawatts on top of what is required by the IPPs.
“The IPPs will convert 100MW of the available steam in Menengai but we want to have an extra amount to ensure confidence among the power producers while at the same time ensuring there is a reserve just in case they need more,” he said.
He said GDC had commenced the construction of steam harvesters and hot and cold water mixtures together with a mega control room to man the wells through remote control.
Simiyu said the geothermal company had also commenced a pipeline network to transport steam from the close to 10 productive wells to the three power production plants.
He said the GDC had acquired three more rigs in addition to the existing four to speed up drilling at Menengai.
“Each rig has the capacity of drilling four wells per year, the increased number will mean that we will drill 28 wells in 2015,” he said.
He dismissed claims that the GDC was unable to produce the 105MW, saying with the extra rigs, the company will produce even more within a short while.