Kenyans might soon start enjoying cheap electricity this is after the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) cleared three independent power producers to build power plants under which will sue steam to produce power at the GDC menengai plant
The first independent power producer is expected to break ground by June this year.
Geothermal Development Company CEO Engineer Johnson Ole Nchoe said once complete, the Menengai GDC plant will produce enough electricity to serve up to half a million homesteads and 30,000 businesses.
He added that electricity will be cheaper retailing at Sh7/kWh.
Engineer Nchoe spoke when he led a delegation of County Government of Nakuru and the African Development Bank officials on a tour of the site.
AfDB regional director Dr. Calleb Nyamajeje said the bank, which is the main project financier, is satisfied with the progress so far and would be releasing more funds upon request.
He revealed that the multilateral development finance institution is financing the project at a cost of Sh112 billion to drill 120 wells.
GDC has already done 95 percent of works on a 25km long pipeline which is expected to carry 150MW of steam to be used by the power plants in producing electricity.
H Young, an engineering contractor, is currently building the network of pipes tapping underground steam to the three privately-owned power plants.
The bank is also expected to finance the three independent power producers to set up plants at the Menengai Crater field.