Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has been awarded the 2016 JICA President Award for its flagship green energy project, Olkaria I Units 4 and 5.
Awarded by the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), the Presidential Award is given to an individual or organisation that is associated with JICA and whose contribution in the field of development is recognised to be of immense significance in development of human resources, society and economy in developing countries.
The Olkaria I Units 4 and 5 is among eight projects and five individuals that have been recognised in 2016. The 140 MW geothermal power plants were funded by JICA in collaboration with various development partners.
KenGen MD and CEO, Eng Albert Mugo, said the Award will add impetus to the company’s efforts to implement the green energy agenda through increased generation of clean, safe and affordable geothermal power.
“We are proud to play an important role in the provision of green energy in the country through the Olkaria Geothermal Power Project and this has been made possible with the support from JICA,” said Eng. Mugo, when he received the Award at his office.
He said the cordial relationship between KenGen and JICA in the energy sector has seen, Japan fund several energy projects in the country through concessional Overseas Development Agency (ODA) loans to the tune of approximately US$900 million. Japan has financed 296MW out of the country’s 2,400MW Kenya’s installed capacity.
Presenting the Award, JICA Chief Representative Ms Keiko Sano hailed the project for its remarkable achievement in responding to the urgent need of electricity in Kenya through clean, safe, affordable and stable power generation.
Sano praised KenGen’s leadership for successfully executing the project through a mechanism of regular monitoring and information sharing which promotes donor coordination and enhances aid effectiveness in the energy sector.
She noted that Olkaria I Units 4 and 5 has been approved as a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) by the United Nations CDM Executive Board.
“This project is in harmony with its environment including the design and coating of the facilities considering the natural environment and scenery,” said Sano, adding that the project has contributed to geothermal development in East Africa.
Through the implementation of the project, she said, capacity building in KenGen has been enhanced including the knowledge of CDM.
The Olkaria I Units 4 & 5 has also been awarded the “Clean Energy Project of the Year” while KenGen received the “Utility of the Year” Award during the Africa Utility Week in May 2015.
The energy projects funded by JICA in Kenya are the Kipevu I Diesel Power Plant (75MW), Sondu Miriu Hydropower Plant (60MW), Sangoro Power Plant (21MW), and Olkaria I Unit 4 & 5 (140MW).
Speaking at the same event, JICA’s Senior Representative in Kenya, Satoshi Sugimoto, congratulated Mugo for the Award and expressed confidence in KenGen’s leadership to successfully implement planned energy projects.