GDC bags $5m grant for geothermal exploration at Paka, Kenya

Kifaru II rig of GDC on site at Paka, Baringo-Silali geothermal project, Kenya (source: GDC)

As reported today from Kenya, state-owned Geothermal Development Corporation (GDC) confirmed that it has secured 549 million shillings (about $5 million) from the African Union to commence exploration of the Paka Geothermal Project in Baringo in northwest Kenya.

According to Jared Othieno, Managing Director and CEO of  GDC, the Paka project in Baringo, Kenya is part of its strategic geothermal development target of 1,065 MW by 2030.

The Paka geothermal project is estimated to add about 100 MW to the overall target.

The funding comes in form of an agreement under the Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility with the African Union and will be used for the exploration drilling program at Paka in Baringo.

It will cover around 40% of the total drilling cost (drilling and testing program) and 20% of the total infrastructure development (infrastructure upgrade) cost of the project.

Under the agreement, GDC will drill two deep geothermal wells and upgrade the existing infrastructure to allow further development of the geothermal resource in the project area.

The project which is in the vast Baringo-Silali Geothermal province is part of the first geothermal drilling program in the area – north of the equator within Kenya’s East African Rift System.

Source: GDC via China.org.cn