Wells being prepared for COD of 35-MW Menengai geothermal power plant, Kenya

The steam gathering system in the Menengai geothermal field, Kenya (source: YouTube screenshot / GDC)

The wells in the Menengai geothermal steam field in Kenya are now being opened in preparation for the start of operations of the 35-MW geothermal power plant of Sosian Energy by next month. This will make Sosian Energy the first Independent Power Producer (IPP) to generate electricity from the Menengai steam field. This is in line with earlier forecasts of the target start of operations by June 2023.

According to Eng. Edwin Odum of the Resource Management Department of the Geothermal Development Company (GDC), five of the twelve wells targeted for utilization of the power plant have already been opened. State-owned GDC conducted drilling of geothermal wells in the Menengai Crater and constructed the steam gathering system for the steam field.

Odum further explained that the wells will be opened for a week while conducting a target plate test to ensure that the steam will not damage the power plant’s turbines. If the steam is evaluated to be of good quality, then it will be diverted to the facilities of Sosian Energy.

Sosian Energy, thru Sosian  Menengai Geothermal Power Ltd. (SMGPL), is one of three IPPs that were awarded rights to build and operate geothermal power plants in Menengai. Each IPP is expected to build a 35-MW geothermal power plant in Menengai.

Paul Muhende of Sosian Energy disclosed that the plant is equipped with both turbines and screw expanders. Dry steam from the GDC wells will be directed to the turbines to generate power. The wet steam by-product of the first stage will then be directed to the screw expanders to transform it to dry steam again, thus maximizing the power output from the geothermal wells.

Earlier this year, Quantum Power East Africa, one of the three IPPs, executed an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract and a long-term service agreement (LTSA) with Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) for their 35-MW geothermal power plant in Menengai. Construction is expected to start next month with commercial operations targeted by 2025.

Source: Kenya News Agency