Groundbreaking held for OrPower 22 geothermal power plant in Menengai, Kenya

The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the OrPower 22 geothermal power plant in Menengai, Kneya (source: HE William Ruto via Twitter)

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the construction of the 35-MW geothermal power plant by OrPower Twenty-Two (OrPower 22), which will be the third power plant to be supplied by steam from the Menengai geothermal steam field in Nakuru, Kenya. Construction is expected to take 14 months and will be completed mid-2026.

OrPower 22 will be investing $90 million towards the project, which is under a Build-Own-Operate scheme. The company is owned by China-based Kaishan Group Co. Ltd. after a 100% acquisition in late 2023.

The groundbreaking ceremony was presided over by William Samoei Ruto, C.G.H., President of the Republic of Kenya . Also in attendance were CS for Energy and Petroleum Hon Opiyo Wandayi, Geothermal Development Company (GDC) CEO Paul Ngugi, GDC Board Chair Hon Walter Nyambati, Kaishan General Manager and Director Dr Yan Tang, and Nakuru County Governor Susan Kihika.

“The commencement of this project to establish a 35MW power plant by Orpower Twenty-Two highlights our commitment to unlocking Kenya’s vast geothermal potential to drive economic growth,” said President Ruto. “It is also a clear demonstration of our strength in mobilising private sector investment to develop critical infrastructure and  provide essential services, thereby accelerating economic transformation.”

The 35-MW power plant of OrPower 22 is set to complete the 105-MW installed capacity for the Phase 1 development of the Menengai geothermal field. The second geothermal power plant by Globeleq has already started construction, while the first power plant by Sosian started operations in 2023. Exploration, drilling, and construction of steam gathering facilities at the Menengai steam field was managed by state-owned GDC, who will also be selling the steam to the three Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

Source: The Star Kenya, Geothermal Development Company via Twitter, and H.E. President William Ruto via Twitter