- KenGen signs fifth investor at Olkaria Green Energy Park with a KSh2.6 billion fish feed plant.
- Company plans to double geothermal capacity to 1,500MW by 2034 through public private partnerships.
- New facility will be the region’s largest fish feed plant, targeting markets across East Africa.
Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has signed its fifth investor at the Olkaria Green Energy Park in Naivasha, with Maxim Agri and Samakgro Limited set to establish a Ksh2.6 billion fish feed manufacturing plant powered by geothermal energy.
The new investment adds to a growing portfolio at the park, which already hosts projects in data centres, electric mobility, green fertiliser and steel production.
KenGen said the increasing investor interest reflects confidence in its ability to provide reliable, clean geothermal power to support industrial growth. The company is targeting 5,500MW of green energy generation to meet rising electricity demand driven by increased investment.
The utility currently has an installed capacity of 1,786MW, comprising 826MW from hydropower, 754MW from geothermal and 25.5MW from wind. It plans to increase geothermal capacity from 754MW to 1,500MW by 2034 through public private partnerships as Kenya’s peak electricity demand reaches 2,550MW.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Union moves to court to overturn KPC board Chair appointment
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Olkaria on Friday, KenGen Managing Director and CEO Eng. Peter Njenga said the company will expand geothermal generation by rehabilitating ageing plants and developing new fields across the Rift Valley.
He said rehabilitation of the Olkaria I power plant will add 63MW to the national grid, while exploration continues in Olkaria, Eburru, Suswa and Longonot.
Njenga said the 8,000 acre Green Energy Park has been designated a Special Economic Zone and a customs controlled area, giving investors access to tax incentives alongside reliable geothermal power, water supply and supporting infrastructure.
He said the initiative, being implemented through public private partnerships, supports Kenya’s ambition to generate all its electricity from renewable energy sources.
Njenga added that Kenya ranks first in Africa and seventh globally in geothermal power production, with the country’s expertise increasingly being exported to other markets. He also unveiled an online investment portal that will enable potential investors to access information about opportunities at the park.
Maxim Agri and Samakgro Limited Director Joachim Wersterveld said the company will invest about USD20 million in the project, with USD8 million committed in the first phase and USD12 million in the second.
He said the plant is expected to be operational within five months and will produce 65 metric tonnes of fish feed, making it the largest facility of its kind in the region.
Wersterveld said the investment will serve growing demand in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, adding that reliable geothermal power, water availability and access to skilled labour influenced the company’s decision to locate at Olkaria.
KenGen Commercial Services Manager Kibet Ronoh said geothermal energy provides dependable power that supports industrialisation, economic growth and job creation.
By Benedict Aoya
Get more stories from our website: Sacco Review.
For comments and clarifications, write to: Saccoreview@
Kindly follow us via our social media pages on Facebook: Sacco Review Newspaper for timely updates
Stay ahead of the pack! Grab the latest Sacco Review newspaper!
