By Kenya Engineer
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At a “ground breaking” ceremony at Olkaria on 18 June 2007 Energy Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri kicked off the construction of Olkaria IV, 70 MW geothermal power project when he witnessed the commencement of the drilling of 6 appraisal wells that will produce the steam to power the generators.
In December last year, KenGen signed a Sh 1.6 billion contract with Great Wall Drilling Company, a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Company, to drill six directional exploration wells to complement three exploration wells which were drilled between 1998 and 1999 using KenGen’s N370 drilling rig. The appraisal drilling will take about 12 months.
Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi, in a speech read by his Assistant Minister, said the expansion of Olkaria is one of the major projects being implemented under the Least Cost Development Programme that is being undertaken by his ministry. “The Government had increased funding for geothermal exploration and hoped to produce 400 MW of geothermal energy by 2020.
On the implementing card under this programme is an additional 35 MW 3rd unit at Olkaria II and the 70 MW Olkaria IV power plant,” the minister said, adding that the Rift Valley has the potential of producing about 3,000 MW.
KenGen managing director Eddy Njoroge said the target depth of the six directional wells is 2,600 metres and will result in a True Vertical Depth of about 2,475 metres.
“Under the contract, Great Wall Drilling Company will be required to drill the six wells, run all the casings and cement them in place, provide directional drilling services, aerated drilling services and drill pipe inspection services,” Njoroge said.
He added that KenGen would also be drilling five make-up wells in Olkaria North East in order to increase steam output required to support Olkaria II 3rd Unit.
As a result of the increased workload to local staff, a Drilling Advisor and two Drilling Supervisors have been hired from West Japan Engineering Consultants to provide support in supervision of the appraisal drilling operations.
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