Mannvit at Kenya Geothermal Conference

Recently, Mannvit, and its associated companies Verkis, Ísor and Vatnaskil participated in the Kenya Geothermal Conference (KGC) 2011, to represent their services, experience and collective activities.

The theme and purpose of the  conference was to promulgate the vital and pressing need for greater utilization of geothermal energy in Kenya.  With its growing demand for energy, exacerbated by reduced hydroelectric output from years of drought, Kenya is a country in need of a sustainable long-term energy strategy.   The solution could very well be underground, as it is estimated that the region has the capacity to produce approximately 10,000 MW of geothermal energy, of which only 200 MW have harnessed.  

About 400 participants attended the conference and many of them visited the Mannvit booth for information on the development of geothermal power in Iceland. In addition to the conference, participants were also invited to attend a field trip to the geothermal areas of Olkaria and Menengai, which are approximately 100 km away from capital city of Nairobi.

Of the two geothermal areas, both of which are located in Africa’s Rift Valley, the Olkaria geothermal field is the most developed area, and the Icelandic consortium, listed above, is now working on a capacity assessment and feasibility study of the geothermal field.