Geothermal outlook in East Africa and contribution of UNU-GTP in capacity building

Abstract

The East Africa Rift System has geothermal energy resource potential of an estimated output of 20 GW. Kenya has been generating electricity since 1981 and Ethiopia started in 1998. Significant progress has been made in the region in recent years in terms of development of geothermal resources towards generation of electricity and direct use application. Currently, Kenya is generating about 676 MWe of electricity and 12 MWt for direct use application from geothermal resources. Ethiopia is following Kenya, with a geothermal pilot power plant of total installed capacity of 7.5 MWe and an intensive geothermal resource exploration and development plan. Exploration for geothermal resources (for electricity production) has also been conducted in other African countries: Burundi, Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. These countries are at various stages of geothermal exploration ranging from inventory of hot springs to detailed geoscientific investigations; including drilling of exploratory wells. In the framework of energy, climate change and global and continental development agendas, the governments of most African countries are keen and committed to explore and further develop geothermal energy as one of the alternative renewable energy resources in their respective countries. It is expected that an increase of about 1500 MWe power generation from geothermal resources in the region could result by 2025. While financing is a major challenge for accelerating the geothermal development in the region, lack of adequate local human capital is the main bottleneck for sustainable development of geothermal energy resources in the region.

Many countries from other continents (where major geothermal resources development has taken place) have provided specialized geothermal training for African countries for the last two-three decades; namely from Japan, Italy, New Zealand, Iceland and the USA. From Iceland, notable contribution has been made by the United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme (UNU-GTP) , with its 6 months diploma training and the MSc and PhD Programmes. Further, as part of the attempt to address the challenges of inadequate local skilled manpower, UNUGTP started running shorter courses in Kenya in close cooperation with Geothermal Development Company (GDC) and Kenyan Electricity Generating Company (KenGen). There has, however, been a growing sense that further steps should be taken to internalize geothermal training and capacity building within Africa – and notably East Africa. Teklemariam Zemedkun 2 UNU-GTP 40th Anniversary Workshop In this context, the idea of a specific regional geothermal training centre for Africa emanated a decade ago. This idea has been widely discussed among various parties and organizations including Africa Union Commission (AUC), United Nations Environment (UNEP), UNU-GTP, GDC, KenGen, Icelandic International Development Agency (ICEIDA) and the donor community. This discussion led to an agreement and consensus to establish an African Geothermal Center of Excellence – AGCE” and the Centre to be based in Kenya; with UNU-GTP playing an important role in establishment and operation of it.