Kenya's KenGen plans 42 new geothermal wells in national park despite environmental concerns

State-owned Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), the leading power generation company in the country, plans to drill 42 new geothermal wells within Hell’s Gate National Park in Naivasha over the next five years, The Standard newspaper reported on January 10.

The project, now undergoing an environmental impact assessment (EIA) process overseen by the National Environment Management Authority (Nema), aims to increase the country’s renewable energy capacity.

Geothermal power already accounts for 45% of Kenya’s electricity production, positioning the nation as Africa’s top producer. The new wells will be drilled using KenGen’s three rigs, at an estimated cost of $5mn each, with each well capable of producing five megawatts (MW) of electricity.

However, the location of the project, within Hell’s Gate National Park,  has raised concerns about its potential environmental impact, particularly on wildlife and the park’s ecosystem.

KenGen proposes to drill 42 geothermal wells at Olkaria Geothermal, which will comprise production, monitoring and re-injection wells, announced Nema, which has invited public comments on the EIA report.

​As bne IntelliNews reported, in December 2024, KenGen unveiled a 10-year plan to add 1,500 MW to the national power grid, primarily through geothermal energy. It aims to raise $4.2bn (KES 546bn) to fund this initiative, which includes a committed 300-MW geothermal project.