The Olkaria 1 AU 6 power plant in Kenya has enters final construction phase. Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) Managing Director and CEO, Rebecca Miano confirmed the report and said they have started installing a Steam Turbine into the plant.
“This is the largest single unit of turbine we will be installing in any of our power plants and with its installation we are now entering the final phase of construction of the power plant,” said Miano.
Fuji Electric, which is the Turbine Manufacturer has deployed Technical Adviser who will oversee the whole installation process and ensure success. Miano revealed that this was the first time a Fuji Turbine was being installed not only in Kenya but in Africa.
The technical adviser will be assisted by a team of Engineers from both Fuji Electric and KenGen. The turbine installation and its auxiliaries will take approximately three months including dynamic balancing. The installation of turbines will run along with alongside other major installations such as Generator Step Up Transformer (GSUT), Auxiliary transformers, MV and LV Switchgears, Non Condensable Gas extraction system, Cooling water system, Air Compressor system, Heating and Ventilation system and Emergency Diesel Generator.
“With these activities running concurrently, it will ensure that the power plant’s commissioning is achieved in the last quarter of the year 2021,” said Miano.
Olkaria 1 AU 6 geothermal power plant
Construction of Olkaria 1 AU 6 geothermal power plant started in December2018 following a ground-breaking ceremony which was graced by President Uhuru Kenyatta. The project is aligned with KenGen’s long term strategy and the Least Cost Power Development Plan (LCPDP) focused on sustainable supply of renewable energy in support of the Government Big Four Agenda. The geothermal power project is located in Nakuru County at the eastern end of the Rift Valley. The Olkaria I geothermal power plant has five units with a capacity of 185 MWe.
The Olkaria geothermal field is located at an elevation of approximately 2,000m within the central Kenya segment of the East African Great Rift Valley, which possesses good deal of recoverable geothermal resources due to the intrusion of hot magma bodies up to less than 6km-deep beneath the surface. With the ongoing rehabilitation of turbines 1, 2 and 3, the plant will have a capacity of 190.7 MWe. The sixth unit of Olkaria I will add 83 MWe, bringing the capacity of the plant to 273.7 MW.
