Kenya’s Geothermal Project

BY CALLUM SIMMONS MACLEOD

Introduction

Welcome to my PowerPoint. You will find all the information you need about geothermal power in Kenya. Geothermal power is created by extracting water from inside the earth’s core which is heated by magma (lava) surrounding it. This water is so hot that it turns into steam, which can then be used to power turbines to generate electricity. This PowerPoint will tell you1. Which countries/ aid agencies are involved2. The cost of the project3. Why the energy is needed4. Where it will be used and by whom5. The effects on the environment 6. The protests against it

Which Countries/Companies/Aid Agencies are involved

• The different companies and aid agencies involved in this project are the Kenya Electricity Generating Company, Sinclair Knight Merz engineering company ,The European Development Bank, World Bank, African Development Bank, German Development Bank and The Japanese International Cooperation Agency.

• They all helped the Kenyan Government finance

the project.

The Financial Cost of The Project

• The estimated cost of the project is $1.3 Billion USD.• They have all donated money to the Kenyan government so

they could fund this enormous project.• The listed companies have been caring enough to donate

money to a developing country and are involved in many aid projects worldwide such as this one.

• The World Bank in particular, is a vital source of finance and personal assistance to developing countries around the world.

• It donates much needed help and support to those in need.

Why is the energy needed?

• 10% of Kenya’s population has no electricity in their homes.

• Traditional cooking uses wood and coal which produce harmful carbon emissions.

• The Kenyan economy spends $1.6 billion USD per year on oil imports.

• Kenya is a third world country. The donated money will help them to build their geothermal power stations.

• Geothermal power is a cheaper option because geothermal liquid is easier to generate.

Where would the energy be used and by whom?

• The geothermal power stations will be located in the Rift Valley, which is full of geothermal water, although it will power the whole of Kenya.

• Rift Valley is on the border between Uganda and Kenya and is a province.

• Kenya itself is high in geothermal fluids so they could power many homes with geothermal power.

Effects on the environment/ population

• One positive aspect is that it creates little carbon emissions.

• However, when the geologists are drilling to find the geothermal water, the drilling equipment may emit low doses of carbon emissions.

Arguments against

• Some day the geothermal water may run out and then there will be no more steam used to create electricity.

• Another argument is that geothermal power plants are very expensive to build, but they are very beneficial.

• Also geothermal drilling could damage natural hot springs because they are a unrenewable resource.

Benefits• The benefits of this project are the new

power stations would create a need for employees to run the power.

• The Kenyan government would not be paying $1.6 billion USD a year on oil imports so they could spend it on more important things like developing their country, funding health care, education and developing an export market.

• Another benefit is that geothermal power is cheap and is available to almost anyone.

Quiz

• Have you been listening?• Quiz Time….• What is geothermal liquid?• How do they generate power from

the geothermal liquid?• How Much will the project cost?

Conclusion

• In the end the Kenyan government has made a way to empower its population to use natural resources, making them self-sufficient and providing equitable access to safer energy sources, saving money, the environment and lives.

Pictures

A picture of how geothermal power works.

Map of Kenya

Map showing Rift Valley in Kenya