• The African Development Bank approved a $16.5 million loan to support the 35-MW OrPower Twenty-Two geothermal project in Kenya.

• The Menengai geothermal field will reach 105 MW in its first phase, supplying 301 GWh per year under a 25-year power purchase agreement.

• Kenya targets an expansion of geothermal capacity from 940 MW to 1,824 MW by 2030.

Kenya continues to rely on support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to develop its geothermal potential and strengthen baseload electricity production. The Bank announced on January 22, that it approved a $16.5 million loan in late 2025 to support the development of the 35-megawatt OrPower Twenty-Two (OTTL) geothermal power plant, located in the Menengai field north of Nakuru.

Moreover, this decision aligns with a long-term commitment to ease the financial and technical constraints that limit the large-scale exploitation of geothermal energy in the country.

OrPower Twenty-Two Limited, an independent power producer, develops the OTTL project. The plant represents the third geothermal project at the Menengai field, following the Sosian Menengai plant (35 MW), which is already operational, and the Globeleq Menengai project (35 MW), which remains under construction. Together, these facilities will mobilize 105 MW, corresponding to the first development phase of the Menengai field.

In addition, the facilities will generate approximately 301 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year. The Kenya Power and Lighting Company will purchase the electricity under a 25-year power purchase agreement, ensuring long-term revenue visibility for investors.

Geothermal energy occupies a strategic position in Kenya’s power mix. The resource provides a local, stable, and climate-resilient source of electricity, and it supports grid security more reliably than weather-dependent renewable sources.

More broadly, the project supports Kenya’s objective to increase installed geothermal capacity from 940 MW to 1,824 MW by 2030, as the country advances toward a predominantly clean, reliable, and secure electricity system.

This article was initially published in French by Abdoullah Diop

Adapted in English by Ange J. A. de BERRY QUENUM