An aerial view of the Sosian Geothermal Power Plant.
The Sosian Geothermal Power Plant in Kenya, constructed by POWERCHINA, recently began commercial trial operations. This milestone signifies the completion and operation of the first geothermal power plant in Kenya and Africa as a whole of which the design, production, construction, and debugging were independently carried out by a Chinese company.
The project commenced on January 10, 2022. POWERCHINA was responsible for the earthwork, foundation, construction, installation and debugging of the geothermal power plant, as well as the civil construction, equipment installation and debugging of the 132 kV substation and its associated power lines.
During the construction process, POWERCHINA overcame challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, equipment and design drawing delays, and lack of fund availability.
Simultaneously, local management was strengthened, providing more than 200 high-paying jobs for the local community and indirectly increasing employment in the catering, transportation, accommodation, hardware, and materials supply sectors.
With the guidance of over 40 Chinese technical staff, more than 200 local workers have benefited from advanced production technology, rich management experience, and standardized employee training methods.
After the Sosian Geothermal Power Plant is put into operation, it is expected to generate 280 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which can supply nearly 500,000 households and 30,000 businesses in Kenya, effectively aiding Kenya in achieving decarbonization of its electricity sector.
