Under the PISSA agreement, the subsidiary will finance, design, construct, install, operate and maintain the Menengai steam plant on a build-own-operate (BOO) basis for 25 years.
GDC, which is wholly owned by the Government of Kenya, will develop the geothermal resource, supply the steam for conversion to electricity and maintain the geothermal field through the term of the agreement. Under the PPA, KPLC will purchase all the energy generated by the project.
The Menengai project is expected to benefit from the Partial Risk Guarantee (PRG) arrangement to be provided by the African Development Bank.
Moreover, this project is part of the Power Africa initiative promoted by the U.S. Government. Such initiative was launched by President Obama in June 2013 in order to increase access to power in sub-Saharan Africa. The Project Company expects to start construction upon financial closing.
Isaac Angel, Ormat’s Chief Executive Officer, stated: "We are extremely excited to contribute from Ormat’s expertise in the geothermal industry in building and operating this project. This will be our fifth plant in Kenya and once it is operational, we will supply 145 MW to the Kenyan grid. Upon completion of the Menengai project, more households in Kenya will gain access to cost-effective and clean power from their nation’s geothermal resources."
