The Opovu 22 Company, supported by China, will begin supplying geothermal energy to Kenya Power Company in March, which will effectively improve power supply conditions amid rapidly growing demand. Energy Affairs Chief Secretary Alex Wachira revealed to the magazine that this 35-megawatt power plant, costing $92 million (approximately KES 11.86 billion), has been successfully completed and will commence testing procedures next month. Acquired by China's Kaisan Group in 2023, Opovu 22 is one of the independent power producers collaborating with Société des Énergies and Globe Power Company to develop a total geothermal power project with an installed capacity of 105 megawatts in the Menengai region. The connection of this power plant to the national grid is crucial for Kenya's efforts to boost local power generation amid persistently rising electricity demand, as the country's reliance on imported power continues to deepen. Kenya's surging electricity demand has forced Kenya Power Company to increasingly depend on imports from Ethiopia and Uganda to supplement supply, thereby avoiding widespread load shedding and power outages, which are particularly pronounced at night.
