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Detail of GEF Project #1780
| GEF Project ID | 1780 |
| Funding Source | GEF Trust Fund |
| Project Name | Joint Geophysical Imaging (JGI) Methodology for Geothermal Reservoir Assessment |
| Country | Kenya |
| Region | Africa |
| Focal Area | Climate Change |
| Operational Program | 6 |
| Approval Date | 2002-12-02 |
| GEF Agency Approval Date | 2002-12-11 |
| Project Completion Date | 2008-06-30 |
| Project Status | Project Completion |
| GEF Agency | UNEP |
| Executing Agency | Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) as Executing Agent for Geothermal Exploration and Development for the Ministry of Energy |
| Description | The up front costs of locating and drilling to geothermal power reservoirs are major barriers to the development of this form of renewable energy. Whereas partial risk guarantees against drilling non-productive wells have been a common feature of recent GEF projects (e.g. IFC, IDB, and WB), the project proposed here aims at reducing this risk through technical assistance. The project will transfer and adapt Joint Geophysical Imaging (JGI) methods for assessing geothermal reservoirs to Kenya with potential impacts for the African Rift Valley. The resulting higher resolution and more accurate assessments will increase the probability of finding large, productive steam reservoirs in highly permeable formations. A strategic opportunity exists for geothermal energy expansion in the African Rift through combined technical and financial barrier removal. The project will locate a new drilling target area at Longonot and deep exploratory drilling, co-finaced by the Kenyan Government, will test its resources. Several other potential reservoirs exist in the region for further expansion of this clean energy source. The project would result in a sustainable capacity for later exploration and targeting of these reservoirs. In parallel, efforts to expand the effort through a regional Geothermal Resource Centre and development fund are being pursued. |
| Implementation Status | The JGI PhD thesis of Stephen Onacha is 90% ready, and the defense will take place on 6 November 2006. In FY06, the interpretation of the data has been compared with conceptual models of hydrothermal systems in Iceland and USA. The conceptual model seeks to locate fractured zones within hydrothermal systems to identify the best targets for drilling. The use of data from different tectonic settings in the US and Iceland has been complementary to the main objective of locating possible fracture zones. |
| GEF Project Grant | 979,059 USD |
| GEF Grant | 979,059 USD |
| Cofinancing Total | 1,754,260 USD |
| Project Cost | 2,733,320 USD |
| GEF Agency Fees | 146,000 USD |
| Project Documents |
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