Geothermal Development Company
{{Short description|Kenyan state-owned company}}
{{Infobox Government agency
| agency_name = Geothermal Development Company
| native_name =
| logo = File:GDC Logo.jpg
| logo_width = 230px
| logo_caption =
| seal =
| seal_width = 140px
| seal_caption =
| formed = 2008
| jurisdiction = Kenya
| headquarters = Kawi House, South C Bellevue, Popo Lane, Off Red Cross Road, Nairobi
| motto = Geothermal, Green Energy for Kenya
| chief1_name = Hon. Walter Osebe Nyambati
| chief1_position = Chairman of the Board of Directors
| chief2_name = Paul Ngugi
| chief2_position = Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer
| parent_department = Ministry of Energy
| website = {{url|www.gdc.co.ke}}
| service = To contribute to lowering the cost of energy in Kenya by fast-tracking the development of geothermal resources
}}
The Geothermal Development Company (GDC) is a wholly owned parastatal of the Government of Kenya. It is mandated to execute surface geothermal development, including prospecting for, drilling, harnessing and selling geothermal energy to electricity-generating companies for energy production and sale to the national grid.{{cite web|last=Omenda
|url=http://www.geothermal-energy.org/pdf/IGAstandard/ARGeo/2012/Omenda.pdf
|format=PDF|title= Geothermal Development in Kenya: A Country Update - 2012
|accessdate=6 April 2016|date= 2012 |publisher=Geothermal-energy.org
|first=Peter}}
Location
Overview
The country was heavily dependent on hydroelectric energy from the time of independence until the early 2000s. Due to unpredictable rainfall patterns, the levels of the country's rivers fell and Kenya underwent a marked reduction in electricity output in the 2003 - 2006 time frame. In an attempt to reduce the over-reliance on hydroelectric energy and its susceptibility to weather changes, GDC was formed in 2008 as a Special Purpose Vehicle to carry out rapid geothermal exploration and drilling in the country to enable the Kenya Electricity Generating Company and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to build power stations and not only diversify the national electricity grid, but also to fulfil a pledge to install 5,000 MW of electricity in the country by the year 2030.
Outside development partners have offered help.{{cite web|last=EFIK| url=http://www.ambafrance-ke.org/France-and-Kenya-sign-agreement
|title=France and Kenya sign agreement for geothermal development in Kenya| accessdate=6 April 2016 |date=11 April 2011 |publisher=Embassy of France in Kenya (EFIK)|location=Nairobi}} GDC has plans to develop academic courses in geothermal energy at Kenyan universities, starting with courses at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology.{{cite web
|url=http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2014/11/africa-opens-its-first-geothermal-energy-research-center-for-workforce-development.html
|title=Africa Opens Its First Geothermal Energy Research Center for Workforce Development |date=14 November 2014 |accessdate=6 April 2016|last=Waruru | first=Maina |publisher=Renewableenergyworld.com}}
Recent developments
In 2023, a new CEO was appointed to head the organisation.{{Cite web |last=April 26 2023 |first=Wednesday |date=2020-09-20 |title=GDC appoints Paul Ngugi as Chief Executive |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/business/business/article/2001471751/gdc-appoints-paul-ngugi-as-chief-executive |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=Business Daily |language=en}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.gdc.co.ke/ Website of Geothermal Development Company]
- [http://www.energy.go.ke/ Website of the Ministry of Energy]
- Kenya: Fresh Graft Claims in Geo-Thermal Power - 28 November 2014