KenGen Risks Losing Olkaria Wells Over 18-Year Licence Blunder Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) faces a serious legal and operational risk at Olkaria after an error in the coordinates of its geothermal licence left part of the company’s wells, steam infrastructure and other assets outside its legally recognised area. The licensing mistake, made nearly two decades ago, remains unresolved despite the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum acknowledging the problem in 2017. The dispute has raised questions about the security of KenGen’s investments, the government’s management of geothermal resources and the potential consequences for Kenya’s electricity supply. Olkaria is the country’s most important geothermal centre and accounts for the overwhelming majority of Kenya’s installed geothermal generation capacity. Licence Error Exposes Strategic Assets The problem dates back to September 19, 2008, when the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum issued KenGen a licence covering ...
Estonia is about to take a leap into the future of clean energy as Fermi Energia selects GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) for deployment in the country by early 2030s. Out of the three SMR developers Fermi Energia received tenders from, GE Hitachi emerged as the winner with its cutting-edge BWRX-300 design.
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A rendering of a BWRX-300 plant (Image: GEH)
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This 300 MWe water-cooled, natural circulation SMR features passive safety systems and leverages the design and licensing basis of GEH's ESBWR boiling water reactor. The BWRX-300, which is currently undergoing a pre-licensing review in Canada and the US, is a game-changer in the energy sector with its exceptional safety, lower cost, and shorter build time. The reactor, much smaller than traditional boiling water reactors used in Europe, has already been selected for deployment by companies in Canada, Poland, and the UK.
"We are honored that our SMR technology has been selected by Fermi Energia to help Estonia fulfill its energy security and climate goals," says GEH President and CEO Jay Wileman. The BWRX-300, with its cost-competitive zero-emission generation, is the perfect solution for Estonia's energy needs.
Fermi Energia, founded by Estonian energy and nuclear energy professionals, has been working with GEH since 2019 and the two parties have entered into a teaming agreement to collaborate on licensing and supply chain development. With the support of GEH and a memorandum of understanding with several companies in Europe and beyond, the BWRX-300 is poised to revolutionize the energy sector in Estonia.
"We consider it realistic to produce reliable, clean, and affordable nuclear energy in Estonia by Christmas 2031," says Fermi Energia CEO Kalev Kallemets. However, the construction of a nuclear power plant in Estonia requires a decision from the parliament and the development of a national plan to find a suitable location for the plant, as well as the creation of nuclear energy legislation.
Despite the challenges ahead, the selection of BWRX-300 by Fermi Energia, along with Polish and Swedish companies, is a testament to the competence and supply chain of the technology. With the goal of producing clean energy for society and the country's climate goals, Fermi Energia is determined to bring this revolution in energy to life by 2031.
source: (world nuclear news)
#Femi Energia #Hitachi #Estonia
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