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 ...
Battling the Fiery Foes: Taming Corrosion and Scaling in Geothermal Lithium Extraction image source: (Robert Buluma) Introduction: In the relentless pursuit of renewable energy sources, geothermal lithium extraction stands out as a promising avenue for a sustainable future. The seething heat of the Earth's core holds the potential to unlock vast reserves of lithium, a critical component for advancing the green revolution. However, this path to progress is fraught with a treacherous duo that threatens to undermine our efforts: corrosion and scaling. Join us as we delve into the harrowing world of geothermal lithium extraction, where the battle against these formidable adversaries tests the limits of science and engineering. 1. Descending into the Inferno: Geothermal lithium extraction takes us deep into the bowels of the Earth, where searing temperatures and corrosive conditions reign. To extract lithium, water is injected into geothermal reservoirs, dissolving the mineral-rich bri...