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KenGen Risks Losing Olkaria Geothermal Wells Over Licence Error

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 ...

Alberta’s $20 Million Bet on Drilling Innovation: Why Eavor is a Key Contender in the Alberta Drilling Accelerator

Alberta’s $20 Million Bet on Drilling Innovation: Why Eavor is a Key Contender in the Alberta Drilling Accelerator


Date: June 13, 2025
Author: Robert Buluma Alphaxioms Energy Insights


A Bold Step Forward in Drilling Technology

Alberta is once again proving that it’s not just rich in natural resources it’s rich in ambition. On June 10, 2025, the Government of Alberta announced a game-changing $20 million investment into the newly launched Alberta Drilling Accelerator (ADA) program, an initiative designed to push the boundaries of drilling innovation. This funding, administered through Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), targets emerging technologies that promise to reduce emissions while enabling responsible energy production.

With its world-class expertise in oil and gas drilling, and increasing momentum in geothermal, lithium, and critical minerals, Alberta is positioning itself to be the global nerve center of next-generation drilling. And among the hopefuls vying to leverage this opportunity is Eavor Technologies a company that has already made significant waves with its revolutionary Eavor-Loop™ closed-loop geothermal system.



Why Alberta? Why Now?

As the global energy landscape evolves, traditional hydrocarbon basins are being complemented and in some cases replaced by new frontiers like geothermal and carbon capture. Alberta, with decades of drilling experience and a proven record of responsible resource development, is uniquely suited to lead this transition.

But innovation isn’t cheap. Many promising technologies get stuck in the lab because there’s no funding or real-world testing ground. The Alberta Drilling Accelerator seeks to change that narrative. The government’s injection of $20 million into phase one of the program aims to eliminate these barriers and bring groundbreaking innovations to life.

“Nobody drills better than Alberta... This funding is all about getting the next generation of exciting drilling tech out of the lab and into the field,”
Rebecca Schulz, Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Protected Areas


Eavor: The Eye of the Energy Innovation Storm

One of the most anticipated participants in this accelerator is Eavor, the Calgary-based clean energy technology company. Eavor is renowned for its Eavor-Loop™ system, a scalable, dispatchable form of geothermal energy that doesn’t rely on underground reservoirs or fracking. Instead, it circulates a working fluid in a closed loop using advanced drilling technology much like a subsurface radiator.

Their solution is elegant, clean, and poised to disrupt the $1 trillion geothermal market expected by 2050. The Alberta Drilling Accelerator offers a perfect launchpad to further commercialize and test Eavor’s next innovations in real-world conditions.

If successful in securing funding from the ADA, Eavor could accelerate deployment of its systems not just across Alberta or Canada, but globally helping meet energy demands in a clean, sustainable way.

The Scope and Vision of the ADA Program

Led by ERA, the program is focused on supporting technologies that fall within several strategic categories:

Geothermal energy

Helium and critical mineral extraction

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS)

Low-emission oil and gas solutions


The funding for ADA is sourced from the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund, which is industry-funded and designed to invest in emissions-reducing technology across Alberta.
 “Drilling technology is highly relevant to ERA’s mandate… and plays a critical role in emerging areas like geothermal and critical minerals extraction.”

Justin Riemer, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta

The full scope of the program will be revealed this fall, but engagement with industry experts and innovators is already underway this summer.


Global Implications, Local Commitment

This isn’t just an Alberta story it’s a global one. The world is hungry for affordable, reliable, and clean energy. And the innovations supported by this program have the potential to reshape how we access critical energy and mineral resources worldwide.

Whether it’s tapping into deep geothermal resources or improving the efficiency of CCUS systems, Alberta’s world-renowned drilling sector is stepping into the spotlight. And Eavor is leading the charge, representing what is possible when vision meets investment.

What Comes Next?

The Alberta Drilling Accelerator is scheduled to launch officially in fall 2025, with planning, engagement, and applications taking place now. The outcomes could define the trajectory of multiple emerging technologies over the next decade.

So, as the energy world watches Alberta, we’re rooting for Eavor to be among the selected innovators. With its groundbreaking technology, proven leadership, and local roots, Eavor exemplifies the kind of ingenuity Alberta aims to support.

Stay tuned. The drilling revolution is just beginning.


Media Contact & Program Info:

For media inquiries, contact:
📧 Ryan.Fournier@gov.ab.ca
📞 +1-780-232-2213

Program Info:
📍 Emissions Reduction Alberta
Email: info@eralberta.ca

Phone: 780-498-2068


Let’s cheer for Alberta’s innovators. Let’s support Eavor.

Powering the future—cleaner, smarter, and stronger, starting right here in Alberta.


Connect With Us : Alphaxioms

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