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T5 Smackover Partners Signs Geothermal Lithium Offtake Deal with Glencore in East Texas

T5 Smackover Partners and Glencore Deal: A Turning Point for Geothermal Lithium in East Texas By: Robert Buluma  When Geothermal Stops Being Just Energy A quiet but powerful shift is unfolding in the global energy landscape. For decades, geothermal energy has been discussed almost exclusively as a clean electricity source. But in 2026, that definition is rapidly expanding. The latest signal comes from East Texas, where T5 Smackover Partners has signed a binding offtake agreement with global commodities giant Glencore for lithium carbonate production from the Smackover Formation. On the surface, it looks like another lithium deal in a crowded critical minerals market. But underneath, it represents something far more significant: the merging of geothermal energy systems with large-scale mineral extraction, particularly lithium, at an industrial scale. This is not just about batteries. It is about energy systems becoming mineral systems—and mineral systems becoming energy syst...
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Kenya’s Geothermal Power Fuels Africa’s First Green Ammonia Revolution

From Steam to Soil: KenGen and Kaishan Pioneer Kenya’s Green Ammonia Revolution

Kenya is taking a bold step toward green industrialization. In a landmark collaboration, KenGen and Kaishan  Group have teamed up to develop Africa’s first large-scale geothermal-powered green ammonia and fertilizer plant at Olkaria in Naivasha.

The project, valued at around $800 million, will utilize 165 MW of geothermal steam and power supplied by KenGen under a 30-year agreement. Kaishan’s subsidiary, Kaishan Terra Green Ammonia Limited, will construct and operate the facility, which is expected to produce over 100,000 tons of green ammonia annually—processed into fertilizer products like urea and ammonium nitrate.

Transforming Kenya’s Energy and Agricultural Landscape

This project marks a turning point for Kenya’s geothermal sector. It extends the value of geothermal energy beyond electricity generation, proving that steam can fuel not just turbines—but also agriculture and industry. By harnessing renewable geothermal power for fertilizer production, Kenya can reduce costly fertilizer imports, lower carbon emissions by hundreds of thousands of tons per year, and stabilize input prices for farmers.

The initiative is also expected to create thousands of jobs during construction and operation while positioning Kenya as a regional leader in green industrial production.

A Model for Green Industrialization



KenGen and Kaishan’s venture demonstrates how energy and agriculture can intersect for sustainable growth. It aligns perfectly with Kenya’s ambition to use its vast geothermal potential—estimated at 10,000 MW—to drive low-carbon industrialization.



For forward-thinking consultancies like Alphaxioms, this project signals new horizons: geothermal-powered industries, hydrogen and ammonia systems, and circular energy economies. It’s not just about generating power anymore—it’s about transforming geothermal energy into prosperity from the ground up.

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Eavor steps back from operator role in the Geretsried geothermal project

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Globeleq’s 35MW Delay Deepens Kenya Power Rationing Crisis

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