MB Century sells Rig 32 to Webster Energy Services: what the move means for New Zealand geothermal drilling MB Century and Webster Energy Services have agreed the sale of MB Century’s Drillmec HH350 drilling rig, Rig 32, with completion slated for December 2026 after the rig finishes its current campaign for Tūaropaki Power Company. The transaction signals a strategic shift for MB Century,moving away from direct drilling ownership toward concentrating on engineering, reservoir and technical services,while Webster Energy uses the acquisition to deepen its footprint in the New Zealand geothermal market. This article summarises the deal, then drills into the operational, market and workforce implications for New Zealand’s geothermal sector, the strategic logic for both companies, and what the transaction suggests about capacity, competition and future drilling trends. Deal overview and timeline Parties: MB Century (seller) and Webster Energy Services (buyer). - Asset: Drillmec HH350 rig k...
KenGen Reconstitutes Its Board of Consultants: Strengthening Kenya’s Geothermal Ambition Toward 1,267 MW by 2041
Kenya’s geothermal ambition is no longer just about drilling deeper wells or adding incremental megawatts. It is about governance, technical precision, and long-term strategic stewardship.
In a decisive move, Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen) has issued an Open International Expression of Interest (EOI) – KGN-GDD-043-2026 to recruit and reconstitute its Board of Consultants.
At first glance, it may appear as a standard procurement notice. But in reality, it represents something far more significant: a deliberate strengthening of institutional technical capacity at a time when Kenya’s geothermal trajectory is accelerating.
This is not just recruitment.
This is structural reinforcement.
Kenya’s Geothermal Backbone
KenGen is the backbone of Kenya’s power generation landscape. The company produces approximately 73.58% of the country’s installed electricity capacity, operating a diversified portfolio that includes geothermal, hydro, wind, and thermal plants.
What makes Kenya unique globally is the dominance of geothermal within its energy mix. Geothermal contributed approximately 42% of the 8,383 GWh sold during the 2024 financial year, underscoring its central role in national energy security.
With a total installed capacity of 1,786 MW,and nearly 90% of electricity sales coming from renewable sources, KenGen already stands as one of Africa’s most advanced clean energy generators.
Yet, the future targets are even more ambitious.
Under Kenya’s Vision 2030 framework and Medium Term Plan IV priorities, national installed capacity is expected to increase from 2,298 MW to 5,221 MW by 2030. Geothermal energy is expected to play the leading role in this expansion.
KenGen’s long-term geothermal target?
1,267 MW by 2041.
Scaling to that level requires more than capital.
It requires elite technical oversight.
-Why Reconstituting the Board of Consultants Matters
Geothermal development is capital-intensive, data-driven, and technically complex. It involves:
Subsurface uncertainty
Reservoir sustainability management
Drilling risk mitigation
Environmental compliance
Steam field optimization
Power plant integration
The margin for error narrows as projects become larger and reservoirs more mature.
By reconstituting its Board of Consultants, KenGen is ensuring that its geothermal development activities are continuously evaluated, reviewed, and challenged by independent, high-level experts.
The company intends to recruit six experts engaging both international and local specialists across the following disciplines:
Drilling Technology & Management
Environmental Management & Coordination
Field Exploration & Development
Power Plant Development
Reservoir & Steam Field Engineering
These experts will serve for a four-year period, advising on scientific, engineering, and technical aspects of geothermal development and power plant operations.
Their mandate includes:
1. Independent evaluation of fresh and existing geoscientific and engineering data
2. Review and interpretation of technical results and reports
3. Recommendations on geothermal resource development processes and practices
4. Participation in conceptual modeling of geothermal field development
5. Bi-annual onsite technical meetings in Kenya
In essence, this Board will serve as a technical compass ensuring that KenGen’s geothermal expansion is data-backed, scientifically sound, and strategically optimized.
From Power Producer to Geothermal Powerhouse
What makes this EOI even more strategic is its alignment with KenGen’s broader diversification agenda.
KenGen is not only expanding capacity. It is pursuing:
Development of an Energy Park
Expansion into consultancy services
Growth in geothermal drilling contracts
This signals a transformation from being solely a power generator to becoming a geothermal solutions provider , potentially exporting expertise across Africa and beyond.
To play that role effectively, internal systems must match international standards. A robust Board of Consultants strengthens institutional credibility, investor confidence, and technical resilience.
This is how geothermal leadership is institutionalized.
The Expertise Threshold Is Intentionally High
KenGen’s eligibility requirements reflect the seriousness of this appointment.
Applicants must demonstrate:
An academic degree from a recognized university
At least 20 years of geothermal-related experience
Professional experience across diverse geographic settings, including developing countries
Regional consultancy exposure
Registration as recognized experts in their fields
Proven knowledge transfer capability
Three major client references
Disclosure of any current litigation
These are not advisory positions for career experimentation.
They are seats reserved for seasoned geothermal authorities.
The objective is clear: bring global best practice into Kenya’s geothermal ecosystem while ensuring knowledge transfer and institutional strengthening.
Governance as a Competitive Advantage
In geothermal development, technical excellence is important , but governance is transformative.
A well-structured advisory board:
Reduces exploration risk
Enhances drilling efficiency
Improves reservoir sustainability management
Strengthens environmental compliance
Accelerates project timelines
Protects long-term steam field integrity
For a country like Kenya, where geothermal is not supplementary but foundational, this governance layer becomes a strategic asset.
As geothermal systems mature, reservoir pressure management and reinjection strategies become increasingly critical. Mismanagement can shorten reservoir life; strategic oversight can extend it for decades.
KenGen’s decision to reconstitute its Board signals recognition that the next growth phase requires even more disciplined technical validation.
A Message to the Global Geothermal Community
This EOI sends a strong signal internationally:
Kenya is not slowing down. It is scaling intelligently.
The country already stands as Africa’s geothermal leader. By reinforcing advisory structures, KenGen is ensuring that future expansion remains technically robust and financially defensible.
For international geothermal experts, this opportunity is unique. It offers the chance to:
Influence one of the world’s most advanced geothermal programs
Contribute to long-term energy transition in East Africa
Participate in high-level technical decision-making
Shape the roadmap toward 1,267 MW
This is geothermal at national scale.
The Alphaxioms Perspective
From a strategic standpoint, this move reflects institutional maturity.
In high-growth energy markets, expansion often outpaces governance. KenGen is choosing the opposite path , strengthening governance to enable sustainable expansion.
At Alphaxioms, we view this as a blueprint for how geothermal utilities should evolve:
1. Scale capacity.
2. Institutionalize expertise.
3. Diversify into services.
4. Export knowledge regionally.
KenGen’s reconstituted Board of Consultants will likely influence not only project design and drilling programs but also the strategic positioning of Kenya as a geothermal knowledge hub.
And as geothermal technology advances ,deeper wells, enhanced permeability techniques, brine utilization, and digital reservoir modeling , the need for elite advisory structures will only grow.
Looking Ahead
The Expression of Interest closes on 5th March 2026, after which shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit detailed technical and financial proposals under a Request for Proposals (RFP).
The process is structured, competitive, and transparent , consistent with international procurement standards.
But beyond the procedural aspects lies a larger story:
Kenya is preparing for its next geothermal chapter.
Not through ambition alone.
Not through drilling alone.
But through structured expertise, institutional oversight, and strategic foresight.
As the country advances toward 1,267 MW by 2041, one thing is clear:
The wells may power the turbines
but governance will power the future.
Source: KenGen Kenya
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