Menengai’s Broken Promise: How Kenya’s Geothermal Model Lost the Steam Thematic image of the Olkaria Geothermal Field Kenya’s Menengai geothermal project was sold as a model of modern public-private partnership. The state would carry the difficult and expensive burden of geothermal exploration and drilling. Private power producers would then build, own and operate power plants. Geothermal Development Company would supply the steam; the independent power producers would convert it into electricity; Kenya Power would buy the output. On paper, the arrangement was elegant. In practice, Menengai has exposed a far more uncomfortable reality: Kenya’s public steam-supply model is not delivering the certainty it promised. Menengai Phase I was designed to produce 105 megawatts from three 35 MW plants. GDC’s own project page says the three plants were awarded to Globeleq Menengai Geothermal, Sosian Menengai Geothermal Power and OrPower Twenty Two under a build-own-operate structure. Yet the ...
Against this backdrop, a significant development has emerged: has signed a key supply agreement with for its flagship Lionheart project in Germany’s Upper Rhine Valley.
At first glance, this may look like a standard industrial supply deal. It is anything but. This agreement represents a deeper shift—one where lithium production, geothermal energy, chemical engineering, and circular industrial design converge into a single, integrated system.
The Lionheart Vision: Lithium Without the Carbon Cost
The Lionheart Project, located in the , is one of the most ambitious lithium developments in Europe. Its uniqueness lies in its approach: extracting lithium from geothermal brines while simultaneously generating renewable energy.
Unlike traditional hard-rock mining or evaporation ponds, Vulcan’s model taps into hot, lithium-rich brine deep underground. This brine is brought to the surface, where heat is extracted to generate electricity. Lithium is then extracted from the same fluid before it is reinjected underground.
This closed-loop system positions Vulcan as a pioneer of zero-carbon lithium production—a concept that has rapidly gained traction as automakers and regulators demand cleaner supply chains.
The partnership with Mersen adds a critical layer to this vision.
Mersen’s Role: Engineering the Chemical Backbone
will design and deliver a fully assembled hydrochloric acid synthesis unit—a seemingly niche component, but one that plays a pivotal role in lithium processing.
Here’s why it matters:
Lithium extraction processes require chemicals to refine raw material into battery-grade lithium hydroxide or carbonate. Hydrochloric acid is a key input in this chain. Instead of sourcing it externally, Vulcan will produce it internally using hydrogen and chlorine derived from its own electrolysis process.
This is where Mersen steps in—bringing expertise in advanced materials, corrosion-resistant systems, and chemical processing infrastructure.
The result?
A self-sustaining chemical ecosystem within the lithium plant.
Closing the Loop: Circular Chemistry in Action
The integration of a hydrochloric acid synthesis unit is not just about efficiency—it’s about circularity.
Traditionally, industrial chemical supply chains are linear:
- Raw materials are sourced externally
- Transported to the site
- Consumed in production
- Waste or emissions are released
Vulcan’s approach flips this model.
By producing hydrochloric acid on-site:
- Transportation emissions are reduced
- Supply chain risks are minimized
- Waste streams are converted into useful inputs
This aligns with the broader push toward circular industrial systems, where outputs from one process become inputs for another.
In this case:
- Hydrogen and chlorine from electrolysis → Hydrochloric acid
- Heat from chemical reactions → Steam generation
- Steam → Energy efficiency improvements across the plant
This is not just optimization—it is industrial symbiosis.
Waste Heat to Value: The Steam Advantage
One of the most compelling aspects of the agreement is the recovery of heat from the chemical process to generate steam.
This is a critical detail.
Industrial facilities are notorious for wasting heat. In many cases, excess thermal energy is simply vented into the atmosphere. Vulcan and Mersen are doing the opposite—capturing and reusing it.
Steam generated from recovered heat can be used for:
- Lithium processing
- Facility heating
- Auxiliary power systems
- Potential industrial supply to nearby users
This approach enhances overall energy efficiency while reducing operational costs and emissions.
It also mirrors trends seen in geothermal-rich regions, where cascading energy use maximizes every unit of heat extracted from the earth.
Geothermal Lithium: Europe’s Strategic Play
Europe has long faced a dilemma: it needs lithium for its electric vehicle transition but lacks domestic supply.
Projects like Lionheart aim to change that.
By leveraging geothermal resources in the Upper Rhine Valley, Vulcan is positioning itself as a cornerstone of Europe’s battery supply chain—one that is:
- Local
- Sustainable
- Scalable
This is particularly important as the European Union tightens regulations around carbon footprints and supply chain transparency.
Geothermal lithium extraction offers a rare combination:
- Low emissions
- Continuous production (unlike solar or wind variability)
- Minimal land disruption compared to mining
The addition of integrated chemical production only strengthens this proposition.
Why This Deal Matters More Than It Seems
On the surface, a supply agreement for a chemical unit might not grab headlines. But this deal is significant for several reasons:
1. Vertical Integration is Becoming Essential
Battery materials companies are moving beyond extraction into processing and refining. Controlling more of the value chain reduces risk and increases margins.
2. Sustainability is No Longer Optional
Investors, regulators, and customers are demanding cleaner production methods. Projects that fail to meet these expectations risk becoming obsolete.
3. Efficiency is the New Competitive Edge
Recovering heat, recycling chemicals, and optimizing processes are no longer “nice-to-have”—they are core to profitability.
4. Technology Partnerships are Key
No single company can master every aspect of this complex ecosystem. Collaborations like Vulcan–Mersen are becoming the norm.
Lessons for Emerging Markets: A Case for Africa
For regions like Africa—particularly geothermal-rich countries such as Kenya—this model offers powerful lessons.
Kenya sits on vast geothermal resources within the . While the country has made significant strides in geothermal power generation, the integration of mineral extraction and industrial processes remains largely untapped.
Imagine a system where:
- Geothermal plants generate electricity
- Lithium or other minerals are extracted from brines
- Chemical inputs are produced on-site
- Waste heat is used for industrial applications
This is not a distant dream—it is already happening in Europe.
For companies like Alphaxioms, this represents an opportunity to:
- Lead in integrated geothermal solutions
- Develop circular industrial ecosystems
- Attract investment into high-value energy projects
The Economics Behind Integration
Beyond sustainability, the economics of this model are compelling.
By internalizing chemical production and energy use:
- Operating costs are reduced
- Exposure to volatile chemical markets is minimized
- Logistics costs are eliminated
- System efficiency improves
In an industry where margins can be tight and capital costs high, these advantages are critical.
Moreover, integrated systems are often more resilient. Supply chain disruptions—whether due to geopolitical tensions or market shocks—have less impact when key inputs are produced internally.
Challenges Ahead
While the promise is significant, execution will be key.
Projects like Lionheart face several challenges:
- Technical complexity of integrating multiple systems
- High upfront capital investment
- Regulatory approvals and environmental assessments
- Scaling from pilot to commercial production
Additionally, geothermal lithium extraction is still an emerging technology. While early results are promising, large-scale deployment will test its robustness.
However, partnerships like the one with Mersen help mitigate these risks by bringing proven expertise into critical components of the system.
A Glimpse into the Future of Energy and Materials
The Vulcan–Mersen agreement is more than a milestone—it is a glimpse into the future of industrial development.
In this future:
- Energy and materials are produced together
- Waste is minimized through circular design
- Efficiency is engineered at every level
- Sustainability is built into the system—not added later
This integrated approach could redefine not just lithium production, but how industries operate more broadly.
Conclusion: Building the Blueprint for a Cleaner Industrial Age
As the global economy transitions toward electrification and decarbonization, the pressure on supply chains will only intensify.
Projects like Lionheart—and partnerships like Vulcan and Mersen—offer a blueprint for how to meet this challenge.
They demonstrate that:
- Clean energy and resource extraction can coexist
- Industrial processes can be circular and efficient
- Innovation lies not just in new technologies, but in how they are combined
For stakeholders across the energy, mining, and industrial sectors, the message is clear:
The future belongs to those who can integrate.
And in that future, the lines between energy production, chemical engineering, and resource extraction will continue to blur—giving rise to systems that are not only more sustainable, but also more resilient and economically viable.
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