Unlocking the Impermeable Reservoir: Lessons from a 30-Year Reservoir Engineer An Alphaxioms interview with Richard Joseph Holt, Principal Consultant in Reservoir Engineering at RESPEC . Context: Menengai East and Olkaria Central. Every geothermal developer knows the moment. The rig is gone and the money is spent. The well is drilled to depth, the temperature is there, and then the well will not flow. The heat is real, but the connection between the well and the reservoir is not. Wells like this sit at the centre of one of the most important questions in geothermal development: what do you do with a tight reservoir? Walk away and drill again, or find a way to unlock what is already there? To explore the question, Alphaxioms spoke with Richard Joseph Holt, Principal Consultant in Reservoir Engineering at RESPEC . Richard brings 30 years of global experience in geothermal energy. We framed our questions around two settings, Menengai East and Olkaria Central, and asked him how ...
Kaishan KK01 Geothermal Milestone: All Tests Passed – Commercial Operations Imminent in Kenya's Menengai Field
Milestone Alert: Kaishan Group's KK01 Geothermal Power Plant in Kenya Completes All Tests – Set for Commercial Operations (COD)! Posted by: Alphaxioms Geothermal News Date:March 6, 2026 Kenya's geothermal sector has achieved yet another significant milestone in the push for clean, reliable, and sustainable energy. On March 5, 2026, Kaishan Group Co., Ltd.(开山集团), a leading Chinese innovator in geothermal technology, proudly announced the successful completion of all independent third-party witnessed tests for their fully owned and operated KK01 (Kaishan Kenya 01) geothermal power station. Located in the prolific Menengai geothermal field in Nakuru County, this 35 MW net capacity plant has now cleared every hurdle, including a rigorous 30-day stability run that began on February 2. With all performance parameters meeting or surpassing design expectations, the independent engineer is poised to issue the final certificate and notify Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), marki...