Globeleq has delayed linking its 35 megawatt (MW) plant to the national grid, in what looks set to derail efforts to ease supply constraints that have triggered power rationing.
The British clean energy firm targeted to start supplying electricity to Kenya Power on trial basis this month, ahead of full commissioning of the plant next month. But this has since been delayed over undisclosed reasons.
Electricity from the $117 million (Sh15.15 billion) plant in Menengai is key to easing hitches that have forced Kenya Power to ration supplies especially in the evening when demand peaks.
Kenya Power recently revealed that it is forced to ration supply between 1830hours and 2200hours (peak demand period) due to a deficit created by the near zero generation from wind plants and lack of supply from the solar plants.
“We had expected them to finalise the connection in May but there has been a slight delay due to unexpected challenges,” Stephen Busieney, acting Managing Director of Geothermal Development Company (GDC) told this publication without explaining the specific issues that have delayed the commencement of the power supply.
GDC is contractually required to supply the steam that Globeleq and two other power producers use to generate electricity at the Menengai geothermal reservoir. Failure to meet this attracts penalties.
Globeleq, OrPower 22 and Sosian Energy, which is owned by the family of the late President Daniel Moi have been contracted to build geothermal plants at Menengai, each with a capacity of 35MW.
OrPower 22 and Sosian Energy have both completed their plants and are currently supplying electricity to Kenya Power. OrPower 22 started supplying electricity in April this year while Sosian started in June 2023.
The plants by Globeleq and OrPower 22, in addition to the 63MW Olkaria 1 which is currently being upgraded are key to increasing geothermal power, which is the baseload in the national grid. Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) is upgrading the Olkaria I plant to increase its capacity by 18MW to 63MW. The plant has been out of service since 2023 when it was shut down ahead of the rehabilitation works.
OrPower 22, Globeleq and Olkaria 1 are expected to inject 133MW of geothermal to the grid, significantly boosting Kenya Power’s efforts to avert widespread rationing amid a fast-rising demand. The Menengai plant is Globeleq’s second in Kenya after the 52 Megawatt peak (MWp) solar plant in Malindi which has been operational since 2021.
The forced rationing has made it critical to boost electricity supply, with Kenya Power banking on three new geothermal plants, among them the one owned by Globeleq, to ease the woes.
Peak demand (the highest point of electricity usage within 24 hours) jumped six times last year alone, signaling the surge in demand which has piled pressure on Kenya Power. The current peak demand of 2,439.06MW was recorded on December 4, 2025 , pointing to the impact of increased connections and usage of electricity.
Kenya Power has not signed any new Power Purchase Agreement since the freeze on these deals was lifted in November last year. This means that the utility faces a wait of at least two years to onboard a new power plant.
