East African countries assembled for the Fifth African Rift Valley Geothermal Conference (ARGeo - C5), sharing their experiences in geothermal development, from reservoir engineering, drilling and geographical information systems to business development and financing.
During the conference, the African Rift Geothermal Inventory Database (AGID) was launched and a resolution calling for a coordinated and integrated approach to geothermal development was agreed.
2 November 2014: East African countries assembled for the Fifth African Rift Valley Geothermal Conference (ARGeo – C5), sharing their experiences in geothermal development, from reservoir engineering, drilling and geographical information systems to business development and financing. During the conference, the African Rift Geothermal Inventory Database (AGID) was launched and a resolution calling for a coordinated and integrated approach to geothermal development was agreed.
Following optional two-day short courses that delved into various aspects of geothermal development, the main conference of ARGeo – C5 was held 29-31 October 2014 in Arusha, Tanzania. Its primary objectives were to boost the development and use of geothermal resources in East Africa and enhance regional cooperation in bringing geothermal energy online.
AGID will serve as an information repository for ongoing geothermal projects in the region. It is expected to support the ARGeo objectives by providing updated data on project progress, while also making it easier to match available funding, human resource capacity and equipment with projects and countries in need.
In the ‘ARGeo – C5 Conference Statement on Accelerating Geothermal Development in the East African Rift Countries,’ participants emphasize that in order to realize the estimated 20,000 megawatts (MW) of potential geothermal capacity on the African continent, strong coordination among governments, financiers and the private sector will be necessary. In addition to 13 other recommendations for countries in the region, the resolution suggests a concrete goal for governments to “have an installed capacity of at least 2,500 MW of electricity in the region by the year 2020.”
Approximately 500 experts from the policy, technical and development fields and representatives from local and international geothermal companies were in attendance. During 16 parallel sessions, 120 papers were presented and 20 exhibitions were on display. Participants discussed reducing project lead times, raising capital and managing geothermal power plants. In the closing session, ministers and other country representatives expressed their confidence in geothermal’s potential to support further economic growth in the region.
ARGeo – C5 was followed up by field trips on 1-2 November 2014 to Ngorongoro Crater Lake at Manyara National Park, Hells Gate National Reserve, Songwe and Ngozi geothermal fields in Mbeya and Olkaria/Menengai fields. ARGeo – C6, as announced by Beyene Russom, Eritrean Ambassador to Kenya, will be held in Asmara, Eritrea, in 2016.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP)-ARGeo Programme is a project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that encourages the development of geothermal energy sources in East Africa to realize their untapped potential and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It was officially launched in 2010 at ARGeo – C3. [African Development Bank (AfDB) Press Release] [ARGeo Website] [ARGeo – C5 Website] [AGID Overview] [ARGeo – C5 Summary]