Nairobi, Kenya — China’s Kaishan Group Co. Ltd has announced plans to build a 165.4-megawatt (MW) geothermal power plant in Kenya through its subsidiary, Kaishan Terra Green Ammonia Limited, following the signing of an agreement with Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen).
The $800 million project will be located in one of Kenya’s key geothermal regions and is designed to produce 100,000 tons of green ammonia annually, alongside fertilizer derivatives such as urea and calcium ammonium nitrate, according to ThinkGeoEnergy.
Once fully operational, the facility is expected to generate annual revenues of between $220 million and $250 million, supporting both Kenya’s clean energy ambitions and agricultural productivity.
Kaishan Group said the investment underscores its strategy to strengthen its global footprint in the green ammonia industry and expand operations in East Africa’s growing renewable energy market. The Chinese company previously committed $93 million to develop the 35 MW Orpower 22 geothermal project in Menengai, announced in October 2024.
Kenya ranks as the seventh-largest producer of geothermal energy worldwide, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, it currently utilizes only 950 MW of an estimated 10,000 MW potential. The country — known for maintaining one of the cleanest electricity mixes in Africa — aims to double its geothermal capacity by 2030 as part of its broader energy transition plan.
Note by Alessandro Bazzoni