China is advancing renewable energy initiatives in Africa, highlighted by the presence of a geothermal power plant in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. The 35-megawatt Orpower 22 project, led by the state-owned company PowerChina and funded by the Chinese firm Kaishan Group for US$93 million, aims to boost Kenya’s geothermal energy output.
President William Ruto announced that this project would elevate Kenya to the fifth position globally in geothermal production, showcasing the nation’s potential, which remains largely untapped, with only 10% of an estimated 10,000 megawatts explored so far.
This geothermal plant follows PowerChina’s commissioning of another similar facility last year, further establishing China’s influence in renewable energy across Africa. This initiative aligns with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s 2021 commitment to cease financing new overseas coal power projects and increase investments in renewable energy.
At the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit, Xi pledged US$51 billion in financing for Africa over the next three years, part of which will support clean energy ventures. Renewed financing for African renewable projects from Chinese banks after a two-year hiatus indicates a shift towards smaller loans aimed at promoting environmentally and socially beneficial projects, a strategy termed “small is beautiful.”
Other Chinese renewable energy projects in Africa include the upcoming 342-megawatt De Aar Central Solar Power Plant in South Africa, and the recently connected 100-megawatt Redstone concentrated solar power plant, which will provide substantial energy to 200,000 households. China’s investments also extend to Morocco, Egypt, and other countries in the region. [1]
