| Abstract |
Satellite and ground-based studies of the East African Rift (EAR) system reveal active magmatic and/or aqueous hot fluid movement beneath 40% of the volcanoes. Kenya and Ethiopia are already tapping geothermal fluids to generate electrical power. The GeoPower Africa project is currently investigating and mapping small but multiple geothermal manifestations (medium to low enthalpy resources of between 700-1500C) in Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania and identifying new forms of applicable economic activities that can be introduced to utilise the geothermal resources along the rift. The project has so far employed an inter-disciplinary approach including using data from geology, volcanology, hydrogeology, fluid geochemistry and geophysics. A database was established from literature surveys and a sizeable number of sites have been visited in the three countries. In Kenya, data has been collected from Magadi in the south through Eburru in centre and Baringo in the northern parts of the rift and Homa Hills in western Kenya, including field controls and measurements of the geothermal manifestations and employing a systematic socio-economic approach through community interviews as well as observing the environment and economic activities of the communities around the geothermal sites. Results from the GeoPower Africa efforts indicate that a good number of the geothermal sites already visited can support small size units combining power generation and heat applications. Direct heat applications include green-housing, food drying, food preservation, thermal bathing and green tourism. These activities are expected to eventually contribute to improved socio-economic life of communities around the sites. This paper presents an update on the existence of small scale geothermal sites along the Kenyan part of the East African Rift and determination on which of these sites are suitable for immediate development, considering resource characteristics and the present socio-economic activities of the local population and its future needs. |