Third geothermal power plant in Menengai, Kenya enters hot commissioning phase
The 35-MW Menengai II geothermal power plant in Kenya by Globeleq (source: Globeleq via LinkedIn)
Carlo Cariaga
2 Apr 2026
The third 35-MW geothermal power plant in Menengai, Kenya, being developed by Globeleq, has now started its commissioning phase.
The 35-MW geothermal power plant being built by Globeleq in the Menengai geothermal field in Kenya has started its commissioning phase, with a recent announcement stating that steam has been admitted to the turbine for the first time. The company had previously indicated a target of mid-2026 for the start of commercial operations.
Referred to as “Menengai II Geothermal Power Station,” the geothermal power plant of Globeleq will be the third of its kind to be operational in the Menengai geothermal field. The first Menengai 35-MW plant entered commercial operation in August 2023, becoming the initial privately operated geothermal facility at the field. The second project, being developed by OrPower 22, had recently announced the completion of its testing phase. Drilling and development of the steam field in Menengai was done by state-owned Geothermal Development Company (GDC).
In 2024, Globeleq announced the financial close for the USD-117 million project following a groundbreaking ceremony in mid-2023. The Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) has acted as the EPC contractor for the project, while the power plant equipment was supplied by Fuji Electric.
Aside from the two geothermal power plant in Menengai that are expected to come online in 2026, rehabilitation of the Olkaria Unit 1 is also expected to be completed by the middle of the year. This will brings almost 90 MW of new geothermal power generation capacity online in Kenya, placing it firmly in the 1-GW club and cementing its leadership in the African geothermal sector.
Source: Globeleq via LinkedIn
