Community Engagement in Suswa Geothermal Prospect

摘要

Kenya is endowed with vast geothermal potential along the Kenya Rift valley that transects the country from north to south. Exploration reveals that geothermal potential exceeds 10,000 MW and is capable of meeting nearly all of Kenya's electricity needs over the next 20 years. The government has embarked on an ambitious plan to develop at least 5,000 MWe from geothermal power by the year 2030 and therefore to harness this resource, surface exploration surveys have to be carried out in all the prospects in Kenya. Suswa caldera volcano is one of the promising geothermal prospects in the Southern Kenya rift in which Geothermal Development Company (GDC) has been carrying out surface exploration surveys to determine the potential of the prospect. This paper discusses the Socio- Economic aspects on the communities surrounding the prospect that might arise as a result of developing geothermal energy in the Suswa caldera and strategies adopted by Geothermal Development Company to achieve mutual co-existence with the host community who are mainly the Maasai. This will ensure that the local community enjoys a wider range of socio-economic benefits associated with geothermal energy development. The paper can serve as a working reference for other project developers who harness geothermal power within local communities.