Description
An Introductory Short Course on Geothermal Project Management was held in Naivasha during May 26-30 for 16 participants from Kenya Electricity Generating Company Ltd. (KenGen) and Geothermal Development Company Ltd. (GDC). The short course was organized by UNU-GTP and KenGen under the framework of the Interim Phase of the African Geothermal Center of Excellence (AGCE), with financial backing from the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs (IMFA) and the Nordic Development Fund (NDF). The course was modelled on similar short courses that have previously been held in Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya, and supported by the IMFA/NDF Geothermal Exploration Project. The short course consisted of lectures and practical group projects, with instruction carried out by Anthony Ngigi (GDC), Peketsa Mangi (KenGen), Reuben Langat (KenGen), Snaebjorn Jónsson (Verkís Consulting Engineers), and Yngvi Gudmundsson (Verkís).
Another short course on the Leapfrog Geothermal software was concurrently held in Nakuru, organized by GDC and partners. Together, the two courses marked the start of the AGCE Interim Phase that is to last for two years, and after which it is expected that the AGCE will have assumed a fully organizational structure, operational capacity and secure funding as a regional training and capacity building centre. The Interim Phase is managed by the Interim Project Coordination Unit (IPCU) lead by United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), GDC, and KenGen. The AGCE Steering Committee is comprised of representatives of the African Union Commission, UNEP, GDC, KenGen, UNU-GTP, and two from countries outside of Kenya (currently Djibouti and Rwanda). After the Interim Phase has run its course, the AGCE will be transferred to the Kenyan Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, which will assume responsibility for managing the centre into the future.