Description
Notice had been taken of recommendations for the previous course to add project work and a few lectures of varying topics to the scope of the 2008 course. As earlier, the event was co-organized by the UNU-GTP and KenGen. The 37 participants came from 11 countries of East Africa (plus Yemen), i.e. Burundi (2), Djibouti (2), Eritrea (2), Ethiopia (2), Kenya (18), Rwanda (2), Tanzania (2), Uganda (2), and Yemen (2). For the first time Zambia (2) and DR Congo (1) participated in events organized by the UNU-GTP. The teaching was in the hands of experts from Iceland (UNU-GTP and ISOR – Iceland GeoSurvey), Kenya (KenGen), all except one former UNU Fellows in Iceland, and five experts and former UNU Fellows from the neighbouring ARGeo countries, in all 28 lecturers. The first week consisted of field work in the Lake Bogoria region under the guidance of KenGen instructors. The second part consisted of lectures and project work at Lake Naivasha from October 31 till November 17. The lectures (8 days) covered the classical surface exploration fields, geology, geophysics, chemistry of thermal fluids and environmental science, together with an introduction to reservoir assessment and geothermal drilling, all demonstrated by numerous field examples and through practicals. After a one-day excursion in the Olkaria area visiting the geothermal field and the power plants, three days were devoted to the status of geothermal exploration and development in the East African region and planning of geothermal projects. The last phase was 4 days of project work under the supervision of KenGen experts during which the participants were given data from Kenyan geothermal fields to deal with and interpret. The assessment of the participants and lecturers was unanimous in, that with this Short Course a model had been developed that should be followed in the near future. The importance of the project part of the course was specially noted.