East Africa is the main area of exploitation of geothermal heat on the African continent. Thanks to this natural heat from under the Rift Valley, Kenya has become the leading producer of geothermal energy on the continent. Other countries in the sub-region are trying to catch up without any concrete achievements for the moment. But then, what is geothermal energy? What are the other uses of the geothermal resource?

Kenya is the leading producer of geothermal electricity in Africa and is also looking to make direct use of the steam. Among the opportunities for this resource is the agricultural sector. And the GDC is doing its part. With the support of Iceland, one of the world’s largest producers of geothermal heat (9.3 million MWh per year), the government agency has commissioned a plant in Menengai that can dry 20 tons of grain per day. It should allow the reduction of agricultural production losses very often linked to bad weather during the rainy season.

Read more: Afrik21