The government of Kenya and France have sealed a cooperation agreement aimed at accelerating geothermal resource development across East Africa. The partnership inked between Kenya’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement – AFD) brings together Kenya’s long-standing expertise in geothermal power generation with France’s advanced experience in direct geothermal heat applications.
The initiative is designed to foster complementary collaboration, particularly targeting the geothermal potential in Tanzania and Uganda, with plans to expand into other countries in the region. Beyond energy production, the agreement seeks to serve as a model for South–South–North cooperation, delivering shared value to governments, businesses, and communities involved.
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Geothermal development
The signing ceremony was attended by senior dignitaries, including Alex Wachira, Principal Secretary in Kenya’s State Department for Energy; Arnaud Suquet, the French Ambassador to Kenya; and Sandra Kassab, AFD’s Africa Director.
Ambassador Suquet underscored France’s role as a strategic partner in Kenya’s clean energy transition, stating that the collaboration would leverage Kenya’s world-class geothermal expertise to support its ambition of achieving universal access to energy and a 100% renewable energy mix by 2030. Principal Secretary Wachira noted that the agreement would not only strengthen regional cooperation but also accelerate geothermal adoption as a driver of sustainable and resilient economic growth.
Kenya is already recognized as a global leader in geothermal development, with nearly 1 GW of installed capacity by the end of 2024. The country is also advancing innovative uses of geothermal heat beyond electricity production. These applications include milk pasteurization, heating flower farms, and supporting tourism through attractions like the Olkaria geothermal spa. Such initiatives demonstrate the versatility of geothermal resources and their potential to diversify revenue streams while enhancing economic resilience.
This new France–Kenya partnership is expected to amplify these successes while extending geothermal benefits to neighboring countries, reinforcing East Africa’s position as a rising hub for renewable energy innovation.