Djibouti’s renewables development programme is gathering pace, with the drilling of its first geothermal well.

While to date Djibouti has no geothermal facilities, the country holds an estimated potential capacity of 1 000 MW, as reported by Think GeoEnergy. The East African nation is currently largely dependent on coal and oil imports, and 50% of the population lacks access to electricity.

A total of three wells are to be drilled by the Kenya Electricity Generating Company in Gala‘le Kôma (in the south-eastern Arta region) through a US$ 6.4 million contract with the Djiboutian Office of Geothermal Energy Development. Drilling of the first well is set to take two months.

The project is expected improve nationwide access to energy and reduce oil imports as well as greenhouse gas emissions.

30 November 2021
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