Kenya's Green Energy Park Welcomes $20M Fish Feed Plant

A fish feed factory powered by the earth's heat is about to transform East Africa's aquaculture industry.

Kenya's state electricity company KenGen just signed its fifth investor for its Green Energy Park in Olkaria, Naivasha. Maxim Agri and Samakgro Limited is investing $20 million to build the region's largest fish feed production facility, running entirely on geothermal power from beneath the Rift Valley.

The plant will produce 65 metric tonnes of fish feed starting in five months. That's enough to supply Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda with locally produced feed for their growing fish farming industries.

"We chose this park for its reliable power supply, access to water, and skilled workforce," said Director Joachim Wersterveld. The company is betting on geothermal energy's steady, 24/7 power supply to keep production running without interruption.

KenGen's Green Energy Park spans 8,000 acres of geothermal-rich land and already hosts data centers, electric vehicle operations, green fertilizer production, and steel manufacturing. Every business runs on renewable energy tapped from underground heat sources that have made Kenya the seventh-largest geothermal producer in the world.

The park just earned Special Economic Zone status, bringing tax incentives that sweeten the deal for incoming investors. CEO Peter Njenga says a new online platform now lets potential investors explore opportunities from anywhere in the world.

The Ripple Effect

This isn't just about one fish feed factory. KenGen is racing to meet Kenya's electricity demand, which just hit a record peak of 2,550 megawatts. The company plans to more than double its geothermal capacity from 754 MW to 1,500 MW by 2034.

They're rehabilitating old power stations and exploring new geothermal fields at Eburru, Suswa, and Longonot. The Olkaria 1 plant rehab alone will add 63 MW of clean power.

Kenya already generates most of its electricity from renewable sources: 826 MW from hydro, 754 MW from geothermal, and 25.5 MW from wind. The country is charging toward 100% green energy while creating industrial jobs that didn't exist a decade ago.

Commercial Services Manager Kibet Ronoh put it simply: "Geothermal has shown to be a key driver to power economies, households and industries through clean energy sources providing sustainable jobs and livelihoods."

The earth's heat is building Kenya's industrial future, one investor at a time.