KenGen (Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC), the leading supplier of electricity in Kenya, wants to provide excess geothermal power to bitcoin mining companies, according to a report from Quartz Africa.
“We have the space and the power is near, which helps with stability,” KenGen’s geothermal development director, Peketsa Mwangi reportedly explained in an interview.
Kenya is the top producer of geothermal energy in Africa delivering over 14,000 megawatts (MW) of power with the equipment capacity of only 863 MW. Along the Rift Valley circuit alone, an estimated 10,000 MW of geothermal energy lies largely dormant.
Miners looking to take advantage of this offering have already approached KenGen to discuss the offer and “Some have requested to start with 20 MW and upscale later,” said Mwangi.
Considering there are no bitcoin mining firms currently in Africa, it is reported that those interested in the offering are expected to be mainly from the U.S. or Europe.
Currently over 80% of KenGen’s produced power is provided from renewable energy sources like hydro and wind, in addition to geothermal usage. However, KenGen does not openly disclose its excess power capacity.
The publication reported KenGen stated that by offering clean energy, the company hopes to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions often associated with mining bitcoin. However, the government of Kenya has taken a completely different approach to bitcoin and digital currency due to its fear of scams in the broader market.
Previously, the central bank of Kenyareleased a document detailing its desire to research a central bank digital currency (CBDC). However, the central bank did note that through the success of M-Pesa, a mobile banking service, Kenya’s recent experience in innovation may be put at risk if they create a CBDC without good cause.
“The usefulness of technology does not lie in its uniqueness but in its ability to solve a pressing societal problem. A case in point has been the rise of mobile money in Kenya that has placed our country as a cradle of innovation in Africa.”