Virtual opening session of ARGeo-C8, Nov. 2020 (source: ARGeo) The 8th African Rift Geothermal Conference (ARGeo) successfully concluded this week. Held virtually, it brought together the African and international geothermal community highlighting the continents commitment to geothermal energy and the use of clean and renewable energy. The virtual Eighth African Rift Geothermal Conference (ARGeo-C8) welcomed more than 500 local, regional and international geothermal experts, policy makers, developers and financiers from all over the world earlier this week. The event closed yesterday, November 6, 2020.
The conference was a mix of five plenary and five parallel technical sessions with more than 150 technical papers. The parallel technical sessions focused on Geothermal Policy, Institutional and Regulatory Framework; Financing and Project Management, Resource Exploration: Geology, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Drilling, Reservoir Engineering, and Utilization in terms of Power production and Direct Use Application. A total of 90 technical papers were virtually presented and the rest in a poster session by the close of the conference. The conference was preceded by two days of pre-conference short courses where a total of 200 representatives were trained from the region.
The opening Ceremony was graced by the former President of Iceland and Global Geothermal Ambassador, H.E. Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson – the Guest of honour, Hon. Charles Keter, Cabinet Secretary of Ministry of Energy, Kenya, H.E. Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid – African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Director for Africa – Dr. Juliette Biao Koudenoupko. – Dr. Eng. Joseph Njoroge – PS Ministry of Energy, Kenya, Andy Blair – President of the IGA, Eng. Jared O. Othieno – CEO and MD of GDC, Eng. Abel Rotich – Geothermal Development Director of KenGen (on behalf of the CEO/MD of KeNGen), also graced the event and gave opening remarks.
Speaking during the opening, H.E. Olafur Ragnar Grimson applauded the readiness and commitment of African countries to take the path of developing the clean and renewable energy resources i.e. geothermal to drive the sustainable socio-economic development of the continent. He affirmed to the participants the significant and vital contribution of geothermal resources for ICELAND to become one of the first developed Economy countries today. In line with that, H. E Grimson encouraged the African countries to follow the path of Iceland and use their indigenous resources to drive their socio economy to eradicate poverty.
In his opening remarks,Hon.Charles Keter,emphasized the need for Innovation and capacity building in […]