More than 20 US geothermal industry representatives participated in a September 30 US-East Africa Geothermal Partnership (EAGP) meeting in Reno, NV to provide input and feedback on activities to be included in the EAGP program.

EAGP Program Director Steve Hirsch provided a brief overview of the program and outlined key elements of the program and proposed work plan. EAGP aims to develop synergies to move the US market in East Africa ahead with company participation. The US has been notably absent from geothermal development in East Arica.

A number of issues were discussed at the meeting, including short term advisory support being a key component of the EAGP; the establishment of industry and US Government working groups; collaboration and coordination among USG agencies; the importance of fostering training-based relationships between African geoscientists and engineers and US geothermal companies; collaboration with the KfW/European Union $67 million Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility (GRMF); and US participation at the upcoming ARGeo C-4 Conference in Nairobi, Kenya to market the EAGP and start building relationships. The EAGP also sought industry feedback on a proposed trade mission to cover 2-3 target countries in East Africa.

The EAGP, a partnership between the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA), seeks to promote the development of geothermal energy resources in East Africa and to encourage and facilitate the involvement of U.S. geothermal companies and experts in the region. The EAGP is being implemented through the US Energy Association (USEA).

For more information about the EAGP and to get involved, contact Alison Holm at Alison@geo-energy.org.

This article was originally published in GEA's Geothermal Energy Weekly and was republished with permission.

Lead image: Africa landscape via Shutterstock