Kenya and France have signed a cooperation agreement to accelerate geothermal development across East Africa, positioning the region for a sharper pivot to renewables. Announced in Nairobi on September 4, 2025, the pact links Kenya’s deep-geothermal power expertise with France’s strengths in direct-use heat applications to catalyze projects in Tanzania and Uganda before widening to other markets. The initiative aims to bolster climate resilience, unlock green growth, and consolidate East Africa’s status as a continental leader in clean energy.
Partnership Overview
The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum in Kenya and France’s Agence Française de Développement (AFD) will coordinate the framework and technical assistance underpinning the program. Their collaboration blends project development know-how with financing and policy support, creating a platform for faster deployment of geothermal resources along the Rift Valley. According to AFD, the agreement formalizes a multi-country approach that leverages Kenya’s operating experience to shorten timelines and reduce risk in neighboring markets.
Strategic Scope and Technology Exchange
A core thrust of the deal is combining baseload power generation with direct-use applications such as industrial process heat, district heating, and agro-processing, where French and Kenyan institutions have complementary capabilities. By emphasizing both electricity and heat, the program targets higher load factors and more diversified revenue streams for geothermal assets. This broader use case set is designed to improve bankability while supporting local industries and jobs around geothermal fields.
Regional Impact and Next Steps
Early efforts will prioritize capacity building, feasibility work, and pilot deployments in Tanzania and Uganda, drawing on Kenya’s track record to standardize methods and share lessons. Public communications from Kenyan officials also reference a €500,000 grant signed under the Kenya–Tanzania–Uganda–France Geothermal Partnership to co-create and advance the pipeline, signaling initial seeding funds for program setup. Over time, the parties expect to extend the model to additional countries as institutional readiness, grid needs, and resource appraisals align.
Stakeholder Statements
Senior representatives at the signing included Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Energy Alex Wachira, France’s Ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suquet, and AFD Africa Director Sandra Kassab, underscoring high-level political and development backing. Public statements from the officials framed the agreement as a pragmatic step toward universal access and a fully renewable power mix, aligning with Kenya’s stated ambition and ongoing grid and generation programs. AFD and the French Embassy further amplified the announcement on official channels, highlighting the combination of French and Kenyan expertise to accelerate geothermal uptake.
This cross-border geothermal accord anchors a South–South–North partnership that blends technology, finance, and policy to move projects from concept to commissioning. By marrying electricity generation with direct-use heat, the framework seeks to improve project economics, diversify end-uses, and scale investment beyond Kenya into the wider region. If executed as outlined, East Africa could translate its geology into resilient baseload supply and productive heat uses, tightening the region’s grip on renewable leadership while advancing development goals.