Mr Lange to inspect N.Z.-built project

Press, 4 April 1985, Page 4

Mr Lange to inspect N.Z.-built project

NZPA staff correspondent Nairobi

New Zealand's ability to market overseas specialised skills developed at home will come under the spotlight when the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, flies by helicopter to inspect a geothermal field in the rift valley of Kenya, 125 km north-west of Nairobi.

Mr Lange is scheduled to tour the Olkaria geothermal field after spending the night at the Keekerok Lodge in the famous Maasai Mara game reserve.

The geothermal field Mr Lange will see is the first in Africa to be developed for the production of electric power along the lines of New Zealand’s pioneering power station at Wairakei, near Taupo.

Most of the technological expertise behind the drilling of 31 deep production wells in the field has been provided by a New Zealand company, Geothermal Energy New Zealand, Ltd, (G.E.N.Z.L.) which has several projects running in eastern Africa.

Exploration of the Olkaria steam fields began before Kenya won independence, with two exploratory wells drilled in 1956 and abandoned. Drilling began again in the mid 1970 s when Kenya started to feel the shock of rapidly rising oil prices and cast about for alternative energy sources. In 1977, the Kenya Power Company, Ltd, hired G.E.N.Z.L. to provide consulting services for drilling and scientific studies, and

the company’s staff have been on the site ever since, supervising drilling operations, well measurements, and co-ordinating development planning. So far, rigs under their supervision have drilled 31 production wells and four exploration wells in a hightemperature reservoir. Special drilling techniques have been used in the process because the field is a low-pressure reservoir. G.E.N.Z.L. employees have served in positions ranging from geothermal superintendent for the Kenya Power Authority, and steamfield engineer down to drilling supervisors, drillers and mechanics. However, the expansion of the drilling programme since 1978 has meant many of the New

Zealanders have trained Kenyans to take over their jobs and moved on to other projects in Africa.

New Zealanders still working on the site include the programme manager, Mr Paul Quinlivan, of Napier; the drilling engineer, Mr Graeme Cummings, of Auckland; and two drilling superintendents, Messrs Hughie Head, of Hamilton, and Bill Hakopa, of Taupo. The men, the general manager of their company, Mr Michael Allen, of Auckland, and the company’s chairman, Mr Roger Gudgeon, are among the 100 or so New Zealanders who will attend a special luncheon to be hosted by Mr Lange in Nairobi after his visit to the steam field.