Africa-Press – Kenya. Kenya has made history by winning the bid to host the first-ever World Geothermal Congress (WGC) on the African continent. The conference is scheduled to be held in Nairobi in 2029.
The International Geothermal Association (IGA) announced on December 9 that Nairobi would host the 2029 congress, beating Auckland, New Zealand, and Munich, Germany, in the final selection.
Since its inception in 1995, the WGC has never been held in Africa.
The event, organised by the IGA, is expected to attract over 3,000 local and international participants, including researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and finance experts, to share innovations, discuss technology, and advance geothermal energy as a key driver for sustainable development.
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi described the decision to host the WGC in Nairobi as a victory not only for Kenya but also for Africa and the Global South.
“Through WGC 2029, Kenya will solidify its geothermal leadership role in Africa and the world,” Wandayi said.
He added that the congress will provide a platform to accelerate geothermal development in Africa, both for electricity generation and direct-use applications, to stimulate socio-economic transformation.
Wandayi noted that geothermal energy is expected to play a critical role in helping Kenya achieve its target of adding 10,000 MW of electricity generation capacity by 2032.
He also highlighted that integrated geothermal development can spur industrialisation through direct-use applications.
The Cabinet Secretary further stated that Kenya will continue supporting other African countries with geothermal expertise and technical know-how.
“We are working on modalities to establish the Africa Geothermal Centre of Excellence to be hosted here in Kenya. This will serve the continent by enhancing institutional and infrastructural capacities and creating a critical mass of geothermal scientists and engineers,” he said.
He observed that Nairobi’s selection as the host city underscores Africa’s growing leadership in geothermal energy and positions Kenya as a global hub for renewable energy innovation, knowledge exchange, and climate resilience solutions.
Hosting the WGC 2029 at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, Wandayi said, elevates the congress to a global stage, reinforcing Kenya’s partnership with UNEP and placing Africa at the center of multilateral climate and energy action.
He added that the congress will demonstrate Kenya’s commitment to a low-carbon future and climate resilience, while offering delegates an opportunity to experience the country’s geothermal innovation and community engagement initiatives firsthand.
