Kenyan President William Ruto attends a groundbreaking ceremony for a Chinese-funded green fertilizer project held in Nakuru County, Kenya on Nov. 3, 2025. The groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday in Nakuru County, west-central Kenya, marking a major step toward sustainably boosting the country's agricultural productivity. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)
NAIROBI, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The groundbreaking ceremony for a Chinese-funded green fertilizer project was held Monday in Nakuru County, west-central Kenya, marking a major step toward sustainably boosting the country's agricultural productivity.
The fertilizer production facility, to be financed and built by Chinese firm Kaishan Group, will use geothermal steam supplied by the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen). The plant is expected to generate 165 megawatts of clean energy to synthesize green ammonia for an annual production of about 480,000 tonnes of eco-friendly fertilizer.
Kenyan President William Ruto, who attended the ceremony, hailed the initiative as a flagship project in Kenya's green industrial transformation. He said the new facility would ensure that farmers have a reliable, affordable and locally produced supply of fertilizer.
"It will shield our economy from global price shocks, strengthen food security and save the country valuable foreign exchange that can be redirected to other national priorities," Ruto said.
The president said that the project will create over 2,000 jobs, cut Kenya's fertilizer import bill by more than 60 billion shillings (about 464 million U.S. dollars) annually, and reinforce the country's position as a leader in green growth and climate-smart innovation in Africa.
Ruto said that Kenya's agricultural sector is highly sensitive to fertilizer prices, with high costs often leading to reduced production of maize, the staple food for millions of Kenyans.
Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi said the project shows how green energy can power Kenya's industries and drive regional progress. "We have made energy the engine of our country's growth, and this project answers that," Wandayi said.
Tang Yan, general manager of Kaishan Group, said the project is a model of genuine sustainability. "We will capture non-condensable gases from geothermal steam to produce carbon dioxide, which will be utilized in the fertilizer plant," he said.
Tang reaffirmed the company's commitment to combining Kaishan's innovative modular geothermal power technology with Kenya's abundant geothermal resources to advance the East African country's green energy and green industrial development. ■
Photo taken on Nov. 3, 2025 shows a groundbreaking ceremony for a Chinese-funded green fertilizer project held in Nakuru County, Kenya. The groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday in Nakuru County, west-central Kenya, marking a major step toward sustainably boosting the country's agricultural productivity. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)
Kenyan President William Ruto addresses a groundbreaking ceremony for a Chinese-funded green fertilizer project held in Nakuru County, Kenya on Nov. 3, 2025. The groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday in Nakuru County, west-central Kenya, marking a major step toward sustainably boosting the country's agricultural productivity. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)
Kenyan Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Opiyo Wandayi addresses a groundbreaking ceremony for a Chinese-funded green fertilizer project held in Nakuru County, Kenya on Nov. 3, 2025. The groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday in Nakuru County, west-central Kenya, marking a major step toward sustainably boosting the country's agricultural productivity. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)
Tang Yan, general manager of Kaishan Group, addresses a groundbreaking ceremony for a Chinese-funded green fertilizer project held in Nakuru County, Kenya on Nov. 3, 2025. The groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday in Nakuru County, west-central Kenya, marking a major step toward sustainably boosting the country's agricultural productivity. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)
Photo taken on Nov. 3, 2025 shows a groundbreaking ceremony for a Chinese-funded green fertilizer project held in Nakuru County, Kenya. The groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday in Nakuru County, west-central Kenya, marking a major step toward sustainably boosting the country's agricultural productivity. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)