State of Environment in Menengai Crater Kenya Friends

State of Environment in Menengai Crater, Kenya Friends of Menengai Crater January 2018

1. Impacts of Geothermal Drilling

2. Problems/ Challenges Quarrying Forest fires

3. Solid Waste from the Drilling Camps

3. Pollution from Solid & Liquid wastes cont. .

3. Solid waste pollution cont… Organic waste composting chambers Jan 2014 Organic waste composting chambers 24. 10. 2014

4. Sewage pollution Sanitation at Base camp

5. Pollution from waste/used oils

5. Pollution from waste/used oils cont. . Oil spillage Oil filters

5. Pollution from waste/used oils cont. . Oil leaks from generators Accidental oil spills

5. Pollution from waste/used oils cont. .

6. Pollution from geothermal brine Brine discharge from MW 1 into dilapidated HDPE

6. Pollution from geothermal brine Brine and steam condensate

6. Pollution from geothermal brine cont. . Vandalism of brine pond lining Vandalism & theft of materials

6. Pollution from geothermal brine Brine spillage: Jan. 2013 Photo: Brine Spill-Dec 2012 Gully forming-20. 9. 2013 cont. . Photo: Brine Spill-area March 2013

7. Soil erosion & gullies • Erosion near MW 1 Oct. 2013 Erosion near MW 7 - Sept. 2014

8. Water abstraction wastage

9. Land degradation and overgrazing

9. Environmental degradation cont. . Mountain Reedbuck (Chandlers Reedbuck ) at MW 12 Overgrazed & degraded area MW 12

9. Environmental degradationovergrazing cont. . Taken on 14 th 2. 2013 - Menengai near MW 12, well covered with grass & trees Photo 9: taken on 24 th 10. 2014 - Menengai (MW 12) site completely bear with sparse tree cover

Permanent Camps for herders in Menengai Cattle Watering Point 9. Degradation & overgrazing cont. .

10. Noise and Dust Pollution

11. Charcoal burning, forest fires and Charcoal burning Firewood collection firewood

12. Problems on cultural & religious sites/ shrines Menengai cultural sites Mau mau sacred caves (home to endemic bats)

Project Disadvantages • Drilling effluent: Heavy metals i. e. Arsenic, Boron, Mercury, Chloride, Chromium, Lead, Zinc, Oils and grease (GDC refused to share Data) • Hot geothermal brine (waste water) animal deaths • Geothermal waste water (drilling fluids, solid waste, drilling debris-cause ground water contamination, pollution • Noise & dust • Gas emmisions-CO 2, CO, CH 4, NO 2, SO 2, H 2 S, Non-Condesable Gases (NCGs). • Overgrazing (over 6000 livestock) • Insecurity • Accidenents

Geothermal Project Advantages • Meet the demand for electricity in Kenya by adding 100 MW to the National Grid. • Improve access to infrastructure such as roads, portable water, schools, • Employment for staff & casuals, business opportunities, food demand, construction materials, accommodation MW 1 - Potential of 30 MW

Direct Use Experimental Plots

Conclusion • Degradation in Menengai Caldera is occurring at a rapid rate due to impacts related to geothermal drilling activities and • Overgrazing, charcoal burning, forest fires, poaching (i. e. disappearance of Chandler’s Reedbucks), and firewood collection by local communities. • GDC to urgently consider supporting KFS in constructing a permanent KFS outpost, complete with a yard for impounded animals. • KFS to allocate specific grazing areas, conduct zoning based on PFMP and develop a code of conduct for the grazers and herders in Menengai. • KFS and GDC to seek possibilities of engaging forest scouts in Menengai • All stakeholders to support re-forestation initiatives and rehabilitation of degraded areas. Explore strategies of fencing Menengai to control movement.