More than 150 participants notably attended the technical webinar “Mineral extraction from geothermal brines”, held on 29th September 2022 and organized by UNIDO ITPO Italy in collaboration with Unione Geotermica Italiana (UGI) and the Geothermal Association of Kenya (GAK).

Dedicated to Kenyan SMEs, institutions and associations in energy and environment, the webinar successfully allowed to share innovative Italian know-how and best practices in the field of geothermal energy, with the goal to facilitate investment and technology transfer within the energy and environment sectors of Kenya and promote new business opportunities for sustainable development in the country.

Opened with the welcome remarks of UNIDO ITPO Italy Head Ms. Diana Battaggia and an introduction by CEO of GAK Mr. Mike Karanja, the technical webinar — moderated by UNIDO ITPO Italy’s Investment Promotion Expert Ms. Ester Temperato — featured the participation as panelists of Mr. Andrea Dini, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Geosciences and Georesources at the National Research Council (CNR), with a detailed overview of mineral resources in geothermal brines in Italy, and Mr. Luca Xodo, Director of Sales and Business Development at Steam Srl, illustrating how to properly conduct a feasibility study for mineral extraction from geothermal brines. The closing remarks of Mr. Bruno Della Vedova, President of UGI, and UNIDO ITPO Italy’s Project Coordinator Ms. Valentina Maltese, eventually concluded the webinar after an insightful and participated Q&A session, moderated by UNIDO ITPO Italy’s Expert for Energy and Environment in Kenya Ms. Faith Okaalet.

This initiative — part of the project “Fostering International Partnerships between companies and/or institutions operating in the Energy and Environment sectors” (#FIPEE) funded by the Italian Ministry of Ecological Transition and implemented by UNIDO ITPO Italy — was the first of several activities implemented under the umbrella of the collaboration signed between UGI and GAK on geothermal energy facilitated by UNIDO ITPO Italy, as well as towards an upcoming study tour to Italy for a Kenyan business delegation operating in this field.