The African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, H.E. Dr Elham M. A. Ibrahim and New Zealand Ambassador to the African Union, H.E. Mr Bruce Shepherd, signed on 9 October 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, an Agreement on Geothermal Drilling Regulation for Deep Wells in East Africa to support regulation of geothermal activity in Eastern African countries.

The Agreement aims to facilitate the development by the African Union Commission of a Geothermal Drilling Code (“AU Commission Standard”) based on the New Zealand Standards SNZ2403:201, for use by African Union member states. “The new African Union Commission Code of Practice will help to ensure increased professionalism and safety for deep geothermal well drilling starting with the Eastern African countries and will help countries make the most of their vast geothermal potential”, Commissioner Dr Elham Ibrahim, said.

On the other hand, Ambassador Shepherd said that New Zealand was pleased to support the African Union Commission to get a Geothermal Code of Practice, which would be based on New Zealand’s standard. “New Zealand is a world leader in geothermal energy,” he said. “The development of our Standards for drilling and maintaining geothermal wells is the most updated and the best in the world. We are pleased to partner with the African Union Commission to improve the safety and efficiency of geothermal exploration in East Africa.”

For detailed information about the AUC geothermal activities and The Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility (GRMF) please visit the GRMF website: http://www.grmf-eastafrica.org/.