Unterstützung der Ostafrikanischen Geothermal-Initiative Support the East African Geothermal Initiative Die Länder entlang des ostafrikanischen Grabens (Great Rift Valley) verfügen über ein enormes geothermisches Potential, das bisher jedoch nur in Kenia und Äthiopien genutzt wird. Dies liegt u.a. an den bestehenden Investitionsbarrieren, wie den hohen Einstiegsrisiken und -kosten für die Erschließung der Ressource. Um zuverlässige Aussagen über die Eignung eines Standortes zu treffen, müssen zunächst aufwändige und teure Bohrungen durchgeführt werden, die oft erfolglos sind. Dieses Risiko scheuen viele Entwickler bislang. Bei der Geothermal Risk Mitigation Facility (GRMF) können geeignete staatliche und private Projektentwickler Zuschüsse für Explorationsbohrungen erhalten. Zudem verringert die FZ-Maßnahme die Risiken zukünftiger Bohrungen im ostafrikanischen Graben, indem sie relevante geologische Informationen auf der GRMF-Homepage verfügbar macht. Projektträger ist die Kommission der Afrikanischen Union (AUC), die von elf Mitgliedsstaaten beauftragt wurde, Geothermie in der Region zu fördern. Projektziel ist die Gewinnung staatlicher und privater Entwickler für den Bau von Geothermiekraftwerken zur Einspeisung sauberer und zuverlässiger Energie in die ostafrikanischen Stromnetze. Entwicklungspolitisches Ziel der Maßnahme ist eine Stärkung des armutsorientierten Wachstums in Ostafrika durch eine Verbesserung der Stromversorgung. Bei der GRMF handelt es sich um eine gemeinsame Finanzierung, bestehend aus einem FZ-Finanzierungsbeitrag in Höhe von EUR 30 Mio. (BMZ), einem Finanzierungsbeitrag des EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund in Höhe von EUR 30 Mio. sowie bis zu GBP 24 Mio. des britischen FCDO. The countries situated along the East Africa Rift Valley have geothermal potential of more than 15,000 MW, which is equivalent to roughly three times the current capacity of Eastern Africa's power plants. However, due to considerable obstacles to investment - primarily the significant start-up risks and cost of harnessing geothermal energy - it has so far only been used to a very limited extend in Kenya and Ethiopia. Reliable information about whether a site is suitable can only be obtained through elaborate and expensive drilling processes, which are often unsuccessful. Up until now, many developers have been unwilling to take this risk. The East African states hope to overcome these obstacles by adopting a regional approach. In June 2009, the energy ministers of eleven countries along the East African Rift Valley signed the Addis Ababa Declaration on Geothermal Energy. This declaration calls on the African Union Commission to devise a strategy for regional cooperation to harness EasternAfrica's geothermal potential, develop innovative financing mechanisms and set up a regional database.The project aims to attract public and private developers for the construction of geothermal power plants which will feed a clean and reliable source of energy into power grids in Eastern Africa.The Geothermal Facility provides financial contributions for exploring geothermal sites in Eastern Africa. Governmental or parastatal organisations and private companies can apply for support from the facility. The project measures will deliver high-quality, sound information about the potential of geothermal sites in Eastern Africa, serving as a basis for private investment in new geothermal power plants. In addition, drillings at various sites in the region will improve knowledge about the resources, thereby helping to reduce site development risks when developing future geothermal energy projects in the region. Projektziel ist, staatliche und private Investoren für den Bau von Geothermiekraftwerken zur Einspeisung sauberer und zuverlässiger Energie in die ostafrikanischen Stromnetze zu gewinnen. The countries situated along the East Africa Rift Valley have geothermal potential of more than 15,000 MW, which is equivalent to roughly three times the current capacity of Eastern Africa's power plants. However, due to considerable obstacles to investment - primarily the significant start-up risks and cost of harnessing geothermal energy - it has so far only been used to a very limited extend in Kenya and Ethiopia. Reliable information about whether a site is suitable can only be obtained through elaborate and expensive drilling processes, which are often unsuccessful. Up until now, many developers have been unwilling to take this risk. The East African states hope to overcome these obstacles by adopting a regional approach. In June 2009, the energy ministers of eleven countries along the East African Rift Valley signed the Addis Ababa Declaration on Geothermal Energy. This declaration calls on the African Union Commission to devise a strategy for regional cooperation to harness EasternAfrica's geothermal potential, develop innovative financing mechanisms and set up a regional database.The project aims to attract public and private developers for the construction of geothermal power plants which will feed a clean and reliable source of energy into power grids in Eastern Africa.The Geothermal Facility provides financial contributions for exploring geothermal sites in Eastern Africa. Governmental or parastatal organisations and private companies can apply for support from the facility. The project measures will deliver high-quality, sound information about the potential of geothermal sites in Eastern Africa, serving as a basis for private investment in new geothermal power plants. In addition, drillings at various sites in the region will improve knowledge about the resources, thereby helping to reduce site development risks when developing future geothermal energy projects in the region.