The country has signed a deal with a multinational firm based in Australia to set up a fertiliser plant in the country in the bid to manufacture affordable fertiliser and increase food supply.
The signing of the deal was witnessed by President William Ruto and Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) Executive Chairman Andrew Forrest on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
“Today marks the beginning of what we all believe will be a long and fruitful partnership between Kenya and FFI. I was elected on a platform of creating opportunities for local companies and communities. This agreement will help to achieve that and help to support further economic and infrastructure development in Kenya,” Ruto stated.
The President however said that the deal is not only expected to boost food production but also help the country’s transition to green energy.
According to FFI, the agreement will entrench its commitment to fast track significant investments to develop green industrial facilities in Naivasha, Mombasa and Lamu, creating thousands of jobs and delivering significant manufacturing industrial development in the country.
“In a major effort to replace imported polluting fertiliser, the government of Kenya and Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) signed a binding Framework Agreement on the sidelines of COP27, witnessed by the President of Kenya, Dr William Ruto and Executive Chairman of Fortescue, Dr. Andrew Forrest,” FFI stated.
“The initial green hydrogen and green ammonia facility to be located in the Naivasha vicinity of the Olkaria geothermal field will move to a pre-feasibility study with a final investment decision from FFI expected in 2023,” FFI added.
On his part, Forrest said the plant would help reduce reliance on fossil fuels through the use of renewable energy.
“Current ammonia and fertiliser production relies almost exclusively on fossil fuels and results in considerable CO2 emmissions. By stepping away from fossil fuels to use green ammonia, Kenya can eliminate its reliance on imports, reduce the cost of fertiliser and increase its food and economic security,” he said.
He also said that the partnership would create thousands of new jobs for Kenyans.
