Japan offers Kenya $320 M for GT development

In Japan, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama announced that his country will extend a loan of $375 million to Kenya for geothermal power generation, drought responses and reforestation. A full $320 million of that amount will go to geothermal development. Hatoyama also offered Japan’s assistance for Kenya to develop a nuclear power plant and said Kenya can expect additional assistance in other areas of climate change measures. Hatayama made the announcement at a meeting with Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who arrived in Japan on Monday for meetings with business and political leaders looking to attract Japanese aid and investments to Kenya. Japan will also aim to increase exports of Kenyan products to Japan, and will encourage Japanese tourism to Kenya and private companies to invest in the country.