Geothermal Training in Iceland 2013

• Other Authors: Omarsdottir, Malfridur, Haraldsson, Ingimar G., Georgsson, Ludvik S.
• Language: unknown
• Published: United Nations University Geothermal Training Programme 2014
• Subjects: Geothermal; Fellowship; Training programme; Iceland
• Online Access: http://collections.unu.edu/view/UNU:5462

The 35th annual session of the UNU-GTP was held from April to October 2013. A record thirty four UNU Fellows from fifteen countries in four continents completed the traditional six month courses. They came from Bangladesh (2), Burundi (1), China (2), Djibouti (2), El Salvador (2), Ethiopia (2), India (1), Kenya (12), Malawi (1), Nicaragua (1), Papua New Guinea (1), Philippines (3), Rwanda (2), Sri Lanka (1) and Uganda (1). The UNU Fellows were trained in eight lines of specialization in 2013, in: Reservoir Engineering (6 Fellows), Geothermal Utilization (6), Geophysical Exploration (5), Drilling Technology (5), Borehole Geology (4), Chemistry of Thermal Fluids (4), Geological Exploration (2) and Borehole Geophysics (2). They were all on fellowships from the Icelandic Government and the UNU. Three UNU Fellowships were co-funded by the Energy Development Company (EDC) in the Philippines, and ten by the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) and Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) in Kenya. For the first time UNU-GTP gave a similar training in a cooperation country, through courses and advanced training, sponsored by KenGen, with 5 borehole geologists trained on site in Kenya. Consequently, they have been given a similar status to the 6-month UNU Fellows in Iceland, meaning that in all 39 trainees completed this kind of training in 2013. Their training reports have been published separately. Kenya’s drive for fast geothermal development has led to an urgent need for geothermal training on a large scale. No new countries were added for the 6-month training in 2013. Thus, during 1979-2013, 554 scientists and engineers from 53 countries have completed the annual six month courses, or equivalent. Of these, 39% have come from countries in Asia, 34% from Africa, 15% from Latin America and the Caribbean, 11% from Central and Eastern Europe, and 1% from Oceania which was represented for the first time at the UNU-GTP in 2012. Among them have been 109 women (20%). Over 90 professionals have received shorter training in Iceland (2 weeks to 4 months).