U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary David Turk Leads High-Level Delegation to East Africa to Promote Partnership on Clean Energy

Washington DC, June 14 2024 -   U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary David Turk led a visit to Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania the week of June 10th to discuss issues related to clean energy, carbon management, and incentivizing foreign direct investment in Africa’s energy sector. The delegation included representation from the National Security Council (NSC) and the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) During the visit, Deputy Secretary Turk met with officials from Kenya and Tanzania to exchange views on bolstering regional partnerships to advance mutual clean energy priorities and tackle climate change.  One of the primary goals of the visit was to rally support for increased resources to catalyze innovation and infrastructure investment for Africa’s green energy future.  This visit follows the launch of the U.S. – Kenya Climate and Clean Energy Industrial Partnership that was announced in May during Kenyan President Wiliam Ruto’s State visit to the United States.   

Deputy Secretary Turk spent Monday and Tuesday in Nairobi where he met several senior level officials including Minister Davis Chirchir, Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and Minister Rebecca Miano, Minister of Investment Trader and Industry and Mr. Adan Mohamed, Chief of Strategy and Execution to President Ruto.  The delegation met with members of the business community to discuss cutting edge, clean energy, and carbon management advancements in Kenya.   Turk also met with entrepreneurs working to advance e-mobility in Kenya as well as local youth leaders focused on sustainable agriculture.     

Deputy Secretary Turk praised Kenya for its clean energy and green industrialization leadership and remarked that ‘Kenya is a champion for renewable energy and driving innovation towards a greener, more sustainable future for Kenya and beyond.’  The two sides announced their intention to partner on carbon storage strategies and employing geothermal energy to support direct air capture techniques for carbon management. During a visit to Octavia, a Kenyan start-up implementing direct air capture (DAC )of  carbon dioxide, Turk noted that ‘this is a prime example of innovative technical and business solutions helping to combat climate change and provide sustainable economic development opportunities for the Kenyan clean energy market’.   

On Wednesday, June 12 Deputy Secretary Turk visited Tanzania where he met with Minister of Energy Dr. Doto Biteko, Deputy Minister of Minerals Dr. Steven Kiruswa, and members of the Tanzanian business community to discuss supporting an enabling environment for energy investment in East Africa and opportunities to collaborate on clean energy including critical minerals.  Turk reinforced the indispensable role of strong governance and regulatory frameworks to attracting investment.  While in Dar Es Salaam, Turk also visited the Tanzanian production facility of e-mobility start-up, Tri, which manufactures and sells electric tuktuks. 

This visit underscores the importance that the Biden Administration places on partnership with Africa and highlights the opportunity for collaboration on clean energy and energy security. There has been an unprecedented number of high-level engagements by U.S. officials on the African continent since the U.S-Africa Leaders Summit in December 2022.   Deputy Secretary Turk’s visit is part of a broader U.S. Government prioritization of building stronger clean energy partnerships with Africa and advancing shared goals in the fight against climate change.