Participants from five Commonwealth countries met in Nairobi recently to undergo training in environmental impact assessment in project planning and management. Kenya showed them a model of development sans pollution: a hi-tech geothermal power plant, the first of its kind in Africa, lies 120 km from Nairobi near Lake Naivasha, surrounded by Hell's Gate National Park. It produces about 10 per cent of Kenya's electricity.

According to Shirley Anne Grindley of South Africa, a trainer at the workshop, "The plant does not disturb wildlife or cause damage to the vegetation." The plant produces electricity by tapping the natural heat of the earth's crust which is stored in rocks and water within the earth. Such concentrations of steam are tapped at high pressure by drilling wells. The steam is led through pipes to drive electricity generating turbines. The training programme was aimed at increasing participants' skills in commissioning, supervision and analysis of environ mental impact assessment.