AfrElec - Africa Power Monitor
Nigeria planning to resume work on Ogidigben gas complex
Nigeria’s federal government has announced the revival of a major natural gas initiative that has been on hold for the last five years.
Coal demand set for temporary blip in 2019
Declining coal demand and Europe and the US are driving a slight fall in global coal demand in 2019 to 5.390bn tonnes of coal equivalent after two years of growth, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Namibia's power supply squeezed as drought hits hydropower plant
Micro-grids to play key role in relief work
Micro-grids and other on-site renewable energy installations could supply refugee communities across the globe with the cheap, reliable electricity they need.
Indonesian company preparing to drill at Mozambique’s Búzi block
Buzi Hydrocarbons, a subsidiary of Indonesia’s Energi Mega Persada (EMP), is reportedly preparing to drill its first exploration well at the onshore Búzi block in central Mozambique.
Eskom’s outlook is bleak as worst ever power cuts hit SA
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said that Eskom will stabilise the national grid and end power cuts by March in an effort to calm popular protests and to avoid any long-term harm to the economy.
AfDB lends $210mn for Nigerian grid upgrades
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $210mn financing package for the Nigeria Transmission Expansion Project (NTEP1) to rehabilitate and upgrade the country’s national grid and to improve distribution and supply.
China talks sustainability and climate protection in Africa
China is talking up its sustainability and climate protection credentials in Africa in a bid to deepen its socio-economic influence across the continent.
Eskom reform plans dismissed as optimistic
Record fall predicted for global coal generation
New research forecasts falling global coal-fired generation in 2019, as declining output in the EU and US outpaces expansion in Asia
Senegal discusses gas-to-power plans
Senegal’s Petroleum and Energy Minister Mahamadou Makhtar Cisse said last week that his country was keen to use its offshore reserves of natural gas as fuel for electricity generation.
Eskom appoints white CEO
Private equity investor Actis buys into Senegal’s Tobene IPP
Morocco's SWF targets renewable energy
ONHYM chief: Morocco remains committed to proposed Atlantic gas pipeline
The head of Morocco's government says the country remains committed to the construction of the Atlantic pipeline, which will pump natural gas from Nigeria to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Chinese to power Kenya’s Silicon Savannah dream
AfDB abandons coal in Africa
The AfDB will not fund Kenya's Lamu coal project, but Beijing is unlikely to walk away from coal as a key tool of its investment strategy in Africa
South Africa avoids junk status for debt but Eskom suffers further
Debt downgrades are the result of the South African government’s inability to forge coherent debt reduction plans for Eskom and the economy as a whole
Nigeria urged to expand use of gas
The Nigerian government’s oil and gas regulatory agency has released a report urging the country to make better use of its natural gas reserves.
Eskom reform plans do not go far enough
South Africa plans to break up Eskom, but lack of detail about its debt and concerns about future political influence continue to cause worries
SAOGA chief raises questions about the future role of gas, LNG in IRP
The head of the South African Oil and Gas Alliance (SAOGA) has raised questions about the role that natural gas will play in the implementation of the government’s new Integrated Resource Plan (IRP).
Russia engages Africa on nuclear power
The Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi opened on October 23, with Moscow seeking to increase its engagement with Africa in a number of areas.
Eskom remains in danger
The South African government will “soon” choose a permanent CEO for Eskom and will “shortly” reveal its latest reform plans for the utility.
Wind lobby argues against tariff barriers
The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has called for trade barriers that hurt wind turbine exports to be slashed, arguing that tariff walls could hinder global attempts to mitigate climate change.
Green expansion cannot keep pace with emissions, demand growth
The IEA has raised its five-year green energy expansion forecast to 50%, although this is not enough to rein in emissions
UN to support lending to local SA power projects
The UN is to provide funding to South African solar PV developers in a bid to underwrite the bankability of solar projects at a time when there are concerns about Eskom’s ability to meet its commitment as an offtaker to independent power producers.
Siemens leads wind development in Egypt
North African economic powerhouse Egypt is pushing ahead with its renewables programme, this week teaming up with Siemens Gamesa to build 250 MW of wind capacity.
Poor countries face higher green financing costs – study
Developing countries are finding it more expensive to finance renewables energy projects, as risks in frontier economies are higher
Senegal postpones bidding round until November 4
Senegal’s government was due to launch a new licensing round last week, but it has postponed bidding by nearly a month.
Clock runs down for Eskom
Rosatom to use latest nuclear tech in Egypt
Rosatom has confirmed that it is to use its latest nuclear technology to build a 4,800MW nuclear power plant in Egypt.
AfDB walks away from coal
The African Development Bank will no longer support any coal projects in Africa and has instead committed itself to fighting climate change.
EIB, Dutch lend to Kenyan utility solar
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and FMO, the Dutch development bank, are to provide $106mn of loans to finance the construction and operation of two 40-MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Kenya.
Eskom to issue 1.4-GWh battery tender
Eskom intends to issue a tender soon for 1.4 GWh of battery storage capacity at up to 18 sites across South Africa.
Russia renews nuclear offensive in Africa
Rosatom is fostering closer atomic energy ties to Africa as Moscow shows off its new green credentials
Rio Tinto to cut emissions in steel industry
Rio Tinto is to work with China’s China Baowu Steel Group and Tsinghua University to find new ways to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in the steel industry.
Eastern and southern African grids to be connected by 2022
The two separate regional cross-border power grids in eastern and southern Africa are set to be joined by 2022, after years of delays
ACWA makes record Ethiopian solar bid
Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power is to develop 250 MW of solar capacity in Ethiopia after making a record low bid of $0.02526 per kWh
TPI urges fossil fuel industry to face up to climate change
Tata sells off African wind interests
India’s Tata Power has divested its 50% stake in its South African wind IPP Cennergi for $106mn as it sells off non-core assets in a bid to pay down debt.
UK drives forward solar power across Africa
The UK has created a four-year funding window to improve electricity access in 15 mainly Anglophone countries across Africa
Karpowership aims to provide 15% of Senegal’s power
Karpowership’s 235-MW floating power plant Ayşegül Sultan will be able to meet 15% of Senegal’s needs when it comes online in October.
Gneiss Energy focuses solar hybrid to push forward the Energy Transition in Africa
The falling cost of battery storage is making African commercial and industrial off-gird projects more attractive for investors
MOL, Karpowership agree final details for floating 48-MW LNG-to-power project
Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and Turkey’s Karadeniz Holding have revealed their final plans to develop a 48-MW floating LNG-to-power project in Mozambique
Japan commits to raising private lending to Africa
Tokyo has agreed to raise Japanese private lending to Africa to $1.75bn between 2020 and 2022
Africa’s pay-as-you-go potential whets Japanese investment appetite
Mitsubishi’s investment in BBOXX paves the way for Japan’s deeper engagement with Africa’s power development and the global energy transition
Botswana, Namibia target 5,000 MW of solar
Botswana and Namibia have launched a procurement programme for up to 5,000 MW of utility-scale solar projects with the support of a group of Western DFIs
First West African LNG regas plant to be built in Equatorial Guinea
An LNG regasification and storage plant is set to be built in Equatorial Guinea – the first such project in West Africa – as the country advances its plans to develop gas-to-power infrastructure.
UK green bank to support 254 MW of clean capacity in SA
UK Climate Investments (UKCI), London’s green investment bank, is to provide ZAR253mn ($16.4mn) of critical financing to black-owned renewables developer H1 Holdings to build 254 MW of wind and small hydro capacity in South Africa
African Mini-grid pioneers agree on merger
PowerGen Renewable Energy’s mini-grid merger with Tanzania’s Rafiki Power blazes a trail for innovative project investment in off-grid power
Eskom begins search for cash
South Africa’s ruling ANC has suggested that the government borrow from the country’s domestic financial markets in a bid to shore up Eskom’s finances.
Japan’s SoftBank invests $110 in energy storage
Softbank’s $100bn Vision Fund has made its first investment in energy storage technology by backing Swiss-based energy storage start-up Energy Vault with $110mn.
India, China argue over climate change costs
India and China are leading a call by the world’s largest emerging economies for established industrialised countries to carry the costs of fighting climate change
Botswana marks private coal first
Minergy’s Masama mine in Botswana has produced its first saleable coal for export to South Africa and Namibia
Eskom sizes up its debts
Eskom’s chief restructuring officer is to take weeks not months to decide if the government can offer a $16.4bn bailout
Gas flexibility coming to Ghana
Gas can now be moved both ways on a section of the WAGP in Ghana, allowing increased use of its domestic gas resources
Nigeria boosts rural power access
Nigeria has opened a 2.8-MW solar hybrid power project at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University as part of the government’s rural electrification drive
Zimbabwe pays debt to ease power crisis
Zimbabwe plans to resume paying its power debts in a bid to raise imports to 700 MW and to bring the current power crisis to an end.
Report: Green energy unable to tempt energy establishment away from fossil fuels
The world is unlikely to meet the Paris goals of a 2 degree rise in temperatures by 2040 as long as fossil fuels offer easier profits than renewables
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