AfrElec - Africa Power Monitor
SA Minister Mantashe hits out at Eskom’s coal closure plan
South African Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has dubbed Eskom’s plans to gradually close coal-fired power plants and build renewables capacity as “economic suicide.”
JPMorgan Chase backs South African black-owned enterprises
JPMorgan Chase has launched a $20mn to back black-owned enterprises in South Africa in welcome news for a country that is suffering from slow economic growth and regular power cuts.
Green energy offers key FDI hope for Africa
Renewables energy offers the best opportunities for foreign direct investment in Africa as the continent recovers from the pandemic.
Global power sector emissions rise, threatening green commitments
Rising demand for electricity across the world outpaced growth in green power output in the first half of 2021, creating increased consumption of coal in power generation and a corresponding rise in CO2 emissions.
India’s NTPC leads Indian global solar drive
India’s NTPC Ltd has secured three major projects in Africa and the Caribbean as part of the Indian-led International Solar Alliance’s (ISA) drive to improve access to power across the developing world.
Falling costs of small modular reactors could make nuclear competitive
Small modular nuclear reactors could play a crucial role in meeting Paris Agreement emissions reduction targets, increasing the pace of the electrification that is a mainstay of the energy transition.
China Three Gorges buys into MENA green markets
China Three Gorges has bought Alcazar Energy Partners’ (AEP) renewables portfolios in Egypt and Jordan as the Chinese giant expands into the Middle East and North Africa.
AfrElec: Siemens seals 200-MW green hydrogen deal in Egypt
Siemens and Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) are to develop a 200-MW pilot green hydrogen production as part of a long-term effort to tap Egypt’s large renewable power resources for hydrogen production and export.
New report says PIB will help make more gas available to Nigeria’s power sector
African Energy, an independent research association, has said that the newly adopted Petroleum Industry Bill is likely to make more natural and associated gas available for domestic thermal power plants.
Eskom to close up to 12,000 MW of coal capacity
South Africa's state-owned Eskom said that it plans to reduce its output of coal-fired power by 8,000 to 12,000 MW through plant closures over the next decade, a cut that amounts to up to 30% of its current capacity.
AfDB reaches $20mn closures for Off-Grid Recovery Platform
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has reached financial close for a $20 million concessional investment from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) in the Covid-19 Off-Grid Recovery Platform (CRP).
NGO report argues against clean coal in South Africa
South Africa’s proposed 1,500 MW of new coal capacity will cause significant air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, even if the cleanest technology currently available is used.
Eskom’s de Ruyter lays out Eskom’s green needs
South African cannot ignore its carbon footprint, and state-owned Eskom must pivot to green energy, Eskom CEO André de Ruyter said this week.
EBRD makes $50mn green loan to Egypt’s QNB ALAHLI
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is boosting small businesses and green investments in Egypt with a $50mn loan to QNB ALAHLI, one of Egypt’s largest commercial banks.
AfrElec: TAQA Arabia, MAN Energy to pioneer green hydrogen in Egypt
Germany’s MAN Energy Solutions and Egypt’s TAQA Power, TAQA Arabia’s power subsidiary, are to produce green hydrogen in Egypt
TLTC and Ecow-Gas hope to make Tema LNG a regional gas supply hub
Tema LNG Terminal Co. (TLTC), the owner of the Tema LNG terminal offshore Ghana, is reportedly working with an affiliated company to establish its facility as a regional gas supply hub.
West Africa’s MyJouleBox raises $2mn to fund expansion
MyJouleBox, a West African solar operator, has raised $2mn to strengthen its position in Benin and accelerate its expansion into Burkina Faso, Senegal and Togo.
Mozambique commissions more solar mini-grids
Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi has commissioned a 200-kW solar power plant in the province of Niassa as part of government plans to provide universal power access in the country.
Kenya pays $163mn in penalties because of delays at Lake Turkana wind farm
Kenya has had to pay KES18bn ($163mn) in penalties because of delays in connecting the Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) to the national grid.
Zambia experiences major power cuts
Zambia was hit by an almost country-wide power cut on August 8, with state-owned power utility blaming total system failure.
Eskom suffers explosion at new Medupi unit just after switch on
An explosion took place on August 8 at the new Unit 4 of Eskom’s 4,764-MW Medupi Power Station just one week after it began commercial generation.
South Africa raises distributed generation limit to 100 MW
The South African government has raised from 1 MW to 100 MW the limit for private power generation without a licence, in a bit to bring new generation of electricity capacity onto the national grid.
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