AfrElec - Africa Power Monitor

Malta receives four proposals for North Africa renewable power link

Malta has received four proposals for a planned renewable electricity link with North Africa, as the Mediterranean island explores importing large-scale renewable power to diversify its energy supply.

Nigeria's Geregu Power defaults on $29.44mn bond payments as output falls

Nigeria's Geregu Power Plc (NGX:GEREGU) has defaulted on coupon and principal payments on its own $29.44mn Series 1 Senior Unsecured Bond as a turbine maintenance programme weighs on electricity generation and cash flow

South Africa’s Eskom launches task team to tackle Khayelitsha power outages

Eskom has formed a task team to cut a 5,000-fault backlog in Khayelitsha, deploying extra technicians and security to restore electricity by September 30.

Zimbabwe eyes $1bn turnover from lithium sulphate exports amid beneficiation drive

The forecast follows Zimbabwe's first commercial export of lithium sulphate from the Arcadia Lithium Mine, marking the country's entry into a higher-value segment of the battery minerals supply chain.

South Africa secures $500mn AIIB loan for climate-resilient urban services

South Africa has signed a $500mn sovereign-backed loan with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to strengthen municipal water, electricity, sanitation and waste services across the country's eight metropolitan municipalities.

Nigeria launches clean energy programme for 1mn MSMEs

Nigeria’s federal government has launched the Tinubu Light Initiative, a nationwide renewable energy programme aimed at providing affordable power to 1mn micro, small and medium enterprises and creating more than 50,000 direct jobs

Gigawatt Global plans $500mn solar investment for Nigerian universities

Nigerian universities facing unreliable electricity could receive up to $500mn in solar project financing from renewable energy company Gigawatt Global, with proposed installations also supplying nearby rural communities

Sudan waives customs duties on solar energy systems to tackle power crisis

Ghana outlines new comprehensive methane management framework for oil and gas industry

Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has unveiled technical requirements for inspecting and monitoring methane emissions from oil and gas operations, as the country moves to implement tighter controls on leaks, venting and flaring.

Mali ratifies AfDB loans for $190mn Bamako power project

Mali’s National Transitional Council has unanimously approved legislation authorising the ratification of African Development Bank Group loans for a $190mn project to strengthen electricity supply in Bamako and surrounding areas.

South African farmers oppose KwaZulu-Natal lithium expansion

South Africa’s efforts to develop an emerging lithium-mining sector are facing resistance from farmers and rural communities concerned about the effects of open-pit operations on agricultural land, water supplies and livelihoods.

Sungrow supplies 35 MWh of storage for Sierra Leone solar projects

Sungrow Power Supply has supplied 35 MWh of battery energy storage capacity for Sierra Leone’s World Bank-backed Regional Emergency Solar Power Intervention Project (RESPITE)

Sasol hires Envision to design green hydrogen system for South Africa e-methanol project

South African chemicals and energy group Sasol (JSE:SOL; NYSE:SSL) has commissioned China’s Envision Group to design a green hydrogen system for a proposed e-methanol project at its Sasolburg complex.

Egypt and Iraq discuss strategic oil pipeline via Jordan to Red Sea

Egypt and Iraq have held high-level bilateral discussions focused on a major strategic oil pipeline project running from Iraq to Jordan’s port of Aqaba and onwards to the Red Sea coast

REA signs solar manufacturing deal to cut Nigeria’s import dependence

Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has signed a manufacturing partnership with Ecotech Development Nigeria Limited to assemble solar panels and batteries locally

Nigeria’s electricity collections rise to $136mn as recovery weakens

Nigeria’s electricity distribution companies collected $136mn from customers in May, up 2.2% from the previous month, although their revenue-recovery performance weakened, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory said.

Mozambique’s HCB plans $1.37bn hydropower upgrade after severe drought

Mozambique’s HCB plans to invest $1.37bn over the next decade to modernise the Cahora Bassa hydropower complex, extend its operating life, and increase capacity by 110 MW.

Mali targets $883mn mining windfall as gold controls tighten

Mali could reportedly raise as much as $883mn under its revised mining regime to finance energy, water and transport projects, while tightening controls over artisanal gold exports.

South Africa advances electricity market reforms with independent transmission operator plan

President Ramaphosa has endorsed the Phase I report of the Eskom Restructuring Task Team, which set out recommendations for creating a state-owned Transmission System Operator separate from Eskom.

Mainstream starts commercial operations at 50-MW Ilikwa solar plant in South Africa

Mainstream Renewable Power has started commercial operations at its 50-MW Ilikwa solar photovoltaic plant in South Africa’s Free State province, supplying electricity through the grid to multiple commercial and industrial customers.

Malawi commissions first 20-MW standalone grid battery

Malawi has commissioned its first standalone utility-scale battery energy storage system, a 20-MW/40-MWh facility designed to stabilise the national grid and allow greater use of renewable electricity.

Morocco to build $1.5bn waste-to-energy plant in Casablanca

An international consortium, led by Japanese trading major Itochu Corporation, has signed a landmark concession agreement to build a $1.5bn integrated energy-from-waste plant in Casablanca

DRC’s Manono lithium project dispatches first 2,000-tonne export cargo

The concentrate was produced by Manono Lithium, the company developing the northeastern section of the wider Manono deposit. China’s Zijin Mining (SHA:601899; HKG:2899) controls the venture.

South Africa’s Seriti Green launches first phase of 900MW renewable project

Seriti Green formally launched commercial operations on July 31 at the 155MW first phase of its Ummbila Emoyeni renewable energy development in Mpumalanga, South Africa.