AfrElec - Africa Power Monitor

Renewable power proves resilient to COVID

Renewables will account for 90% of new generating capacity in 2020, the IEA forecasts, but more consistent green policies are needed to foster sustainable growth.

Toshiba sets 50% emissions reduction target

Toshiba has announced plans to reduce its CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and by 80% by 2050, while it also aims to contribute to the creation of a net-zero society by 2050.

Nigeria’s 2020 grid losses worth $632mn

Nigeria’s transmission losses between January and October were valued at NGN243bn ($632mn), the country’s Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC) said.

SA’s Bokpoort CSP plant breaks round-the-clock record

Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power said that its Bokpoort CSP plant in South Africa had become the first renewable facility in Africa to complete a full week of continuous round-the-clock operation.

Nigeria marks metering milestone

Nigeria’s National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) has already procured 1mn new meters, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said this week.

African Union, AfDB to draw up African transmission masterplan

The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) aim to spearhead the development of a pan-African masterplan to develop a continent-wide transmission grid.

Eskom results: better revenues, but higher losses and mounting debt

Eskom managed to post a ZAR20.5bn ($1.27bn) loss for the year to March 2020, as what it termed significant operational and financial challenges caused a 1.3% fall in sales and a declining energy availability.

Global wind market grows 18% in 2020 despite pressure from pandemic

Resilience and falling costs have kept up wind growth in 2020, and more expansion is set to come

SA urged to exploit green hydrogen potential

South Africa has the ability to develop a major green hydrogen export industry if it can take advantage of its renewable energy potential.

World Bank to release first $4.6mn of funding for off-grid solar in Kenya

Up to 19 off-grid solar companies in Kenya have been offered access to KES500mn ($4.6mn) of credit as part of the World Bank’s $150mn Kenya Off-grid Solar Access Programme (KOSAP).

Tlou Energy seeks funding for Lesedi power project

Tlou Energy has said that it is still seeking funding for development of the Lesedi power project in Botswana.

Resgen loses IDC’s backing for Boikarabelo coal project

South Africa’s state-owned Industrial Development Corp. (IDC) has pulled out of Resource Generation’s (Resgen) ZAR4.2bn ($250mn) Boikarabelo coal project.

Vestas buys 50% stake in MHI

Denmark’s Vestas has bought Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ (MHI) 50% stake in their MHI Vestas Offshore Wind (MVOW) joint venture in a swap deal that will see MHI taking a 2.5% stake in Vestas.

Wind, solar to dominate by 2050, but fossil fuels persist

Wind and solar PV will meet 56% of world electricity demand by 2050, BloombergNEF found in its 2020 New Energy Outlook (NEO).

Azelio, JET ENERGY to roll out solar storage tech in Africa

Sweden’s Azelio has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Morocco-based JET ENERGY to explore energy storage projects with Azelio’s TES.POD technology in Francophone Africa.

Engie, OffGridBox to pioneer solar container project in Rwanda

France’s Engie and African solar-kit provider OffGridBox are to work together to supply electricity, drinking water and Wi-Fi in Rwanda by uniting their expertise in decentralised energy and container-based solar systems.

Eskom to resume building transmission line in KwaZulu-Natal

Eskom has said it will resume construction of the 123-km transmission line running through uMgungundlovu and uThukela District Municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal Province.

SA’s Thabametsi coal project in severe doubt as Kepco withdraws from coal

South Africa’s 630-MW Thabametsi coal-fired power plant faces an uncertain future after its main contractor, South Korea’s Kepco, said that it would no longer invest in new overseas coal power ventures.

Nigeria’s MAPCo to raise $1.2bn to finance new meters

Nigeria’s Meter Assets Finance and Management Co. aims to raise NIR480bn ($1.2bn) in three years to supply electricity meters to Nigerian consumers in a bid to improve payment discipline and improve distribution revenues.

Scatec Solar raises African exposure with acquisition of SN Power

Norway’s Scatec Solar has bought SN Power, a leading hydropower developer and IPP, from the Norfund in a $1.16bn deal that gives it access to 1.4 GW of hydro assets in Uganda, the Philippines and Laos.

Egypt begins work on 2,000-MW wind complex

Egyptian Electricity and Renewable Energy Minister Mohamed Shaker said that work had begun to build 2,000-MW of new onshore wind capacity in the Red Sea Governorate, adding that 500 MW had already been earmarked for development by Siemens.

Nigeria’s PIB envisions changes in domestic gas sector

Nigeria's Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which is still under discussion in the National Assembly, aims to make domestic gas sales a more lucrative proposition.

IEA dismisses near-term peak in oil demand, sees firm outlook for gas

Kenya opens 105-MW Menengaï geothermal plant

Kenya’s state-owned Geothermal Development Co. (GDC) has opened the 105-MW Menengaï geothermal power plant.

Private generators challenge KenGen’s dominance

A new report from the Kenyan Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has welcomed the rise of new private generating companies in a market still dominated by state-owned KenGen.