AfrElec - Africa Power Monitor

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.

Turkey’s Desiba Energy agrees deal with Gabon to install 20 MW solar park

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.

AFRELEC: AfDB provides $2.5mn to boost Africa’s regional grids

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $2.5bn of grants to promote cross-border trading in Eastern and Southern Africa.

bneGreen: Last chance to cut emissions and save the climate: UN report

The UN has said in its strongest statement yet that human influence is unequivocally responsible for creating climate change, with only immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in CO2 and GHG emissions able to limit global global warming to 1.5°C

bneGreen: Last chance to cut emissions and save the climate

The UN said in its strongest statement yet that human influence is unequivocally responsible for creating climate change, with only immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in CO2 and GHG emissions able to limit global global warming to 1.5°C.

Sonatrach says Skikda LNG plant has resumed production

Sonatrach, the national oil company (NOC) of Algeria, confirmed last week that it had restarted production at the Skikda LNG plant.