Tag: Electricity

Eskom adds 800MW to the grid as Kusile Power Station comes online

Frank

SOUTH AFRICA – Electricity public utility Eskom has added up to 800MW of supply to the national grid after unit 3 at the Kusile power station was brought online. The activation of unit 3 means Kusile, whose construction is years behind schedule due to labour disputes and design problems, is now producing up to 2.4GW of electricity from three of its six units. “Bringing the 800MW unit to commercial status means construction activity has come to an end on half the eMalahleni, Mpumalanga project,” Eskom said in a statement. “The…

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World Bank approves US$22.5m additional financing for ROGEP to increase electricity access

Frank

WEST AFRICA – The Executive Directors of the World Bank have approved an additional financing of US$22.5 million for the Regional Off-Grid Electrification Project (ROGEP) to be implemented in 19 countries. The funds, which come from the International Development Association (IDA), a subsidiary of the World Bank, and the Clean Technology Funds (CTF), are for the ROGEP, which will increase access to electricity in 19 countries in West and Central Africa. ROGEP, launched in 2019, is undergoing a new development. The West African Development Bank (BOAD), which is piloting the…

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French start-up Qotto secures US$2m from EIF OGEF for rural electrification in West Africa

Frank

WEST AFRICA – The Off-Grid Energy Access Fund of the Energy Inclusion Facility (EIF OGEF) a provider of solar home systems, has closed €2 million (US$2.43m) financing in favour of the French start-up Qotto to electrify rural households in Benin and Burkina Faso. EIF OGEF loan fund provides mainly secured financing to support the growth of innovative companies in the off-grid energy sector. Managed by Lion’s Head Global Partners (LHGP), the fund draws on the Energy Inclusion Facility (EIF), a debt financing facility for small-scale electricity access projects, capitalized by…

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Angola receives US$250m from World Bank to enhance electricity access

Frank

ANGOLA – The government of Angola has received US$250 million from the World Bank to improve the operational performance of the electricity sector utilities and increase electricity access in selected cities of Angola. The  Electricity Sector Improvement and Access Project will finance electrification investments in the provinces of Luanda, Benguela, Huila, and Huambo, delivering 196,500 new electricity connections that will benefit close to one million people and 93,857 public lights. The project will focus on electricity access expansion and improvement of revenue collection, electricity service improvement, capacity improvement of the…

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Tunisia’s electricity provider STEG secures US$361m from EBRD to support its stability

Frank

TUNISIA – Société Tunisienne de l’Electricité et du Gaz (STEG), Tunisia’s electricity provider, has secured US$361 million (€300 million) financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to support its stability. The financing package is meant to support the stability of Tunisia’s energy sector during the COVID-19 pandemic in the medium term. It will allow STEG to implement an ambitious corporate and climate reform roadmap that would anchor the shift towards a more sustainable and efficiently run company. The financing package will be accompanied by a detailed roadmap…

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Rwanda to extract another 15MW from lake Kivu methane gas

Frank

RWANDA – Shema Power Lake Kivu (SPLK) of Rwanda is set to produce 15 megawatts of electricity by June this year in its first phase of methane gas extraction from Lake Kivu, the company engineers have said. Overall, the plant seeks to add 56 megawatts to the national grid after investing US$400 million in methane gas extraction. The project, which started in October 2019, is set to be finalised by December 2022. “This is one of the projects that will significantly increase power generation,” said Laurent Butera, Branch Manager of…

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Nigeria secures US$500m from World Bank to improve electricity distribution

Frank
electricity linkage to 250MW by 2021

NIGERIA – The World Bank has approved US$500 million to support Nigeria in improving electricity distribution in the country by improving the performance of the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) through a large-scale metering program desired by them for a long time. In the statement, Shubham Chaudhuri, World Bank’s Country Director, said financial support would also be provided to private distribution companies only on achievement of results in terms of access connections, improved financial management and network expansion. “Improving access and reliability of power is key to reduce poverty and unlocking…

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World Bank approves US$50m to improve electricity access in Sierra Leone

Frank

SIERRA LEONE – The World Bank board of executive directors has approved a US$50 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) to improve access to electricity in Sierra Leone and enhance institutional capacity and commercial management of the sector. The project will also be co-financed with a US$2.7 million grant by the Japan Policy and Human Resources Development Fund. The Enhancing Sierra Leone Energy Access project will support the country’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery by providing electricity to households, businesses, health clinics and schools. This is a critical part of…

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Floating power plant Karpowership in plans to expand access to electricity in West Africa

Frank

WEST AFRICA – Karpowership, a unit of Turkey’s Karadeniz Energy and an operator of floating power plants, is in talks to bring power to two West African countries, as onshore plans to expand access to electricity have been hit by coronavirus-related restrictions. Karpowership, which already supplies eight African countries, is using the high reliability of its mobile units to attract more clients. Its vessels can hook into an onshore grid quickly, sidestepping the red-tape and construction issues involved with building a traditional power plant. And these ships come with their…

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UK’s Cryptocurrency company Electroneum expands its electricity service in Africa

Frank

WEST AFRICA – Electroneum, UK-based cryptocurrency startup, has expanded its electricity top-up service to four more African countries, in Sierra Leone, Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast. The service is accessible through its mobile app that allows registered users to top up on electricity or send electricity to friends or families. In an official press release, Richard Ells, CEO of Electroneum explains the convenience of the in-app electricity top-up service. “Electricity and mobile phone top-ups are a great way for people living and working away from their home countries to help…

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