Algeria's Energy Future was launched at a half-day round-table seminar at Chatham House, London, on Wednesday 6 April.
The report was presented at the seminar by its lead authors, Jon Marks and John Hamilton, and critically assessed by Algerian and international experts. Read more
The African Energy Atlas has established itself as an indispensable resource for energy industry professionals.
The 2011 edition features more than 45 maps and charts drawn with expert care by journalist cartographer David Burles. Read more
Briefings and Reports 2
AfricaHardball is an executive dialogue that brings together policy-makers, industry leaders and analysts to discuss the key political issues affecting African markets in frank and open terms.
The next AfricaHardball roundtable will be held on 1 December in London, focusing on North Africa Read more
Briefings and Reports 3
A detailed and frank analysis of Libya’s energy sector
Published in July 2010, Libya's Energy Future provides authoritative, independently sourced analysis of Libya’s energy sector policy and history, examines the country’s governance and financial record and assesses the potential for international partners to do business with its institutions and interest groups.
On the page below you will find a selection of articles from the African Energy archive. All links preceded by a padlock symbol require a subscription.
Electricity ‘stop-gap’ for Kenya as Kipevu III gets go-ahead
The authorities have overruled a complaint by MAN Diesel and given the Kipevu III contract to low bidder Wärtsilä, paving the way for 120MW of additional power to come on stream by end-2010, writes Kimemia Mugo./ Issue 176, 11 December 2009.more
Kenya’s National Oil Corporation raises market share
In just seven years, Nock has turned its back on Moi-era stagnation to increase its downstream market share and revive interest in upstream exploration, writes Kimemia Mugo in Nairobi. Issue 176, 11 December 2009.more
Kenyan bonds point to new African borrowing path
Two recent long-term bond issues to support the Kenyan power sector have demonstrated the potential capital markets support for sub-Saharan borrowers. Bankers who spoke to Kevin Godier saw an opportunity for a spate of new issues to follow as a new market matures, stimulated by global demand. Issue 175, 27 November 2009.more
East Power update: Kenya and new EAC members
The second part of African Energy’s East Africa power update focuses on Kenya and the two newest East African Community members, Burundi and Rwanda. Issue 175, 27 November 2009.more
Donor-funded transmission line contracts
Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) has issued two tenders for the Mombasa-Nairobi 400kV Transmission Line Project – construction of 400kV and 220kV transmission lines from Rabai to Tsavo (Lot 1) and Tsavo to Embakasi (Lot 2) – funded by Agence Française de Développement and the African Development Bank. Issue 175, 27 November 2009.more
Kipevu III contract delayed by complaint over bidding
Man Diesel has appealed to the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board to stop Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) awarding a contract to build the 120MW Kipevu III thermal power plant in Mombasa. Issue 174, 13 November 2009.more
KenGen launches bond
Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) launched its KSh25bn ($352m) infrastructure bond on the Nairobi Stock Exchange on 9 November. Issue 174, 13 November 2009.more
LNG study order
British-based consultancy Mott MacDonald Group has been awarded a $1.222m lump-sum contract for a liquefied natural gas feasibility study. Issue 174, 13 November 2009.more
Geothermal receives $169.2m boost from France
Agence Française de Développement (AFD) has boosted Kenya’s efforts to exploit its geothermal resources with $169.2m of funding. Of the total, $96m is for the purchase of two drilling rigs and for capacity building for the Geothermal Development Corporation (GDC), which was created in January. The remaining $73.2m is additional funding for the existing Olkaria geothermal power project, developed by Reno, Nevada-based Ormat International (AE 159/9). Issue 173, 30 October 2009.more
Work to start in January on Kenya’s Nairobi-Eldoret pipeline extension
Construction of a parallel pipeline to increase capacity on the products line running from Nairobi to the Ugandan border is finally due to go ahead, as confidence grows in KPC’s new management, writes Kimemia Mugo Issue 173, 30 October 2009.more
Pointer – China may develop Lamu deep-water port Issue 172, 16 October 2009.more
East Africa upstream update – dash for offshore gas and onshore oil
The success of the Albertine Graben remains the main story in the East African Community area, with Uganda emerging as an oil producer, but there are high hopes for more offshore gas, and for drilling due onshore Kenya, as well as for Tanzanian gas. Issue 171, 2 October 2009.more
Rabai start-up helps to ease the supply crunch
Aldwych International’s Rabai power plant has come on line, helping to alleviate power rationing in the Coast region. Located near Mombasa, the plant started up producing an initial 51MW and was expected to reach its full capacity of 84MW as African Energy went to press. Issue 171, 2 October 2009.more
Raytec Metals to merge with Lion Petroleum
Canada’s Raytec Metals Corporation and Lion Petroleum Corporation have signed a letter of intent (LoI) for a merger that would combine their Kenyan assets. Lion has interests in Blocks 1 and 2B in north-eastern Kenya, while Raytec finalised a farm-in agreement with Africa Oil Corporation in August, giving it stakes in Kenya Blocks 9, 10A and 10BB, and the Nogal and Dharoor petroleum production-sharing agreements in the breakaway Somali Republic of Puntland (AE 169/18). Issue 170, 18 September 2009.more
Mombasa refinery starts upgrade preparations
The first meeting of the new Kenya Petroleum Refineries Ltd (KPRL) board has agreed to start work on the Mombasa refinery’s long-awaited upgrade. The 28 August meeting agreed to appoint consultants to undertake studies, recommend the best configuration for the refinery, and review project costs and viability. A long-running dispute over who should take the 50% stake relinquished by Shell, BP and Chevron was finally resolved in July, with Essar Energy Overseas agreeing to buy into KPRL. Issue 170, 18 September 2009.more
Aggreko in emergency power deal as rationing bites
Aggreko plc has signed a contract with Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) to supply 140MW of emergency power to help counter a supply crisis caused by low rainfall. It will install an additional 80MW at its existing site at Embakasi, outside Nairobi, and 60MW at a new site near Naivasha. The contract, awarded after an open tender, will run for a minimum of 12 months and is valued at more than $30m. Issue 169, 4 September 2009.more
With Total’s Chevron acquisition, Kenya’s downstream business set for change and growth
Total’s acquisition of Chevron’s Caltex business has created a new market leader with some 30% market share, but indigenous players are determined to maintain the pace of expansion as more competition targets East Africa,
writes Kimemia Mugo in Nairobi. Issue 167, 17 July 2009. more
KenGen tenders for new projects
With a new budget prioritising infrastructure spending newly approved by parliament, Kenya Electricity Generating Company Limited (KenGen) has issued tenders for a 110MW-120MW thermal power plant in Mombasa, a hydropower study, and 210MW of new steam turbine power plants for the Olkaria geothermal site. Issue 166, 3 July 2009. more
Kenya’s stimulus package looks to boost renewables in big new energy spend
The 2009-10 budget earmarks record spending of $1.8bn for infrastructure to try to stimulate the country’s ailing economy and tackle long-standing problems such as energy shortages,
writes Kimemia Mugo in Nairobi. Issue 165, 19 June 2009. more
Kenya needs ‘$7bn’ to reach a comfortable reserve margin
Kenya’s electricity supply reserve margin is still below 5% and needs to be raised to 20% by 2015, which will involve a major upgrade of generation and transmission systems, Vice Minister of Energy and Mineral Affairs Charles Keter told Spintelligent’s late-May Power Indaba conference. Issue 165, 19 June 2009. more
Donors finance grid upgrade
The African Development Bank’s soft loans arm has approved a $75m loan to finance the Mombasa-Nairobi electricity transmission line project. The project aims to improve the supply of power from the Mombasa area to the national grid, coinciding with the development of Aldwych International’s 90MW Rabai plant, due on stream by year-end. Issue 163, 22 May 2009. more
Hopes for new engagement under Obama, Carson
Western officials are looking for a new approach on Kenya led by the new US administration under President Barack Obama. During the Bush presidency, the American position was heavily influenced by the global war on terror, but with an ethnic Luo in the White House and a new assistant secretary of state for African affairs who knows Kenya well, this approach is expected to be “recalibrated”, diplomats say. Issue 163, 22 May 2009. more
Lake Turkana wind project takes shape
The Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) consortium, which plans to generate 300MW from a site in north-west Kenya, is assessing expressions of interest from potential bidders to prequalify for the construction of a 428km 400kV double circuit line and four substations. Issue 162, 8 May 2009. more
Oil and gas hopes
Having always seen itself as the regional superpower, Kenya has been left behind in the race for hydrocarbons, though CNOOC is due to drill onshore on Block 9 in August. Energy Ministry chief geologist John Omenge said 14 blocks had been licensed in the last 18 months and others were under consideration. While many of the new licences have been granted to established companies, a couple have been granted to less well known players. Issue 159, 20 March 2009. more
Kenya looks to geothermal as drought forces load-shedding
With a range of new projects in the pipeline, KPLC is playing down the latest round of power rationing as a temporary setback in its efforts to diversify its energy sources, writes Thalia Griffiths, recently in Nairobi. Issue 159, 20 March 2009. more
Profits fall at KenGen
Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has announced a fall in its pre-tax profit owing to higher fuel costs. KenGen said its pre-tax for the six months to 31 December had fallen to KSh1.56bn ($19.5m) from KSh2.33bn a year earlier. Fuel costs for the period were KSh4.69bn, compared to KSh1.68bn in H2 07, but KenGen said rainfall and water levels were expected to improve next month, which should boost hydropower generation. Issue 158, 6 March 2009. more
Profits rise at KPLC
Kenya Power and Lighting Company has announced a 49% increase in pre-tax profit for the six months to 31 December. Pre-tax profit rose to KSh2.2bn ($27.5m) from KSh1.5bn, while electricity revenue increased to KSh18.6bn from KSh12.1bn in H2 07, chiefly owing to an increase in retail tariffs from 1 July. Issue 158, 6 March 2009. more
Beijing/Taipei deal in Block 9
People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has signed oil and gas exploration co-operation agreements with Taiwan’s CPC Corporation. Issue 154, 9 January 2009. more
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