The issue leads with a refection on COP28, which, for all the talk of eventually phasing out fossil fuels and operationalising the loss and damage fund, left much to do and huge financial shortfalls to make up.
African Energy's regular coverage leads on South Africa, where plans are moving ahead for the country's first new nuclear power plant since 1985. Meanwhile, regulator Nersa continues to register more renewable energy plants, with 900MW booked in Q3 alone, and other renewable procurement programmes are inching forward.
The issue also analyses figures compiled for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration that underline the challenge the country faces to attract climate financing flows if it is to meet its net zero goals by 2050. Presently, nearly all of South Africa’s climate finance comes from local sources.
Power coverage includes an examination of a $10bn African renewables push by UAE-based players, underlining Abu Dhabi’s claim to have assumed a leading role in enabling Africa’s energy transition, even while critics at COP28 complained the Emiratis are also promoting the oil lobby.
African Energy also reflects on the news that a unit of UAE national security adviser Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan’s International Holding Company has taken a stake in Zambia's loss-making Mopani Copper Mines, pointing to the emergence of ‘middle powers’ in strategic African resource plays and a hoped-for revival in the country's mining ambitions.
Oil and gas coverage leads with a focus on Nigeria where Equinor’s proposed sale of its operations to the local Chappal Energies adds to a growing trend for international oil companies to withdraw from the country’s upstream sector, allowing domestic players to step in. Access to finance remains a problem for some actors, but African Energy has picked up clear signs of enthusiasm among Nigerian companies to do more deals.
The issue also incudes a closer look at the latest developments with the Simandou iron ore mega-project in Guinea, where Rio Tinto expects first production in 2025. African Energy examines the latest corporate developments - including conformation that China’s Baowu has taken a big stake in blocks 1 and 2 – and the progress with rail and port infrastructure.
The African Energy View focuses on what Opec+’s recent actions and statements mean for the direction of oil sector.
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