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The United Kingdom is guaranteeing an African Development Bank loan whose funds will be used to further improve Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco)’s network and increase the deployment of renewable energy.

KenGen has requested consultants to provide project management and supervisory services for the 42.5MWac Seven Forks solar PV development.

The issue leads with a focus on the Sahel, where the strongmen in charge of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger plan to quit the regional Ecowas bloc, as Russia further enhances its military/business relationship with the Sahel troika and Central African Republic. African Energy examines how the shifting political sands mean the largely western-funded PV boom in the Sahel is unlikely to be repeated. The issue also includes a look at how Nigerien oil production could increase fivefold as a result of the Niger-Benin Export Pipeline, which is expected soon to ship its first cargo from the Sèmè-Kraké terminal. African Energy takes closer look at Comoros, where newly re-elected President Azali Assoumani’s nearly 25 years in power has weighed on Comoros’ development, with analysts reporting corruption has been on the rise. Oil and gas coverage includes a look at onshore block awards in Angola and a closer examination of Uganda's decision to appoint Alpha MBM Investments – a company connected to a junior member of Dubai’s ruling family – as the preferred bidder for a much- delayed $4bn, 60,000 b/d refinery in Hoima. The UAE continues to push its diplomatic and commercial credentials around sub- Saharan Africa, forging deals for everything from gold to carbon credits, electricity generation and arms. The issue includes the launch of a new Risk Management Report (RMR) series intended to provide updates, analysis and context on key political, social, economic and energy trends across the continent. The initial report is focused on  Côte d’Ivoire, which is also the subject of this issue's African Energy View.

The ten largest renewable energy additions to African grids in 2024 fall into four distinct groups: Ethiopian hydro, other sub-Saharan African hydro, and wind and solar projects in North Africa and South Africa. African Energy has assessed the projects and whether or not they will be built in time.

Solarcentury Africa plans to sell output domestically from its second merchant plant in Namibia, but the 60MWp SolNam solar PV project also supports SCA’s goal of becoming a leading trader in the Southern African Power Pool (Sapp) market.

The strongmen in charge of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger plan to quit the regional Ecowas bloc, as Russia further enhances its military/business relationship with the Sahel troika and Central African Republic. While Niger believes its oil production could increase fivefold as its export pipeline to Benin starts up, and the Sahel states made significant progress in developing solar generation capacity in 2023, shifting political sands mean the largely western-funded PV boom is unlikely to be repeated, and the focus of China and others on resources plays leaves a big gap in international support for other sectors, writes Marc Howard.

Revised in February 2024, this map illustrates security incidents across the Sahel against a background map showing key energy infrastructure across the region. Major violent events between 30 June 2022 and 30 January 2024 are marked on the map, with an indicator of fatality numbers. A separate panel provides additional detail for major incidents between February and November 2023. Five small text panels provide details of key solar power plants that are operating, under construction or planned across Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad and Central African Republic.

Nigerien oil production could increase fivefold as a result of the Niger-Benin Export Pipeline, which is expected soon to ship its first cargo from the Sèmè-Kraké terminal. With traders competing to land marketing rights for Niamey’s share of up to 90,000 b/d of crude supply, the revenues will significantly aid the military regime, whose hold on the government has consolidated as General Abdourahamane Tiani’s junta has sought to cement ties with China and others.

An oversubscribed Eurobond issue in January indicated that Côte d’Ivoire’s strong economic performance – including 6.5% GDP growth, big infrastructure investments and Eni’s major Baleine oil and gas field – has been enough to allay investors’ concerns over the presidential succession and wider regional instability. These issues feature in the first of African Energy’s new series of Risk Management Reports (RMRs), which will provide updates, analysis and context on key political, social, economic and energy trends in countries across the continent. In line with the model established by African Energy’s sister publication Gulf States Newsletter (GSN), a ‘risk grade’ (explained below) is assigned to each country. A full list of African risk grades will follow soon.

Côte d’Ivoire’s three times oversubscribed $2.6bn dollar Eurobond issue underlines President Alassane Dramane Ouattara’s reputation for prudent economic management – a status that will add to pressures from supporters for ‘ADO’ to stand for a controversial fourth term – and offers some hope for under-pressure African borrowers who could benefit from renewed access to international capital markets and the relatively attractive interest rates CdI has secured.

The United Arab Emirates has stepped in to finance Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s long-desired oil refinery, as the UAE ramps up its sub-Saharan business activity. Junior foreign minister Sheikh Shakhbut Bin Nahyan Al-Nahyan has been making yet more visits around the continent, also taking in Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola’s Cabinda enclave in January.

Italian major Eni has completed its acquisition of assets from Norway’s Neptune Energy Group, in a transaction that brings with it natural gas assets in Algeria, Egypt, Europe and the Far East.

Comoros President Azali Assoumani has secured yet another term in office through a disputed election, undermining prospects for progress and stability in the small island state where nearly half the population live in poverty and where a shortage of electricity is holding back development, writes Tonderayi Mukeredzi.

Revised February 2024, this map provides an overview of the hydrocarbons sector across East Africa. The map shows the location of oil and gas fields and discoveries across the region alongside mid- and downstream infrastructure including actual and planned oil, gas and products pipelines, oil refineries, gas processing plants, tanker terminals and LNG infrastructure.

Electricity trading platform Etana Energy will supply 195GWh of renewable energy to real estate investor Growthpoint’s retail, office and industrial sites around South Africa.