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In an escalation of the long-standing tension over connecting renewable energy independent power producers (REIPPs) to the grid, Eskom has made the unexpected decision to suspend the issuance of grid connection budget quotes until 31 March 2018. Eskom has become increasingly bullish in its tussles with the regulator as it struggles with the financial fallout of delays to its new projects, the 4,764MW Medupi coal power plant, 4,800MW Kusile and the 1,332MW Ingula pumped storage plant.

Eskom’s 2017-18 annual report makes unsurprisingly gloomy reading, with the utility fighting to control costs and increase revenue. The announcement of a R2.3bn ($173m) loss and a qualified audit on 23 July came amid a stand-off with unions over pay and the possibility of job losses which has already led to violence and sabotage. High primary energy and debt servicing costs look similarly intractable. In the shorter term, the utility’s net cash position has fallen from R45.8bn to R37.6bn over the year.

The latest data from Kenya Power indicates that spare power capacity fell to just 4% in December, the first time in over a decade the reserve margin had slipped below 10%. The regulator is concerned and the authorities are eyeing up the potential for bigger imports from Ethiopia and possible gas supply from Tanzania or beyond, writes Neville Otuki in Nairobi.

Scatec’s solar leasing arm Release has signed a two-year agreement with French giant Engie to supply a 616kWp solar system for its hydrogen production plant at Anglo American Platinum’s Mogalakwena Mine in Limpopo province.

UK major BP has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the four main state institutions running green hydrogen (GH2) development in Egypt. The MoU, dating from December, brings the total number of potential projects under consideration by Cairo to at least 19.

Mauritania's petroleum, mines and energy minister Abdessalam Ould Mohammed Saleh has signed a partnership agreement for the 10GW Nour green hydrogen (GH2) project. The agreement paves the way for a feasibility study and offtaker assessment.

One of the kingdom’s most widely known energy executives, Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (Masen) development director Tarik Hamane, is joining Total Eren.

While western partners focus on renewable energy, Eskom chief executive André De Ruyter and general manager for just energy transition Mandy Rambharos has restated the utility’s commitment to developing new gas capacity.

South Africa has many problems, stemming from the enduring legacies of apartheid and the fallout of more recent misrule, but could it be load-shedding and the perpetual crisis at state utility Eskom that finally ends the African National Congress (ANC)’s control of the state?

The appointment of a new board of directors for struggling state power utility Eskom has been greeted by a mix of optimism and scepticism. Organisations like the Black Business Council have called for the board to dismiss chief executive Andre de Ruyter, a man it blames for the blackouts.

Tunisia's Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy has issued a trio of renewables independent power project (IPP) tenders under its Programme National de Développement des Énergies Renouvelables (PNDER – National Renewable Energy Development Programme).

Power supply to the Lindi Jumbo graphite mine will be provided by a 33kV line from the southern circuit of Tanzanian Electrical Supply Company (Tanseco)’s grid.

The issue leads on Tunisia’s long and potentially accelerating decline and the challenges facing embattled lawyer turned autocrat- populist President Kaïs Saïed. This includes an analysis of the just announced wind and solar procurement rounds and a progress update on past tender rounds, supported by updated project lists on African Energy Live Data. Our focus on Tunisia continues with a deep dive into upstream oil and gas developments, where IOCs are also feeling the pinch. The state of play is set out in a freshly revised map. In the Power section we have led with Gridwork’s development of metro-grids in northern DR Congo and the associated potential of developing small hydroelectric plants. Our main upstream story focuses on Uganda’s ambitious plans to expand its oil and gas sector via a third bid round in May, and pipeline and refinery investments; this all taking place against the background of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (Cnooc)’s start of drilling at the Kingfisher oil field. This is accompanied by a map of upstream development and the planned East African Crude Oil Pipeline (Eacop). This issue’s African Energy View considers the role that China could play in helping Africa through a year of moderate growth, particularly if a return to growth stimulates increased demand for commodities there.

Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)-listed Aya Gold & Silver has announced that it has closed $100m of debt finance to expand its Zgounder project in the central Anti-Atlas region, 100km south of Marrakesh.

Eskom cut and then restored electricity supply to two municipalities in the Northern Cape on 7 October due to non-payment. Kamiesbergy and Richtersveld local municipalities saw their supply cut at 6am after they built up substantial arrears. Electricity was restored at 8pm after “an acceptable portion of their electricity debt” had been paid, Eskom said.