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South Africa-headquartered SolarAfrica Energy has commissioned a 1.1MWp, grid-tied rooftop solar PV commercial and industrial (C&I) installation at the Actom factory in Knights, Germiston.

United Arab Emirates-based developer Amea Power reached financial close on the 120MW Kairouan solar PV plant in late September, achieving something no other developer has yet  managed in Tunisia – which was once one of the region’s more promising markets for renewable power development.

Abagold is developing a battery energy storage system alongside a solar PV plant installed in 2022 at its aquaculture farms in Western Cape. The abalone producer also hopes to revive a plan for a wave energy project shelved in 2020.

De Beers has provided more details of its plans to develop a solar PV plant at its Venetia diamond mine. Venetia contributes about 40% of South Africa’s annual diamond production and is transitioning to underground mining, which is expected to extend the life of the mine to the mid-2040s.

The M-Pesa Foundation Academy has commissioned a grid-tied solar PV system. The 630-panel plant is expected to reduce grid consumption by up to 60%.

Lagos-headquartered Nigerian Breweries has signed a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with local commercial and industrial (C&I) developer Daystar Power Group for a solar PV and battery plant at its Lagos brewery and head office.

Port Harcourt-headquartered First Independent Power Ltd (Fipl) has signed a long-term contract with the United States’ General Electric (GE) for the maintenance of the gas turbine at its Afam Phase I plant.

France-based infrastructure investor Meridiam has signed a 25-year concession with the government of Togo and EDF to finance, design, build and operate a 64MWp solar PV plant in Sokodé, Central Region.

According to a number of people close to the project, the final delivery cost for the 750MW Kafue Gorge Lower hydroelectric power (HEP) station is now expected to be some $300m less than the previously expected, after refinancing by Zambian state utility Zesco and the main contractor. Zesco managing director Victor Mapani outlined to African Energy the expected impact on the final tariff that Kafue Gorge Lower Power Development Corporation (KGLPDC) charges to Zesco.    

Bureaucratic hurdles are delaying the commissioning of the completed 1.65MWp Marco Borero Nyeri solar PV plant in Kenya, highlighting the difficulties facing small local independent power producers (IPPs).

Construction is expected to start at the planned Sherbro Island power plant this year, with the involvement of Hollywood actor Idris Elba adding a sprinkling of stardust to Sierra Leone’s first wind development.

Globeleq has consolidated its southern Africa focus – and substantial position in Mozambique – while Norway’s Scatec has sold down another of its ground-breaking projects, as the London-based developer bought a 75% stake in the 40MW Mocuba solar PV plant in Zambézia province.

The $36m, 19MWp (15MWac) Cuamba solar PV project, which includes a 2MW (7MWh) battery energy storage system (Bess), has reached financial close according to developer Globeleq, which is in partnership with Lusophone Africa private equity investor Source Energia and state utility Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) (AE 452/11, 441/11).

Turkey’s Aksa Energy has started installation work at the 255MW Saint Louis combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant, in the coastal city of Saint Louis, 320km north of Dakar. African Energy spoke to Aksa to get the details of the project, which was awarded directly to local developer Ndar Energies in February 2023.

Former utility Ente Nazionale Energia Elettrica (Enee) collapsed in 1991 at the start of a devastating civil war and Somalia has not had a national grid since. However, entrepreneurs have maintained a good level of service in the cities, particularly Mogadishu, where three vertically-integrated independent power producers (IPPs) compete for retail business.