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Work has begun on the construction of a solar PV plant that will supply power to Glencore’s Rhovan vanadium mine and processing facility in South Africa’s Northern West province.

Local conglomerate PFO Africa has signed a PPA for Côte d’Ivoire’s largest-ever solar development, near the northern city of Ferkessédougou.

The British government’s indefinite postponement of the UK Africa Investment Summit from April suggests the Sunak administration’s domestic political calculations are now trumping strategic thinking on international relationships.  

South Africa’s EPCM Holdings has been awarded the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for a 10,000m3 diesel storage facility at the Kamoa-Kakula copper mine in Lualaba province. Kamoa-Kakula is one of the world’s top ten copper projects in terms of annual production.

Rio Tinto’s MoU with Kigali to explore and mine lithium signals the continued interest of mining majors in African transition minerals.

Australian junior Globe says it is advancing its project to site a niobium refinery in the Malawian capital and has outlined an ambitious plan to power mining and refining operations with renewable energy.

Commercial operations for the $127m Mozambique-Malawi (Moma) transmission interconnection project has been delayed, a source with knowledge of the project told African Energy. The delay to the Moma link into the Southern Africa Power Pool comes after a previous hold-up from demining complications, while other milestones remain to be met for the long-awaited regional interconnection scheme.

Construction is expected to restart in mid-2024 at Mozambique LNG, with a revived financing package expected to be put in place after nearly three years of force majeure, and as the adjacent Rovuma LNG project is also resuming work.

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.

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.