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Recent wide-ranging diplomatic efforts have been directed at trying to set up Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) with developing countries. But it is still far from certain which countries (if any) will sign up, and what commitments wealthy nations can make to ensure success.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) announced on 26 April that it had approved two loans worth a combined $180m to finance the Transmission System Reinforcement and Last Mile Connectivity project in Rwanda. The AfDB is providing $140m from its sovereign window and $40m from the Africa Growing Together Fund. It had previously approved an $84.2m concessional loan from the African Development Fund in May 2021.

A major project to build a 280km 400kV transmission line from Nyakanazi to Kigoma is significantly behind schedule, Tanzania’s Auditor General reports.

With a tender for a utility-scale concentrated solar power plant likely to be launched this year, Namibia’s embrace of renewables is gaining momentum. It also offers fresh hope to advocates of CSP technology following past setbacks.

Arguments are intensifying over climate justice, the very meaning of climate finance, the role of gas as a transition fuel and – most of all – money. The combination of which means a ‘just energy transition’ that enables African nations to meet economic development targets seems a long way off.

The South African government hasn’t abandoned its intention to approve a trio of Karpowership floating generation plants, despite the 2021 decision by the environmental regulator and fresh legal challenges by local activist groups.

Crippling foreign exchange shortages have led Starsight Energy to refinance its debt to two development finance institutions through local currency funding from Chapel Hill Denham’s Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund.

Commercial and industrial power developers see room for continued rapid growth in key African markets, with evolving deal structures proving competitive compared to unreliable and expensive grid electricity. C&I’s ascent is driving innovation in the terms of power purchase agreements and the profile of offtakers, write Tonderayi Mukeredzi and Marc Howard.

Cash-strapped South African state utility Eskom says it has used debt and its own cash to finance power transmission infrastructure projects that could unlock more grid capacity in the next few years as market operator NTCSA prepares for operation.

Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)- and London AIM-listed Mkango Resources is planning three solar PV plants at its Songwe Hill mine. The $311m rare earths project has an estimated 18-year life-of-mine.

The agreement for Senegal to become only the second African economy to secure a Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) hinges on Dakar being allowed to push ahead with natural gas and other thermal energy projects. This will allow the government to continue with its ambitious gas-to-power (GTP) plans.

Eskom’s board of directors has named former company executive Dan Marokane as the troubled power utility’s new chief executive, eliciting the usual expressions of hope and doubt depending on how industry observers see South Africa’s direction of travel.

National tea producer Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) is close to completing construction work on three hydroelectric power stations, which it plans to switch on in 2024, as the smallholders’ corporation prepares for more HEP and solar schemes to supply its huge operations.

Danish investor and developer Frontier Energy has announced a co-investment with three European development finance agencies for the 50MWp, under-construction, multi-site Planet Solar independent power producer (IPP) plant. Planet Solar will be Sierra Leone’s first large grid-connected IPP, the funders said.

Independent power producer Momnai has started construction at two plants for Bamburi Cement.