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Bids are due by 15 January from the 17 companies prequalified for the 1,320MW Safi coal-fired independent power project. Office National de l’Electricité (ONE) is keen to push ahead with the 20bn dirham project, despite some local opposition, to meet growing demand.

Cyprus-based Karo Mining Holdings will partner Mauritian independent power producer Argentum Energy to roll out a phased 300MW solar power plant in the Chegutu platinum mining area. Karo is developing a large-scale, vertically integrated platinum group metals (PGM) mining complex, which will include a platinum mine, a refinery and a coal mine. The project is being developed in partnership with the government of Zimbabwe under an Investment Project Framework Agreement signed on 22 March 2018.

Given the REIPPP’s reliance on Eskom’s intractable financial situation, focus seems to be shifting towards stimulating the embedded or household solar photovoltaic (PV) market, which the draft Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) estimated could produce as much as 22.5GW by 2030. However, the sector faces a number of challenges. According to South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (Sapvia) chief executive Moeketsi Thobela, many municipalities are concerned about the loss of revenue a significant uptake of embedded solar PV systems would entail. The regulatory framework lacks clarity, particularly with regard to licensing, and concerns continue about inadequate safety standards relating to the wiring of low-voltage connections.

China Aerospace Construction Group has won a $100m contract to build a 400kV substation and transmission line connecting the planned Konza smart city to the national grid. The project involves a 40km double-circuit power line linking the Konza substation to the recently completed Isinya substation built by National Contracting Company of Saudi Arabia and is funded 85% by the Export–Import Bank of China and 15% by the Kenyan government.

According to the latest lifting programme, published by the South Sudan Ministry of Petroleum in early December, a total of 4.6m barrels will be lifted from Port Sudan in January, equivalent to average production of 148,000 b/d. This compares favourably with the 4.4m barrels programmed for lifting in December (an average production of 142,000 b/d) and 4.2m barrels in November (an average of 140,000 b/d). The volume for lifting matches that of October, when it was also 4.6m barrels, or 148,000 b/d.

Concentrix Solar joins Desertec; BHP Billiton revises Mozal contract, SA talks go on; Harsco announces Gibe III dam contract

American Capital Energy & Infrastructure (ACEI), part of publicly traded private equity company American Capital Ltd, has announced that it will invest €76m ($85m) in a project to develop a 151.8MW wind farm in Senegal. The wind farm will be located in Taiba Ndiaye, around 75km north-east of Dakar, and will cost an estimated €305m. French wind and solar power developer Sarreole will retain a minority stake. The balance of the funding is anticipated from senior and mezzanine lenders. ACEI director of Africa investments Lisa Pinsley told African Energy the project aimed to reach financial close towards the end of the year.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) board on 30 November approved a R3bn ($216m) senior loan for the 100MW Redstone plant at the Humansrus solar park in the Northern Cape, which is being developed by Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power. The plant will use a molten salt central tower with around 12 hours or 1.2GWh of storage capacity. SolarReserve will supply the core technology for the project, including its ThermaVault molten salt solar thermal system.

Wide-ranging reform of Angola’s power sector is making progress, but with the economy heavily dependent on oil revenues, investment plans could be significantly slowed. Angola-watchers suggest the effects on the domestic economy of sharply lower global oil prices, coupled with the continued uncertainty over veteran President José Eduardo dos Santos’ succession plans, may create a ‘perfect storm’ that could hasten the long-awaited regime change.

Enel Green Power has started production from the 66MW Tom Burke solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Limpopo province. The plant was awarded in the third round of the renewable energy independent power producer procurement (REIPPP) programme, and brings Enel’s installed capacity in South Africa to nearly 160MW.

As part of its efforts to improve the availability, reliability, efficacy and quality of electricity services in Conakry, Electricité de Guinée (EDG) has issued a tender for the supply of 16,000 single-phase prepaid meters and 4,000 three-phase prepaid meters with associated cables and connection materials.

French President François Hollande made a first visit to South Africa in mid-October, announcing a €4bn ($5.5bn) rail contract to be undertaken by Alstom with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa and highlighting French investment in South Africa’s power sector.The president referred to “the agreement signed between GDF Suez and South Africa for thermal power stations to the tune of €1.6bn”, creating hopes of a new injection of capital to give Eskom some breathing space. But a GDF Suez spokesman said no new deals had been signed with the South African government. While “we do work quite closely with the French government, Hollande was adding up different projects (which are already under development),” he said.

Parliamentary approval for a deal to install up to 400MW at Tema opens the way for a power purchase agreement to be signed by the Early Power Ltd consortium of Endeavor Energy, the local Sage Petroleum and GE. Local advocacy groups have raised concerns about pricing, but the Bridge Power project is the only new scheme currently working its way through the system, where other independent power projects have been stalled by World Bank and other donors’ concerns over financing.

The World Bank board has approved a $65m loan for the Energy Sector Development Project, and Rio Tinto Alcan has signed an agreement with the state Electricity Development Corporation (EDC) to provide technical assistance in the development of the Lom Pangar dam. According to the World Bank, “the Lom Pangar Hydropower Project (LPHP) is the anchor project to realise Cameroon’s significant hydro power potential. Cameroon’s three existing water reservoirs do not have sufficient storage capacity (total of 7.5km3) to maintain reliable power supply during the dry season.

Following riots over power shortages, the government has signed a $10m contract with Aggreko for 50MW of short-term thermal power for Conakry. Electricité de Guinée director-general Nava Touré said the six-month contract was the only way to calm rising social tensions in the capital. In early August, demonstrators set up roadblocks, burned tyres and halted traffic to protest at the government’s failure to meet its promises to improve electricity supply. Security forces intervened to restore order and at least ten people were injured.