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The enormous roster of energy sector investment projects announced at the Egypt Economic Development Conference at Sharm El-Sheikh in mid-March includes a number of firm projects to be funded by the government, and a larger number of independent power projects (IPPs) in gas, coal and renewables, some of which represent firm commitments and others which are much less likely to proceed. The overwhelming question is how the promised developments will be paid for alongside even more ambitious plans for the construction of a new $45bn capital city east of Cairo.

With all the talk about leapfrogging the grid, it is surprising how little the possible implications have filtered through to the debate about tariffs. The Africa Investment Exchange: Power and Renewables conference in London on 15-16 November saw a lively discussion about potential grid ‘disruptors’, in particular low-cost, small-scale renewable power sold directly to consumers. The technology has huge potential to provide clean power to households and industry at a fraction of the cost of the grid.

Eren Renewable Energy and its partner African Energy Management Platform on 6 March announced the signing of a 15-year power purchase agreement with Iamgold Essakane gold mine to complement its existing diesel power plant with a 15MWp solar farm. The mine is 330km from Ouagadougou in northern Burkina and is not connected to the grid. It is the largest privately held business in the country and produced 400,000 ounces of gold in 2015. The 15MWp solar project, expected to be commissioned by year-end at a cost of $20m, will help decrease the mine’s fuel consumption by approximately 6m litres/yr.

The Islamic Development Bank has signed loan agreements totalling $51.7m to finance the last phase of Morocco’s rural electrification programme (Perg)

The 2.4MW Mwenga wind farm is nearing completion after receiving a $1.2m loan from the UK-funded Renewable Energy Performance Platform (REPP). REPP investment manager Camco Clean Energy said three turbines had arrived at the project site in Mwenga in the Mufindi district of Iringa region and installation and testing were expected to be completed by early May. Once operational, the wind farm will supply a private rural grid network developed and operated by Rift Valley Energy Group.

There are signs of movement, at last, on bidding for flagship solar and other renewables projects, to be installed at either end of the continent. 

South African independent power developer Pele Green Energy has selected US-based independent economic and financial advisory firm Castalia LLC to conduct a feasibility study to assess the viability of a 75MW solar photovoltaic power project in Free State province. The contract is being funded by a grant awarded on 23 May by the US Trade and Development Agency.

Ethiopia’s failure to sign an agreement on the filling and operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (Gerd) negotiated over a four-month period in the United States has resulted in angry recriminations. The US Department of the Treasury has been facilitating preparation of the agreement alongside teams from Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia and with technical input from the World Bank. Egypt and Sudan are concerned about how quickly Ethiopia will fill the reservoir for the dam and the potential effect it will have on the reallocation of Nile River water rights.

Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) has invited bids for a 100MW solar power project in Gwanda, about 130km north- west of Bulawayo. The contract covers the funding, engineering, procurement and construction of the Gwanda/Plumtree solar project. A company named Green Solar Europa, in a consortium with local firm Intratrek Zimbabwe, has already expressed interest in the project, according to local media reports. A site visit took place on 5 July and bids are due by 23 July.

Belgium’s Elicio and local partner Kenwind Holdings signed a 20-year power purchase agreement on 31 January for a 90MW wind project at Mpeketoni, in Lamu County. The Bahari Wind Limited project company will build, own, operate and maintain the $180m project, which will consist of 22 turbines. Construction is expected to start in 2022, once financing has been secured. The project was initially planned to be developed by Electrawinds and IFC InfaVentures, which signed a cooperation agreement in June 2013.

Five more projects have broken ground in recent weeks, including two of the largest wind farms approved so far under the renewable energy independent power producers (REIPP) procurement programme. News flow from first-round developers beginning construction on their projects forms a positive backdrop as the Department of Energy and second-round developers gear up to meet financial close next month.

The World Bank’s decision not to provide guarantees to the high-profile scheme as currently configured has led to recriminations from developers and the Kenyan establishment, but the project may survive in amended form

Uganda Electricity Generation Company has awarded ILF Consulting Engineers a contract to provide design and consultancy services for the 44MW Muzizi hydroelectric power plant. The Munich and Innsbruck-based consultancy will review the feasibility study and optimise the design before drawing up tender documents and assisting with procurement. The company will later act as implementation engineer and supervise construction. Muzizi will be a run-of-river plant on the Muzizi River in western Uganda with a 450-metre head and 12m3/sec discharge. It is being financed by the Agence Française de Développement and German development agency KfW.

State utility Office National de l’Electricité et de l’Eau Potable (ONEE) has launched a prequalification tender for the minimum 75MW Noor Tafilalet solar photovoltaic (PV) project, which is supported by the World Bank (AE 303/10). Companies have until 4 September to prequalify to develop, build (including civil works and equipment supply), operate and maintain (for an initial five years) three PV units on a turnkey basis. ONEE expects the plants to come on line in Q4 16 or Q1 17; if appropriate, up to 100MW can be installed.

The Ministry of Power has signed an agreement with India’s Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) for the development of off-grid solar independent power projects across several locations, with the first to be in Bida, Niger State.