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The New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) invites prequalification applications by 29 May for the turnkey construction of the Gulf of Suez 1 wind farm. The contract will entail the design, delivery, construction and commissioning of an onshore wind farm on the west bank of the Gulf of Suez, some 400km south-east of Cairo, with a minimum total capacity of 200MW, with a possible extension to 250MW, as well as warranty and servicing of the wind farm including supply of spare parts and consumables for a three-year period, according to a tender notice published on 28 March.

An enthusiastic team of state and regional institutions, backed by considerable advisory firepower and led by Department of Energy (DoE) IPP Office head Karen Breytenbach, is getting ready to implement a new small-scale projects independent power producer (IPP) programme, called Facilitating Investment in Renewable Small Transactions (First). The carefully structured facility is intended to drive sustainable private investment in 1MW-5MW on-grid renewables projects, while also promoting the participation of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Ruzizi Energy, the developer of the 147MW Ruzizi III hydropower project on the borders of Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo, invites bids by 20 July for the role of independent engineer, to provide expert review if technical disputes arise among the project sponsors, offtakers and public partners. The independent engineer will also provide the specific certifications required for the project during and after construction. This role is separate from owner’s engineer and lender’s advisers.

A consortium led by Enel Green Power (EGP), the most high-profile of the five bidding groups, has been chosen as the preferred bidder for a 100MW Metehara solar photovoltaic independent power project (IPP), in the Oromia region some 200km east of Addis Ababa, the Italian company announced on 23 October. Enel bid with local infrastructure company Orchid Business Group to win out over Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, the Paris-based Meridiam-Solairedirect Consortium, The Building Energy SPA Consortium, and CCE Oasis Technology Corporation.

There continues to be interest in small independent power producer (IPP) projects in Tanzania. In particular, the success of the off-grid renewables market, which has seen considerable investment over the past year, has led to hopes that small IPPs will prove less susceptible to the legislative and political hurdles facing larger projects.A regulatory framework for small IPPs, classed as between 100kW and 10MW, including procurement rules and a standardised power purchase agreement (PPA), were published by the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority on 24 October.

African Development Bank (AfDB) president Akinwumi Adesina’s visit to Guinea on 16-17 May was focused on developing the country’s energy sector. Guinea plans to harness its hydro potential to power domestic mining and supply the region. The estimated cost of its planned energy schemes totals some $4bn.There had been reports that differences emerged between Adesina and Guinean President Alpha Condé during December’s COP21 climate talks in Paris about the best way to manage the funds promised by donors.

Miner RioZim has engaged Japan’s Univergy to build four 25MW solar power stations to supply cheaper energy to four of its biggest mines. The Herald newspaper reported that the sites were Renco and Cam and Motor gold mines, Murowa Diamonds and the Dalny gold mine, recently acquired from Falcon Gold.

The US Trade and Development Agency has awarded a feasibility study grant to OnePower Lesotho for a 20MW solar photovoltaic power plant. Boston-based CDM International will conduct the study, which will complete remaining preparation work the project needs to attract financing and reach implementation. The plant in western Lesotho will be the country’s first utility-scale solar plant and will support a goal of achieving 90% electricity access by 2020, with renewable generation comprising at least 200MW of capacity.

Zimbabwe has put in place sufficiently attractive economic terms – led by cost-reflective tariffs – and is emerging from a bitter experience in managing political risk with an offer strong enough to attract investors to renewables and thermal generation projects, energy and power development minister Elton Mangoma told the annual Africa Energy Forum on 26 June.

The Federal Executive Council has approved the award of a contract to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation for the construction of the 3,050MW Mambilla hydropower project on the Donga River at Gembu in Taraba State. Minister of power, works and housing Babatunde Fashola told reporters construction would take six years. The Export-Import Bank of China will meet 85% of the $5.792bn project cost.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has launched a request for proposals for a strategic investor in the 350MW Mpatamanga hydropower project on the Shire River. The IFC has been developing the project with the government from an early stage but intends to move forward on a public-private partnership with a strategic investor. A site visit will take place in April and documents and access to a data room can be requested through the project website www.mpathydro.com. KM Advisors LLC is the tender agent and can be contacted at [email protected].

French group Vinci Construction on 9 January announced the award by state utility Office National de l’Electricité et de l’Eau (ONEE) of the main contract to build the 350MW Abdelmoumen energy transfer pumping station in the Souss Massa-Draâ region. Vinci’s contract is valued at €284m ($347m), to deliver the project within 48 months. The plant, known by its French acronym Step (station de transfert d’energie par pompage), should increase the Abdelmoumen complex’s energy efficiency by 12% in 2020-21, when the plant is scheduled for completion, and by 15% by 2030, according to Souss Massa-Draâ regional director for environment Khadija Sami.

Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy (Masen) has invited expressions of interest (EoIs) to develop an eventual 400MW hybrid concentrated solar power (CSP)/photovoltaic (PV) independent power project at Midelt. EoIs are due by 1 February for the Noor Midelt project’s first phase, called NoorM I, to be sited on some 2,400ha, located 25km north-east of Midelt town.Masen says Noor Midelt will comprise one or several power plants with a hybrid technology, combining CSP and PV.

The African Development Bank-managed Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa has approved a $990,000 grant to support the preparation of a 9MW solar-hydro hybrid project. The project consists of two plants, the 1.07MW Ruvyi102 project in Ryansoro commune of Gitega province and the 8MW Mule037 project in Songa commune of Bururi province, each featuring a solar and a hydro component as well as a local distribution network and interconnection to the national power grid.

The government’s Procurement Oversight Unit has released details of the tender for a utility-scale floating solar photovoltaic power plant announced at the Africa Energy Forum.