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Renewables projects are attracting strong interest from financiers, with Morocco offering particularly strong incentives for investors, writes John Hamilton

BBOXX on 11 January announced it was expanding operations in Democratic Republic of Congo through a partnership with Netherlands-based component manufacturer Victron Energy. The pair are targeting sales of large pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar systems in towns and cities across the country.The systems will use BBOXX’s PAYG model and Victron’s energy components. BBOXX already sells 50W systems in rural areas of Goma, which has a population of more than 1.5m and suffers frequent blackouts, but is hoping that its partnership with Victron will facilitate sales to urban businesses of larger, 0.5-5kW systems.

Under a strategy favouring renewable energy that is driven from the royal palace, Morocco is developing one of the continent’s most strategically planned and vibrant energy sectors. Supported by banks and financiers in commercial hub Casablanca, the kingdom has developed an extremely active project pipeline across a wide range of technologies; this draws on diverse procurement strategies that have attracted very significant levels of official and private finance.

Project company JCM Matswani Solar Corp is seeking expressions of interest (EoIs) from potential engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and operations and maintenance (O&M) contractors for the 40MW Salima solar photovoltaic project. JCM Matswani is owned by Canada’s JCM Power, InfraCo Africa Ltd – part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group – and South African investment company Matswani Capital Ltd.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a loan of $266m for the second phase of Rwanda’s Scaling Up Electricity Access Programme, which aims to expand access and improve supply reliability. Rwanda received $46m in 2013 for the first phase of the programme, which is 90% complete and ahead of schedule, the AfDB said.The new facility is split into a $192m AfDB loan and a credit of $74m from the African Development Fund covering the three fiscal years to 2021-22.

Israeli renewable energy developer Yam Pro Energy (YPE) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Indian conglomerate Shapoorji Pallonji Group to develop a 150MW wave energy power station. To be completed in the coming three years, the $180m project at a site on the coast near Accra will be developed in stages with an initial phase of 10MW, YPE said on 20 December. YPE in partnership with Shapoorji Pallonji Group, the leading shareholder of India’s Tata Group, and a local partner will share responsibility for raising financing, it added.

The construction of a wind tower factory in the Coega Industrial Development Zone is more than 60% complete, according to Coega Development Corporation (CDC) head of marketing and communications Ayanda Vilakazi. The project is being developed by South Africa’s DCD Group and the state-owned Industrial Development Corporation and CDC.

Société Nationale d’Electricité (Snel) has called for expressions of interest from solar developers to install solar photovoltaic power plants of 100MW-200MW to link into the high-voltage grid in Katanga Province. The state utility says the mineral-rich province is facing a 765MW generation deficit and, although it has already held talks with some developers, more investment is needed. To help overcome this challenge developers must commit to completing projects within 24 months. Expressions of interest (in French) for AMI No 01/SNEL/DG/DAM/DDM/MEQ/2015/SC must be received in Kinshasa by 22 July, when there will be a public opening.

Project company Virunga Sarl is seeking bids for the supply of medium and low-voltage equipment to build a distribution network for the 12.18MW Lubero hydroelectric project in North Kivu province. Lubero, scheduled for completion next year, is one of several small hydro plants being developed in the Virunga National Park, run by a partnership between UK-based charity Virunga Foundation and national parks authority Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature.

Norway’s Green Resources is developing a 15MW combined heat and power plant fuelled by timber residues at Sao Hill in the Mufindi district of central Tanzania. The power plant would use some 200,000m3/yr of wood residues from the sawmill at Green Resources’ Sao Hill Industries subsidiary, which produces electricity poles, Green Resources land economist Matthew Gethin told African Energy.

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Environment invites expressions of interest from individual consultants by 5 June for the role of project manager of the mini-hydro projects support programme. The contracted consultant will be embedded within the National Directorate of Energy to assist with the coordination and implementation of this programme and advise the ministry in the bidding process.

Société Nigérienne d’Electricité (Nigelec) invites prequalification applications by 14 July for the turnkey design, supply, installation and commissioning of a solar photovoltaic-diesel hybrid project in the city of Agadez. On commissioning, the contractor will be required to operate and maintain the power plant for two years before handing over to Nigelec, according to a procurement notice published on 5 June.

The state Geothermal Development Company is inviting bids from companies to supply and install a 5-10MW modular power plant for the Menengai phase I geothermal project in Nakuru county. Work will include design, manufacture, supply, installation and commissioning of the plant, and training of GDC instructors. The project is part financed by the African Development Bank, and bids are due by 6 January 2014.

The State Procurement Board has cancelled a tender for the expansion of Kariba South hydroelectric power station in which Sinohydro was the sole bidder.

Africa Renewable Energy Fund (Aref) manager Berkeley Energy is looking for consultants to carry out a review of the grid network and the possibilities for connecting new hydropower projects in Cameroon. Aref is considering investing in a pipeline of projects with capacities of between 40MW and 60MW. Expressions of interest are due by 12 October.Contact: Edward Kihara, Berkeley Energy Africa Ltd, Springette Office Park Block F2, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: +254 795 740 736. Email: [email protected].