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African electricity markets are on the threshold of genuine reform in 2024, even if policy-makers’ grandest ambitions are destined to meet with disappointment. African Energy has examined the first data that has emerged from the third development phase of the African Union’s Continental Master Plan and found much to applaud.

A tender has been issued by Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) for the 55km Mariakani-Dongo Kudu line and three associated projects. Ketraco has also requested expressions of interest (EoI) for consultancy services for the Kenya Transmission Network Improvement Project.

It is unlikely electric cars will come to dominate African roads for decades, but in the likes of Kenya and Benin battery-powered buses, motorbikes and industrial vehicles could have a radical impact on urban environments and commercial operations. Investors are lining up to support e-mobility projects in the most attractive markets, but in many jurisdictions the lack of capital, infrastructure and policy support and the high cost of vehicles are holding back what could be a revolution, write Tonderayi Mukeredzi and Jon Marks.

Nairobi-headquartered industrial company Abyssinia Iron and Steel has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Norway’s Empower for a solar PV plant at Abyssinia’s Awasi factory.

Actis, a prominent UK-owned backer of African power projects, has been acquired by US equity investor General Atlantic for an undisclosed amount. The electricity industry will be looking to see how Africa fits into Actis’ plans as it comes under new management.

London AIM-listed Chariot and the local H1 Holdings have bought out their erstwhile partner Neura Group to take full ownership of South African electricity trading company Etana Energy, at a price of up to $5.2m.

EDF subsidiary Production Energie Insulaire (PEI) has completed the conversion of the utility’s 211MW Port Est plant to run solely on biomass. Réunion’s second biomass-only plant advances the French overseas territory’s 2030 renewables goal.

Miners have intensified uranium extraction and prospecting in Africa over the past two years as market prices surged after a decade of post-Fukushima lows.

Renewed momentum for nuclear energy was underlined by a COP28 climate summit pledge to triple global capacity by 2050 – although huge capital costs pose daunting obstacles to the several African countries who are looking at potential atomic power developments. A new generation of small reactors, while not yet commercially viable, may offer a solution for some to add significant capacity, writes Marc Howard.

Following several gas discoveries at the Mukuyu-2 well on the ambitious Australian minnow’s Cabora Bassa project, Invictus Energy and local partner One Gas Resources have revised a 2019 gas memorandum with local developers planning to build a 500MW gas-fired power plant.

National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s approval of an electricity trading licence for the ambitious Anglo-American/EDF joint venture Envusa Energy highlights the growing role of traders in the electricity supply market.

Saudi developer Acwa Power has signed a power purchase agreement for its Dao hybrid project under South Africa’s long-delayed risk mitigation independent power producer procurement (RMIPPP) programme.

French utility Engie has concluded the purchase of BTE Renewables’ South African assets from private equity investor Actis, six months after the deal was announced. It is the second significant South Africa development for Engie in recent weeks, following financial close on the Grootspruit and Graspan solar PV plants on 30 November.

According to a number of people close to the project, the final delivery cost for the 750MW Kafue Gorge Lower hydroelectric power (HEP) station is now expected to be some $300m less than the previously expected, after refinancing by Zambian state utility Zesco and the main contractor. Zesco managing director Victor Mapani outlined to African Energy the expected impact on the final tariff that Kafue Gorge Lower Power Development Corporation (KGLPDC) charges to Zesco.    

Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) has launched a $54m ‘green’ bond, as part of a larger $200m programme of issuance to fund an expansion of its solar photovoltaic generation capacity to 300MW.