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Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)- and London AIM-listed Mkango Resources is planning three solar PV plants at its Songwe Hill mine. The $311m rare earths project has an estimated 18-year life-of-mine.

The M-Pesa Foundation Academy has commissioned a grid-tied solar PV system. The 630-panel plant is expected to reduce grid consumption by up to 60%.

Lagos-headquartered Nigerian Breweries has signed a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with local commercial and industrial (C&I) developer Daystar Power Group for a solar PV and battery plant at its Lagos brewery and head office.

African Energy Live Data started consistently monitoring power project pipelines across the continent eight years ago. An analysis of the figures for South Africa shows a tragic lost opportunity in the shape of many gigawatts of potential renewable generation capacity with no foreseeable chance of being connected to the grid.

The future of electric power generation in South Africa is no longer in the hands of state-owned utility Eskom. Although it controls more than 80% of installed capacity, including 45GW of coal-fired generation, changes in the electricity supply industry are now being driven by the installation of many gigawatts-worth of captive solar photovoltaic (PV) generation, following the removal of licence restrictions.

Eskom’s most recent Transmission Development Plan (TDP) 2023-32 and Grid Connection Capacity Assessment (GCCA) 2025 showed there was no capacity for additional power to be connected to the grid in the entire western half of South Africa, the location of almost all planned wind generation projects and a large amount of solar and other potential capacity.

In a major investigation, African Energy’s editorial and data teams have probed unanswered questions about South Africa’s energy transition, which is being shaped by large corporations and their need for reliable, low-carbon power. The results show a booming private sector electricity market that is also unpredictable and freighted with risk for all participants.

De Beers has provided more details of its plans to develop a solar PV plant at its Venetia diamond mine. Venetia contributes about 40% of South Africa’s annual diamond production and is transitioning to underground mining, which is expected to extend the life of the mine to the mid-2040s.

Tea grower and processor James Finlay Kenya has commissioned two solar PV plants at its Kitumbe and Chomogonday factories in Bomet and Kericho counties.

Abagold is developing a battery energy storage system alongside a solar PV plant installed in 2022 at its aquaculture farms in Western Cape. The abalone producer also hopes to revive a plan for a wave energy project shelved in 2020.

Insurers focusing on energy sectors appear cautiously optimistic, despite many parts of Africa experiencing economic, political or security volatility. Some insurers are expanding into new sectors, such as transmission and C&I power plants, buoyed by high demand for what is often an unsung, but important element in project and financial structures, writes Marc Howard.

Graphite miner and processor Syrah Resources said on 11 October that it had commissioned the solar PV plant at its Balama mine in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. The solar plus storage unit is expected to displace some 30% of diesel usage at the pre-existing diesel-fired plant.

Canada’s Tantalex Lithium Resources expects its early stage Manono lithium tailings project to average production of 112,167m t/yr over a six-year life of mine. African Energy spoke to Tantalex chief executive Eric Allard to get the latest details on the project, including the potential for hydroelectric power supply.

Exports of lithium have begun from a number of recently-developed processing plants – many operated by Chinese companies – as Zimbabwe looks to better exploit its large resources of a vital energy transition mineral. However, recent figures show overall production has been declining this year, writes Tonderayi Mukeredzi.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has requested invitations for the supply and installation of a solar photovoltaic plant to serve its regional office in Centurion, Gauteng.