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Another spate of bombings by ultra-radical jihadist groups, aimed at western and security forces targets, has added to pressures on President Bouteflika’s regime, but international bankers’ biggest problem still seems to be getting around lending restrictions to book deals, writes Kevin Godier.

The World Bank’s International Finance Corporation and Iceland’s Reykjavik Energy Invest (REI) have signed an agreement for the exploration and development of geothermal resources at Lake Assal (AE 132/9). The agreement is the first funded by IFC InfraVentures, a new $100m fund to support development of infrastructure in the world’s poorest countries.

The European Investment Bank has agreed a loan of €24.5m to state power utility Jiro Sy Rano Malagasy (Jirama) to finance the doubling of capacity of Madagascar’s largest hydropower plant. Jirama plans to purchase two new turbines to expand generation from the Andekaleka plant, which has two 29MW turbines and is powered by a 50,000m3 capacity dam

South Africa's Energem Resources gets involved with the Stieglers Gorge hydropower project

Faced with a fuel bill that has risen to a projected MD64bn ($8.7bn) this year from MD27bn in 2004, Morocco is looking to increase the role of renewable energy in the country’s generation mix.

Bahamas-based Global Environmental Energy Corporation has agreed to extend Freedom Renewable Energy’s licence to negotiate a contract with Ghana for the supply of Global’s Chinese-made biosphere systems to turn solid waste into energy.

The Ministry of Energy is implementing a programme to provide up to 50% grant financing for rural dwellers to purchase solar home systems and solar lanterns.

South Africa is keen to promote research into carbon capture and storage, which will help it to exploit its huge CO2 storage capacity.

Following on from its recent commitment to grant $58m for the rehabilitation of the Inga I and II hydro plants, the African Development Bank Group is looking to further expand its energy sector operations and is also preparing a major climate change initiative, officials in Tunis told African Energy.

China’s Sinohydro Corporation and China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE) have signed a contract worth $396m to raise the height of the Roseires dam on the Blue Nile. The contract, signed on 27 April, will increase the dam’s height by ten metres, doubling the power generation potential of the 280MW plant in southern Sudan.

Long project lead-ins and an increasingly cumbersome registration and assessment system have severely limited the volume of carbon emission reduction credits generated by African companies,

Long project lead-ins and an increasingly cumbersome registration and assessment system have severely limited the volume of carbon emission reduction credits generated by African companies, according to a leading market player.

Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) has shortlisted two Chinese companies for the 300MW Morupule power plant expansion, badly needed to reduce the country’s dependence on imports from South Africa. Minerals, Energy and Water Resources Minister Ponatshego Kedikilwe said the government was also reviewing several proposals from independent power producers. The Morupule expansion should come on stream in 2011. Speaking at a briefing for business representatives on the power crisis, Kedikilwe said BPC had entered into a barter arrangement with a power station in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, for BPC to supply coal in return for power.

Portugal’s Soares da Costa is to finance, build, own and operate 12 small hydropower plants with a combined capacity of about 30MW, at a total cost of around 3m ($4.4m). Fernando Nogueira, the company’s director in São Tomé, said STP’s total installed capacity would be quadrupled once all 12 plants were in operation. Under the project, Soares da Costa will also operate two existing small hydro schemes. Construction of the first plant – Roca Bombaim, with an installed capacity of 4MW – was launched at a ground-breaking ceremony held on 23 January.