Search results

South Africa’s electricity supply industry has witnessed a ‘big bang’ moment, with the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act coming into force on 1 January. The reforms represent a ground-breaking shift from a centralised Eskom to a liberalised market structure involving the private sector. Authorities hope competition will increase the reliability of supply, bring down prices and help to close an enormous infrastructure funding gap, writes Tonderayi Mukeredzi.

The restart of crude deliveries via the Petrodar pipeline in January was an important moment for South Sudan’s embattled economy and a sign of improved relations between Juba and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) based in Port Sudan. However, the trade continues to be at risk from Sudan’s civil war, as are the SAF’s hopes of attracting Russian companies to invest in its upstream sector, writes James Gavin.

Regional utility Zanzibar Electricity Corporation has secured funding for what could be the semi-autonomous region’s first solar PV plant.

Blended finance vehicle the Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund has committed $29m to Côte d’Ivoire’s largest-ever solar power project. The project is one of several awarded under a new national IPP framework, as Abidjan looks to greater on-grid renewable capacity and increased imports from new interconnections to meet sharply rising electricity demand.

In a significant boost for the London-headquartered indie, the International Chamber of Commerce has ruled that Tullow Oil is not liable for $320m in back taxes claimed by the Ghana Revenue Authority. Some investors say they now see the company turning a corner after a tricky few years.

Saudi developer Acwa Power and its local partner Hau Energy have secured more than $700m in loans for their Suez West wind project in Egypt, said to be the largest single-contracted wind farm in the Middle East.

A further $553m pledge has boosted the outgoing Biden administration’s commitments to the Lobito Corridor and adjacent projects to over $4bn. This points to a significant revitalisation of US ties with African countries – which may be too little, too late, although the Lobito project is unlikely to be halted by a more mercantilist Trump administration.

Having excited markets only days before by presenting a prospective merger with Tullow, Kosmos Energy has announced that it doesn’t intend to make an offer. Tullow confirmed the deal was off and announced a separate arbitral decision was imminent in its appeal against a big Ghanaian tax demand.

A seventh loading of oil from the Niger-Benin Export Pipeline (NBEP) since exports resumed in August points to a slight thaw in tensions between Cotonou and Niamey, which have resumed a more normal pattern of diplomatic relations even though the border remains closed, writes Virgile Ahissou in Cotonou with Marc Howard.

Governments struggled to address daunting economic and social pressures in 2024, when many projects moved too slowly and opportunities were missed. A tendency across the continent to vote out incumbents has brought some new faces to the helm but, like their more seasoned fellow leaders, they are confronted by a dizzying array of issues that threaten to complicate even the best-laid schemes.

The Universal Energy Facility is aiming to build on the $13m already raised by attracting commitments of $54m by 2026 for new mini-grid projects.

Early talks have been held between two West Africa-focused indies, with Kosmos Energy discussing an all-share acquisition of Tullow Oil to create a significant new upstream player with a notable footprint in Ghana, write Marc Howard and James Gavin.

Financial commitments towards South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Investment Plan from the International Partners Group of western countries and multilateral organisations have expanded to almost $14bn, up from an initial pledge of $8.5bn, but the programme faces criticism over the slow disbursement of funds.

London AIM-listed Savannah Energy is aiming to complete construction work on the Uquo central processing facility project in Nigeria by year-end. Commissioning is to follow in Q1 2025 around the same time as it is due to secure full control of the Stubb Creek field. The positive developments in Nigeria are in contrast to the ongoing legal cases it is pursuing in Chad and Cameroon and a complex situation in South Sudan – but these issues could all be resolved by mid-2025.

South African and Namibia-based investors have raised $28m in debt to support the acquisition of the Mariental and Greenam Kokerboom solar PV plants.