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Kenya’s nuclear regulator has drawn up plan for small-scale reactors of around 100-300MW capacity and is assessing project structuring and funding.

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.

A commissioning ceremony has taken place for the Nigelec Mohammed VI thermal plant, gifted to Niger by the Moroccan king.

Former energy minister Samuel Sarr has been detained by Dakar gendarmerie, following allegations by shareholders of embezzlement at his West African Energy power project. The shock development raises further questions about energy deals made during the 2012-24 Macky Sall administration, writes Waly Dione Faye.

African Energy understands that an audit by international accounting firm Mazars of the independent power producer (IPP) West African Energy (WAE) has discovered that former energy minister and Sénélec chief executive Samuel Sarr had invoiced another IPP developer, Ndar Energy, for CFA5bn ($7.6m).

Chinese IPPs and investors are backing 2.5GW of new coal and solar projects that Zimbabwean authorities claim will end load shedding by 2025 – and end the need for power imports by 2026. However, Harare has a history of announcing megaprojects that do not materialise and, even if these schemes do go ahead, questions remain over whether the grid will be able to handle the additional power, writes Tonderayi Mukeredzi.

Commissioning of a fourth unit at the 2.1GW Julius Nyerere hydroelectric power plant has prompted the Tanzanian government to move away from gas-to-power capacity. The immediate consequence is that a power purchase agreement for Songas, the country’s first IPP, will not be renewed. Meanwhile, two foreign investors have launched arbitral claims of $500m and $1.2bn against the government, and progress remains static at the much-vaunted Tanzania LNG megaproject, writes Marc Howard.

A permanent economic crisis characterised by inflation and fuel shortages is driving an unplanned green revolution in Burundi as consumers flee one of Africa’s worst performing utilities for the long-term security of off-grid solar systems. But even in this unforgiving environment some utility-scale projects are advancing thanks to determined international support.

Pretoria needs to find quick solutions to obviate a gas crisis before 2026. Large gas users say that apart from active engagements and some preliminary proposals, no practical and implementable strategies have so far been offered, muddling the future of the gas industry. Complementing public and private sector measures is seen as key to addressing the problem, writes Tonderayi Mukeredzi.

Belgium’s International Montage Maintenance (IMM) has completed construction of  a 22MW thermal power plant at Gerald Group’s Marampa iron ore mine in Sierra Leone. Owned and operated by the London-headquartered miner, the commercial and industrial (C&I) Marapma facility has now been commissioned.

A precipitous decline in gas output may turn out to be a bigger problem than the recent month-long blockade of oil exports. There is no quick fix for the shortage of feedstock for General Electric Company of Libya (Gecol)’s fleet of power plants, which now depend on record levels of imported diesel the country cannot afford. There is also no other source of generation to fall back on, with Libya now Africa’s only country without any utility-scale, grid-connected renewable capacity, writes John Hamilton.

Increasing demand from the national grid and commercial consumers, climate volatility and a lack of gas feedstock have concentrated Ivorian officials’ focus on increasing renewable energy capacity, moving away from a longstanding reliance on hydroelectric and thermal generation. Already a vital player in the West African Power Pool, Côte d’Ivoire’s regional trading significance has been underlined by a $300m US grant, writes Marc Howard.

A shareholder in the 300MW Cap des Biches IPP plant has alleged that former electricity minister Samuel Sarr had made “questionable use” of $3.3m of company funds, writes Waly Dione Faye in Dakar.

Côte d’Ivoire was an independent power production pioneer when Globeleq and partners commissioned the first phase of Azito GTP in 1999; it now supplies around one-quarter of CdI’s on-grid supply

Zimbabwe’s sovereign wealth fund the Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF) has backed a $350m joint venture between state utility Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) and Jindal Africa Investments to refurbish the Hwange coal-powered plant. The refurbishment is a potentially important step in efforts to ease Zimbabwe’s power supply deficit, with the country experiencing power outages lasting up to 12 hours a day.