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| African Power Platform - Newsletter #14 | ||||||||
Week 32, 2019 | |||||||||
EDITORIAL | |||||||||
Dear reader, Welcome to the fourteenth African Power Platform (APP) newsletter. During August, the shortlisted projects from the 1st round of the Africa Power Access Accelerator program will be announced. In September we will attend the Future Energy East Africa event, happening in Nairobi on the 17th and 18th. Join us there for a chat over C&I opportunities. We are focused on drafting the accelerator program for this sector. In terms of news, in Nigeria the mess continues on the 14 PPAs for solar PV signed a couple of years ago. Now it seems a tariff renegotiation is being proposed. In Kenya, the shift from fossil fuels towards renewables and economic stability is allowing President Kenyatta to announce a 30% tariff reduction for manufacturers, a rare event in a continent where most utilities push governments to raise tariffs. Lastly, Zimbabwe is suffering from serious blackouts and the economic instability doesn't help to sort out the issue. I'd say more in-country generation from renewables would be the solution, but as we well know it ends up being more complex that that. Without support of DFIs it will be hard for the private sector to jump in and have a meaningful impact. That's all for this week. Keep well, keep energized. Meanwhile, the APP keeps here, serving the power industry in Africa.
Jorge Lascas Founder & Managing Director | |||||||||
FROM THE PRESS | |||||||||
AFRICA: Financial hurdles in scaling up solar for C&I customers. Read the article >> Sub-Saharan Africa is fertile ground for solar because of its immense energy deficit and crumbling infrastructure. At present, the region (excluding South Africa) has only 735MW of installed solar capacity – selling electricity to the grid, equivalent to a mere 0.7% of the 108GW of solar built globally in 2018. | |||||||||
NIGERIA: aims to lower solar electricity tariffs agreed three years ago. Read the article >> A recurring situation, when solar projects face implementation delays after PPA signing, renegotiation on tariffs will come up sooner or later. | |||||||||
AFRICA: Germany Africa Business Forum announces funds for energy startups. Read the article >> The Germany Africa Business Forum (GABF) announced Thursday a multimillion-Euro funding commitment to invest in German energy startups that focus on Africa. | |||||||||
AFRICA: Egypt to build solar power plants in 7 African countries. Read the article >> The Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI), one of the largest industrial organisations in Egypt, will launch solar power plants in Uganda, Congo, Tanzania, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan, with capacities ranging from 2 to 4 megawatts, according to Egyptian media. | |||||||||
SENEGAL: Proparco, EIB, IFC commit €47.5 million for solar energy. Read the article >> The European Investment Bank and the International Finance Corporation have announced €47.5 million to finance the construction of two photovoltaic solar power plants In Senegal. | |||||||||
KENYA: President Kenyatta assures manufacturers of 30% electricity cost reduction. Read the article >> President Uhuru Kenyatta has assured manufacturers that the government is in the process of rolling out a 30 percent electricity cost reduction plan to be implemented through a rebate system. Very few African countries can afford to undertake power tariff reductions. | |||||||||
NAMIBIA: Announces $338 Million, 5-Year Renewable-Energy Strategy. Read the article >> Namibia’s state-run utility will build four plants powered by renewable energy over the next five years as the southern African nation seeks to guarantee local supplies and cut its use of fossil fuels. The plants, which will harness biomass, solar and wind to generate a combined 220 megawatts, will cost 4.7 billion Namibian dollars ($338 million). | |||||||||
MALI: Efforts to improve access to renewable energy gets a boost. Read the article >> The World Bank’s board of executive directors approved a $22.7 million financing to support Mali’s efforts to promote the deployment of renewable energy in rural areas. | |||||||||
AFRICA: IRENA and RES4Africa explore public-private initiatives. Read the article >> The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the RES4Africa Foundation have agreed to cooperate to increase the speed of renewable energy development in Africa in the pursuit of the continent’s sustainable development and climate goals. | |||||||||
ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe's Econet weighs drastic measures over 'untenable' power cuts. Read the article >> Zimbabwe’s largest mobile operator Econet Wireless said it will take “drastic measures” if the impacts of severe rolling blackouts cannot be resolved, adding that the power cuts had left its operation unsustainable. | |||||||||
AFRICA: Renewable Energy Creating Skilled Jobs In Africa & Asia. Read the article >> More than creating direct jobs, energy access indirectly enables jobs and businesses in rural communities. | |||||||||
PRESS RELEASES | |||||||||
Fenix reaches 500,000 customers in 6 markets and announces new leadership team. Read the article >> Fenix International, a company of ENGIE, offering solar home systems across Africa, has appointed co-founder and current COO Brian Warshawsky to the role of CEO to drive the next phase of the company’s ambitious growth plans. | |||||||||
JinkoSolar Awarded Frost & Sullivan 2019 Global Solar PV Technology Leadership Award. Read the article >> JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world, today announced that it was recognized for augmenting solar PV efficiency in a cost-effective manner with the Frost & Sullivan 2019 Global Solar PV Technology Leadership Award. | |||||||||
REDAVIA Partners With Lendahand to Crowdfund Upcoming Solar Farms. Read the article >> REDAVIA, a global market leader of cost-effective, reliable and clean solar power for businesses and communities, has launched a crowdfunding initiative to fund 10 upcoming solar Units in partnership with Lendahand, an online impact investing platform where socially conscious investors can invest in entrepreneurs and sustainable initiatives in emerging countries. | |||||||||
ROGEP intensifies its call to increase energy access through standalone solar systems. Read the article >> The Third Regional Off-Grid Electrification Project (ROGEP) has opened in the Togolese capital Lome. The theme of the convergence is ‘Strengthening Partnership for an Accelerated deployment of Standalone Solar Systems in West Africa and the Sahel’. | |||||||||
FROM THE MEMBERS | |||||||||
Hilton Cape Town City Centre’s recently installed Solarus solar system, on the building’s roof, is now fully operational. This large hybrid photovoltaic and thermal (PVT) system, which provides the luxury hotel with both heat and electricity for its 137 hotel rooms, will not only be a cost-effective solution for the hotel, the reduction of CO2 will also be significant. | |||||||||
Construction of the 60MWAC solar project in the District of Salima, Malawi advances with the arrival and installation of equipment and materials on site.
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A Nigerian firm, Community Energy Social Enterprises Limited on Tuesday signed a $767, 512 MoU with Renewvia Energy Corporation, an American company to provide solar energy for the communities on ‘pay-as- you-go’ basis. | |||||||||
MUFG Bank, Ltd. (MUFG) and the African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI), Africa’s only multilateral trade and political risk insurer, today signed an agreement that will allow for increased cooperation and information sharing in order to support ATI’s member countries as well as MUFG’s clients in Africa. | |||||||||
TENDERS | |||||||||
Submission deadline: 12th August 2019 | Category: Consultancy Country: Ivory Coast | Entity: European Commission
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Submission deadline: 15th August 2019 | Category: Consultancy Country: Rwanda | Entity: AfDB
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Submission deadline: 23rd August 2019 | Category: Construction Country: Ghana | Entity: ECG
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Submission deadline: 23rd August 2019 | Category: IPP Countries: Eswatini | Entity: Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA)
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Submission deadline: 23rd August 2019 | Category: Consultancy Country: Ethiopia | Entity: African Union
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Submission deadline: 27th August 2019 | Category: Consultancy Country: Kenya | Entity: World Bank
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Submission deadline: 30th August 2019 | Category: Supply Country: Rwanda | Entity: EDCL
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Submission deadline: 13th September 2019 | Category: Construction Country: Rwanda | Entity: EDCL
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ACCELERATOR | |||||||||
The Know more >>“Africa Power Access Accelerator” program, by the African Power Platform, bridges the existing gap between project developers and consultants / technology providers / financiers. Third application window closes on the 30th September 2019. Results from first application window will be announced soon.
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UPCOMING EVENTS | |||||||||
Date: 20 - 23 August 2019 | Location: Abuja, Nigeria
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Date: 9 - 13 September 2019 | Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
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Date: 17 - 18 September 2019 | Location: Nairobi, Kenya
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FEATURED REPORT | |||||||||
Publication date: 2019, July | Author: World Food Programme (WFP) WFP’s efforts to achieve zero hunger can be strengthened by providing the energy beneficiaries need for producing, transforming and consuming food, which will enhance both their food security and nutrition.
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JOBS | |||||||||
Published: 1st August 2019 | Location: Nairobi, Kenya Description: SNV Kenya/Burundi is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Sector Leader Energy. As the Sector Leader you will be responsible for the overall quality of programme development and implementation, business development and overall steering of the SNV Kenya and Burundi Energy projects.
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Published: 2nd August 2019 | Location: Nairobi, Kenya Description: Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will be responsible for strategic leadership, Business Unit development and oversight, coordinating interfaces among Business Units and Supporting Business Units, team and culture building, and core operational functions.
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Published: 29th July 2019 | Location: Nairobi, Kenya Description: RTI International is recruiting for a Senior Legal and Public-Private Partnership Advisor for the East Africa Energy Program under the Power Africa Initiative by USAID Under the authority of the COP, this person is responsible for the coordination of technical assistance, transaction advisory, community engagement, and institutional performance improvement activities benefitting host-country governments, regulators, and utilities.
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Published: 29th July 2019 | Location: Nairobi, Kenya Description: As Technical Assistance (TA) Manager you will be responsible for developing and managing the EEGF TA facility in close coordination with the EEGF investment team and partners. At least 7 years of relevant working experience in program management, consulting and TA in the field of entrepreneurship/private sector development in emerging markets.
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JOIN THE AFRICAN POWER PLATFORM | |||||||||
If you want to join the African Power Platform and enjoy the full set of benefits visit our membership page or contact us This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | |||||||||
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This email was sent on 2019/08/06 by
African Power Platform One West Park – Westlands Nairobi - KENYA
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