African Trade Insurance Agency joins the African Power Platform

The African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI) is the most recent member of the African Power Platform (APP).

Nairobi, Kenya (November 8, 2018) – An estimated 600 million people don’t have access to electric energy and even for those that do, power is often unreliable. With the limitations most African governments have on issuing sovereign guarantees, the lenders look for alternative ways of de-risking their investments in infrastructures in Africa. Access to green, affordable and reliable electricity is on all the governments and donors’ agendas.

“The APP is proud on having ATI as a member and appreciates its key role on supporting the development of the power sector in Africa” said APP Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jorge Lascas. “APP members cover all the value chain of the power sector and ATI’s role is of major importance by providing an alternative form of guarantee to the power projects. The APP is therefore totally supportive of ATI’s initiatives and will have an active voice on spreading the word”, Jorge added.

“ATI supports governments, IPPs and others working in Africa’s energy sector to find solutions that will reduce an energy deficit, which is preventing the continent from reaching its full potential. Our membership in APP is well-aligned to this focus – by bringing more attention to the sector, we can attract more resources for cleaner energy solutions and access for all in Africa” added George Otieno, ATI’s Chief Executive Officer.

About African Trade Insurance Agency:

ATI was founded in 2001 by African States to cover trade and investment risks in its African member countries including the risks of sovereign and corporate non-payment and contractual breach. 

ATI has also developed several energy sector initiatives designed to provide practical insurance solutions for projects in Africa.  One such facility is the Regional Liquidity Support Facility (RLSF) created in partnership with KfW. This tool helps IPPs developing small-scale renewable energy projects in Africa to obtain the short-term liquidity they need in the event that an off-taker delays payment. 

The second facility is the African Energy Guarantee Facility (AEGF). To address the insurance gap, ATI entered in to a risk-sharing partnership with Munich Re and the European Investment Bank (EIB), with the aim of providing significant long-term investment insurance for African sustainable energy projects. The facility is expected to mobilise significant private financing in the form of debt and equity from banks and developers that are currently constrained to participate in the African energy sector. Products offered under AEGF include insurance against sovereign or sub-sovereign non-payment and traditional political risk insurance perils like expropriation or currency inconvertibility.

As of YE 2017, ATI has supported USD35 billion in trade and investments across Africa in multiple sectors.   Since 2008, ATI has maintained an ‘A’ rating for Financial Strength and Counterparty Credit by Standard & Poor’s. ATI has 23 shareholders, including 14 African countries and nine institutional shareholders.

www.ati-aca.org

About African Power Platform:

The African Power Platform aims to connect private and government stakeholders in Africa’s power sector. The platform helps circulate and propagate tenders, intelligence and business opportunities to its members. Developers, power producers, ministries, utilities, regulators, financiers, and other like-minded individuals can join APP to share possible solutions and ideas on how to solve Africa’s lack of electricity.

www.africanpowerplatform.org

# # #

    Download PDF >>

African Power Platform Launches Comprehensive Library of Energy Information

With the APP library, individuals can learn about conventional methods of producing energy, renewables, microgrids, solar home systems, and how those methods and strategies might be combined to best serve the unique and increasing power needs in each of Africa’s countries.

Nairobi, Kenya (October 29, 2018) – Jorge Lascas, founder and managing director of the African Power Platform (APP), announced that stakeholders and other interested parties can now access the APP’s extensive library of articles, studies and relevant documentation about all aspects of the power sector in Africa.

An estimated 600 million people don’t have access to electric energy and even for those that do, power is often unreliable. Electricity is an essential service that enables businesses to be more productive, children to be educated, and improve the lifestyle of every individual. It also allows for the free exchange of ideas and innovations that can lead to unprecedented breakthroughs.

The launch and availability of the APP library, counting with over 300 reports, articles and studies published, is vitally important to keep people informed and can be a launching point for new ideas, resources and solutions. Individuals can learn about conventional methods of producing energy, renewables, microgrids, solar power, and how those methods and strategies might be combined to best serve the unique and increasing power needs in each of Africa’s countries.

Africa is home to a variety of different landscapes, and visitors to the online library will have the opportunity to learn about the challenges and opportunities of developing infrastructure in those areas. Individuals also have access to special events, webinars and awards. The APP library also features interviews and explores various energy sources that include fossil fuels and hydropower, and the challenges inherent in utility digitization.

Through the comprehensive library of the African Power Platform, individuals can learn about grants, renewable energy laws, pilot programs, and techniques that have worked in other countries that have the potential to be deployed in Africa. Materials in the APP library address power challenges within all areas of Africa.

The APP library is a unique opportunity to learn about the difficulties, opportunities and innovations available that can benefit the people of Africa. Electric power is an essential element for business growth, education, and the development of strong infrastructure and empowerment in multiple sectors.

About African Power Platform:

Founded by Jorge Lascas, the African Power Platform aims to connect private and government stakeholders in Africa’s power sector. The platform helps circulate and propagate tenders, intelligence and business opportunities to its members. Developers, power producers, ministries, utilities, regulators, financiers, and other like-minded individuals can join APP to share possible solutions and ideas on how to solve Africa’s lack of electricity.

# # #

    Download PDF >>

African Power Platform Stands the Best Source of Information for Power Sector Events in Africa

Some individuals and organizations are highly interested in gathering details about the events taking place in Africa related to the power sector. They can get comprehensive information from the African Power Platform.

Nairobi, Kenya (October 13, 2018) – Not just organizations, even some individuals wish to keep themselves updated about the special events taking place in the power sector in Africa. For those with this interest, they can get the best information from the African Power Platform.

The website of the African Power Platform has listed all the events that are going to take place in power sector in Africa, and it is constantly being updated.

It means that people interested in the energy sector in Africa can get the comprehensive list along with the detailing from this useful platform. In the month of August 2018, a Press Release was released by the African Power Platform (APP) stating the launch of the new initiative.

According to Jorge Lascas, Founder and CEO of the African Power Platform, “the initiative is to associate government and private stakeholders of the African Power Sector by creating a network platform, where they can associate with ease.  With this initiative, the African Power Platform has been providing comprehensive information about the power sector in Africa”.

About African Power Platform:

Founded by Jorge Lascas, the African Power Platform aims to connect private and government stakeholders in Africa’s power sector. The platform helps circulate and propagate tenders, intelligence and business opportunities to its members. Developers, power producers, ministries, utilities, regulators, financiers, and other like-minded individuals can join APP to share possible solutions and ideas on how to solve Africa’s lack of electricity

# # #

    Download PDF >>

African Power Platform Creates a Network for Africa’s Power Sector Stakeholders

Nairobi, Kenya (August 20, 2018) – The African Power Platform (APP) has been launched as a new initiative to connect Governmental and Private Stakeholders of the African power sector by creating a network where they can connect with ease. The APP is a channel of communication for the market and assists in circulating and propagating tenders, business opportunities and intelligence to Members for business expansion.

“My love and commitment to Africa played a major role on the decision of launching the African Power Platform,” says Jorge Lascas, Founder and Managing Director of the APP. A firm believer in the social and economic growth of Africa, the APP, maintains that it is imperative to create one platform where Independent Power Producers, Developers, Financiers, Consultants, and other like-minded individuals, along with Ministries, Regulators and Utilities can share ideas and possible solutions concerning the lack of electricity in Africa. 

To further assist in the continent’s social and economic growth, APP Members have the ability to stay abreast on current events concerning the power sector by signing up for newsletters and press releases. The organisation has also created a means by which Members can share information regarding networking events. It is through this social and economic development, as well as the financial assistance of members, that the APP hopes to contribute to Africa's electrification. “Power is critical for every single country in Africa and we are here to support all of them equally,” says Lascas. According to the APP, there are more than 600 million people in Africa without electricity. 

“We will be in soft launching until the end of 2018 and expect to gather 50 members during this period. It will allow us to fine tune and optimize our strategy. In 2019 we expect to go full power and register 100 members.” says Lascas.  

# # #

Picture 1: African Power Platform logo

Picture 2: Jorge Lascas, African Power Platform Founder & CEO being interviewed.

    Download PDF >>