Arts/Energy

Multiple wind turbines set against a sunset sky
Finance

Importance and Value of Hydropower Projects: Africa Focus

As the demand for clean and sustainable energy sources continues to grow globally, Hydropower is gaining significant attention Hydro is the most widely used renewable energy source in the world. Hydropower contributes to ~17% of the global energy production, per the International Energy Agency with China being the largest producer followed by Canada, Brazil, and […]
East Africa

Growing Plans

Martijn Proos,the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund, a Private Infrastructure Development Group Company Last year, it was announced that EAIF plans to raise as much as $500 million over the next three years to invest in infrastructure projects on the continent. How is that going? EAIF has raised more capital amidst a significant economic downturn – while […]
Energy access

A United Continent Can Drive National Progress

As Nigeria seeks to solve its own specific energy challenges, the country calls upon Africa more broadly to strengthen the bonds that unite it As the largest economy in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria is blessed with large oil, gas, hydro and mineral resources. The key now is to extract the full potential from these resources to […]
Finance

Africa seeks policy shift to scale up investment

Africa needs more than targets and positive words to mobilise urgently needed investment in climate change impact measures and the energy transition. Are international policy forums providing the solutions? Reports Ian Lewis Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) pulled no punches at the Bank’s annual meeting in May. “Africa is being short-changed […]
Finance

Droughts Raise Doubts over Hydro’s Future Role in Africa

Uncertainties surround the outlook for hydropower in Africa, but new projects of varying sizes continue to gain access to financing across the continent, reports Ben Payton In Zambia and Zimbabwe, electricity has become a precious commodity over the past few months. The two countries have been enduring severe power cuts since late last year. In […]
Finance

One Rule for Them?

Hydrocarbons-related projects across the globe are finding it harder to get a hearing these days. But, asks James Gavin, is Africa still being held to tougher standards than other parts of the world?
Gas

African Wind Power Struggles to Gain Momentum

Few African countries are harnessing wind energy on a significant scale – but South Africa offers a potential model for the rest of the continent, writes Ben Payton Africa has a gaping hole in its energy supply. Six hundred million people, around half of the continent’s population, lack access to electricity. Without much faster progress, […]
Energy access

Access To Reliable And Affordable Off-Grid Energy To Be Transformed Across Benin Under New Eib – Engie Energy Access Initiative

Households, smallholders and entrepreneurs in remote locations across Benin will be able to access reliable and cheap electricity for the first time under a new off-grid solar scheme agreed between leading solar energy company ENGIE Energy Access and the European Investment Bank, one of the world’s largest financiers of renewable energy.   The European Investment […]
Coal

Making Just Energy Transition in South Africa Happen

A commitment to long-term decarbonisation in South Africa is set to reinvigorate investment opportunities in the country’s energy sector. Eskom Holdings Just Energy Transition General Manager Mandy Rambharos talks to Bill Lumley. What are the key challenges and opportunities for Just Energy transition in South Africa? With coal-fired utilities accounting for 88% of South Africa’s […]
Gas

Staying Ahead of the Curve

South Africa is making huge strides in renewables. Tshifhiwa Bernard Magoro heads up South Africa’s IPP Office. Here he talks Bill Lumley through some of the latest developments. South Africa has some of the lowest renewable energy tariffs in the world? What has made this possible? Through the competitive, independent and transparent bidding process under the […]
Grids

Uganda Sets Standard

Uganda is providing a robust example to the rest of the continent when it comes to renewable power initiatives. Bill Lumley talks to Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako, CEO of the Uganda Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) There are a number of key initiatives concerning off-grid initiatives in the country, among them the enactment of off-grid regulations […]
Energy access

Africa Seeks more Far-Reaching Climate Policy and Finance

The COP26 climate change summit fell short of delivering fully on its promise in terms of support for sustainable energy and other climate change measures in Africa. Can COP27 in Egypt make up for the shortcomings of Glasgow? Many regions of Africa felt the health impacts of the Covid pandemic less strongly than other parts […]

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