Tech & Power Generation

Multiple wind turbines set against a sunset sky
Finance

Going Private

IPPs across Africa are growing in size and scale, thanks to their ability to attract a more diverse array of financing. James Gavin reports. Over time, independent power projects (IPPs) have emerged as Africa’s fastest growing energy sector structures, spreading in popularity across borders and meeting with a surfeit of investment as private sector backers […]
Coal

Funds in focus

Attracting institutional investors and pensions funds to Africa’s energy transition remains a challenge in a world in flux. But where there’s a will, there’s usually a way, explains Jackson Foley. The announcement of a new ‘African Energy Transition Bank’ in mid-May has highlighted the problems facing energy financing on the continent. The bank’s two backers, […]
East Africa

Not by renewables alone

How do renewables stack up against traditional forms of energy in Africa? As Jackson Foley reports, it’s a shifting picture – but don’t count out coal just yet. “Africa is not a country” is the title of a new book seeking to correct foreigners’ views of the continent. Its author wants her international readers to see Africa just as its own peoples see it: huge, varied and facing many different circumstances. Anyone who works in the African energy sector knows this already. There are vast differences between the markets in Egypt and Equatorial Guinea or between Senegal and South Africa. There is no ‘one size fits all solution’ to the continent’s yawning electricity gaps.
Energy access

William Kamkwamba To Discuss ‘Empowerment And Energy Access’ At The Youth Energy Summit (Yes!)

“Our vision is to empower 100,000 more ‘Williams’ by aef 2029 to close the gap between population growth and energy access.  The initiatives are there, the need is there, the entrepreneurs are everywhere and YES! is here to identify them and provide them the tools to succeed…” Harry Gibson, EnergyNet William will be joined by: •           Joseph […]
East Africa

Expand And Diversify: Aiim Invests In Starsight’s Distributed Generation Solutions

AFRICAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT MANAGERS (AIIM) DEVELOPS AND MANAGES PRIVATE EQUITY INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDS DESIGNED TO INVEST LONGTERM INSTITUTIONAL UNLISTED EQUITY IN AFRICAN INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. Interview with Damilola Agbaje – AIIM Investment Director. AIIM actively manages investments in East, West and Southern Africa and has equity under management of USD 2.0 billion with a track record extending […]
Coal

Africa Can Adopt Renewable Energy On A Massive Scale And Save Billions Along The Way

OPED BY KENNETH ENGBLOM VICE PRESIDENT, WARTSILA ENERGY, EUROPE AND AFRICA Africa’s energy future at a crossroad When it comes to building the future of energy in Africa, the decisions facing the continent’s leaders today are nothing less than of historical importance. More than anything else, energy systems are the very fabric of business and […]
Gas

Red Rocket Leading Africa Into A Clean Energy Future

AS THE WORLD GRAPPLES WITH GROWING ENERGY NEEDS, ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, BUSINESS MODELS, AND PROJECT DELIVERY CAN STEP UP TO DELIVER LASTING CHANGE AND INVESTMENT. Since 1999, the African Energy Forum has led engagements between stakeholders around creating energy on the planet. So much has evolved in those twenty-three years. Alternative energy sources such as hydrogen, […]
Gas

South Africa’s Energy Sector And The Just Transition

CONTINUOUS ENGAGEMENT BY STAKEHOLDERS CRUCIAL IN ENSURING ENERGY SECTOR IS SUSTAINABLE WHILE ALSO MANAGING SOCIAL IMPACTS OF SHIFT – AN ARTICLE CO-WRITTEN BY MATT ASH, TINA COSTAS, JAMES ROSS AND KELSEY PAILMAN. While there has been steady progress in the global transition from economies running on fossil fuels to sustainable energy development since the establishment […]
Energy access

Africa’s Energy Transition — Aspirations Versus Reality

AFRICA FACES A PARALLEL IMPERATIVE OF PROVIDING ELECTRICITY ACCESS TO MILLIONS OF CITIZENS CURRENTLY DEPRIVED OF IT, AND ALSO TO ALIGN WITH THE GLOBAL TRANSITION TO A NET ZERO FUTURE – AN ARTICLE BY PATRICIA TILLER, PARTNER AT HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH Africa is home to one-sixth of the global population, yet the continent accounts for […]
Finance

MCB Ltd supported Infinity Renewable Energy BV’s acquisition financing for Lekela Power

(24 March 2023) The Mauritius Commercial Bank Limited (“MCB”) is pleased to announce that it has acted as joint Mandated Lead Arranger (MLA) in relation to an initial senior loan facility to support Infinity Power on its acquisition of Lekela Power. Infinity Power is a joint venture between Egypt’s Infinity and UAE’s Masdar. The transaction […]
Case studies

Decarbonising Africa’s Grid Electricity Generation

The world faces a climate emergency. The emissions from power plants already operating or commissioned have exhausted the carbon budget compatible with keeping warming to 1.5 degrees. Meanwhile, Africa faces a poverty emergency. The proportion of Africans living in extreme poverty (measured by purchasing power parity of $1.90 per day) is falling but population growth […]
Finance

Social Impact Objectives In Renewable Energy Development: Doing Good For People Is Good For Business

FALLING PRICES, INTENSIFIED CLIMATE CHANGE MANDATES, AND IMPROVED TECHNOLOGIES HAVE IGNITED TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN THE RENEWABLE ENERGY (RE) INDUSTRY. MORE THAN EVER, WHAT’S GOOD FOR THE PLANET IS ALSO GOOD FOR THE BOTTOM LINE. But what about for people? RE projects work best when they are designed to produce not just power but empowerment: jobs, […]

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