Power developments in Africa, January 2016
Egyptian nuclear energy by 2024
Egypt is due to start producing power from its first of four nuclear reactors by 2024. Russia will extend a loan to Egypt to cover the cost of constructing a nuclear power plant in Dabaa that is expected to be complete by 2022. The production capacity for each reactor is 1200 MW and the first unit is due to start service in 2024. Egypt will pay back the loan to Russia over 35 years from the proceeds of electricity generated from the plant. The expected lifespan of the plant is 60 years.
http://egyptera.org/en/curr_egy.aspx
Mozambique increases fuel storage capacity
Global energy company Puma Energy has opened new bitumen and fuel terminals in Mozambique, raising its capacity in the Southern African country to 275 500 m³. The Matola terminals comprise eleven steel storage tanks, which have collectively added 115 000 m³ of storage capacity. The bitumen terminal has been designed to reduce Mozambique’s dependence on imports, while the fuel terminal creates a new fuel-supply channel for the Southern African Development Community. It is hoped that the infrastructure will act as a catalyst for economic growth in the country. www.pumaenergy.com
Power ship to help end blackouts
A power-generating ship was officially welcomed at Ghana’s main port in November in a bid to keep the country on track to end chronic blackouts. Ghanaian President John Mahama has vowed to end the power cuts by 31 December 2015. The government contracted the ship to generate 235 MW of electricity daily to help offset a national supply deficit of around 500 MW. The power blackouts, which have been going on for three years, stem from insufficient rain to operate hydro facilities, obsolete equipment, inefficiency and a long-term failure to add capacity to the grid. www.energycom.gov.gh/
Hydro-power for Rwandan communities
Practical Action Consulting and East Africa Power have launched the Rubagabaga hydro-power project in Western Rwanda that will make use of decentralised energy technology to provide energy as well as revenue to local communities. The project involves self-sustainability and skills training, equipping the locals with the necessary knowledge to develop the community. Rubagabaga will construct and operate a 390 kW power run-of-river mini-hydropower plant on the river in Ngororero and Nyabihu Districts in Rwanda. The project is estimated to take 16 months for construction. http://practicalaction.org/consulting-east-africa
Mauritania commissions wind energy plant
The Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz presided over the commissioning of a 30 MW wind power plant erected in Nouakchott, the capital. The renewable energy plant is made up of 15 wind turbines of 2 MW each. The overall cost of the project is estimated at US$51-million jointly funded by the Mauritania and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD). In 2016 the wind farm will contribute up to 13,6% of the power needs of the Mauritanian Electricity Company. www.arabfund.org
Botswana awards renewable energy bid
Posco Energy has won the preferred bid to construct two plants in a Botswana power project.The 300 MW Morupule B Phase II Project was commissioned through an international public tender. It is the first that a South Korean energy company will the southern African market.GS E&C is to take charge of construction and plans to procure $600-million in project financing from banks in Korea and Japan. Construction will begin late in 2016. The two plants are expected to be operational by May 2020. www.posco.co.kr
Boost for Zambia’s renewable energy
Swedish Ambassador to Zambia Henrik Cederin has revealed that Sweden will invest up to K200-million towards implementation of renewable energy in Zambia. He said Sweden would invest in renewable sources of energy in a bid to mitigate the ongoing energy crisis not only in Zambia but the COMESA region as a whole. Climate change has drastically affected the energy sector with persistent power outages due to low water levels. Hydro-electricity generation has been diminishing as rivers and dams have been drying up.
Ugandan electricity access to improve
The Climate Investment Fund (CIF) has endorsed Uganda’s renewable energy investment plans, a move aimed at financing renewable energy projects in the country. With the endorsement, Uganda will get $50-million from CIF under the scaling up renewable energy in low income countries programme (SREP). The SREP funding will help countries to advance geothermal exploration, solar photovoltaic net metering, building of mini-grids and the development of wind power in the country. With a population of about 35-million, more than 29-million people in Uganda do not have access to electricity. www.cif.climateinvestmentfunds.org
Power line between Burundi and Congo
Burundi Second Deputy President Dr. Joseph Butore, has launched the construction of a power line connecting Bujumbura to the Ruzizi II hydroelectric dam in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project falls under the multinational interconnection of electricity networks of the Great Lakes Region. The Kamanyola-Bujumbura power line will be financed by the African Development Bank ($16,8-milion), by Federal German government ($18,7-million), and the Burundi government ($500 000). The Kamanyola-Bujumbura power line is 78 km in length of which only 2,5 km is on the Congolese side. www.mbendi.com
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