Two Kenyan power companies have received a Sh164 million grant from former US President Barack Obama's Power Africa initiative to maximise generation of geothermal and solar electricity, known as green energy.   The US Trade and Development Agency, under the Power Africa initiative, on Thursday awarded $1.1 million (Sh113 million) to Nairobi-based Xago Africa and another $500,000 (Sh51 million) to the State-owned KenGen.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 29th April 2017

Kenya is among the countries poised to lead in wind energy investment in Africa this year according to a new report.   Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), the international trade association for the wind power industry, says Kenya is setting the pace in the region in the use of wind as a renewable source of energy by initiating the generation of 700 megawatts for the national grid.   "For the Middle East and Africa, the main.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 29th April 2017

Dar es Salaam — A total of 3,753, 615 households in Mainland Tanzania are electrified with any form of electricity out of 11,454,818 households, a new study indicates.   This is equivalent to 32.8 per cent of all households of Mainland Tanzania and is an increase from 18 per cent of all households connected to electricity in 2011/12.   The Energy Access Situation Report 2016 released earlier this week by the National Bureau.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 27th April 2017

The African Development Bank (AFDB) has unveiled plan to invest $12 billion over the next five years under its new electrification programme. The fund will support its New Deal on energy for Africa which aims to achieve universal access to Africa by 2025. The plan was born out of the Energy Week conference held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast in March which brought stakeholders together to discuss methods of improving energy access. Until.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 22nd April 2017

 Rwandans are likely to begin benefiting from more power from their national grid following the latest opening of a new peat-fired power plant in Gishoma, western Rwanda, which is the first of its kind in Africa.   The project, which is said to be valued US $39.2 million, is estimated to begin feeding at least 15 megawatts of power in to the national grid directly.   Another key peat-fired plant, which costs US $350 million,.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 18th April 2017

Kenya's demand for electricity will rise at an annual average of 7.9 per cent over the next decade, the latest research indicates.   BMI Research, a company that provides macroeconomic, industry and financial market analysis said growth would be driven by the rising number of those who are getting connected to the national grid under the rural electrification programme.   "An increase in electrification rates, as the Kenyan.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 6th April 2017

The push by government for Rwanda to achieve a cashless economy is slowly gaining ground with more and more financial institutions embracing and promoting financial technology (fintech). Presently, the majority of banks have rolled out technology-driven services and solutions, a development that has helped them increase options to enhance services as well as enable customers to make transactions easily and deepen inclusion.   The.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 23rd March 2017

African states and stakeholders have been urged to invest more in the power sector and close the continent's energy deficit.   Africa Progress Panel chairman and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and the African Development Bank (AfDB) chief, Akinwumi Adesina, made the call during the launch of the "Lights, Power, Action: Electrifying Africa," report over the weekend.   The report is a follow up to the 2015 Africa.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 23rd March 2017

Russian Ambassador to Ethiopia Vsevolod Tkachenko said Russian companies crave to invest in Ethiopia is increasing while eyeing the energy sector as a priority.   In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, Ambassador Tkachenko stated that Ethiopia's rapid economic ascension lured Russian-based companies to do businesses here.   The ambassador said: "Our investors are keen on becoming part of the development in this.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 22nd March 2017

DAR ES SALAAM residents will soon breathe a sigh of relief over water shortages following completion of the construction of a 33KV power line that will enable pumping of 196 million litres of water from Upper Ruvu Water Treatment Plant to the city daily.   The 45-km power line was constructed from Chalinze sub-station to Mlandizi, where the newly built water treatment plant is located.   The major plant which is expected to address.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 16th March 2017

The Rwanda Stock Exchange has said it will introduce a market makers scheme in an effort to infuse liquidity in the bearish market and boost volumes traded.   Market makers buy shares of a listed company, warehouse them and sell them to the public when prices appreciate, creating a balance in the market.   "The legal framework is in place," said Robert Mathu, executive director of the Rwanda Capital Markets Authority,.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 13th March 2017

In such a carbon constrained world of today, the development of renewable energy sources like that of electric power is remarkably compelling. Recent studies indicate that 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa, which accounts for the 70 per cent of the population lack access to electricity. Half of all businesses in this part of the continent say that the lack of reliable electricity is a major constraint. Power outages cost African countries.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 9th March 2017