Market News| Africa Business News

East Africa Leads Continent in Renewable Energy Uptake

East Africa’s economies top countries in sub-Saharan Africa in injecting clean energy into their national grids, through new projects in wind and solar. The latest report of Climatescope, the clean energy country competitiveness index by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, shows that clean energy policies are becoming more widely adopted across sub-Saharan Africa. “Fourteen countries from the region have introduced.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 28th December 2016

Africa: Power Plants Gear Up for Digital Transformation of Power Generation

At nearly every industry event and customer meeting over the past year or so, the conversation has inevitably turned to the subject of “change.” It can be changes happening within our industry, or broader changes in the economy or society – like the impact of smartphones and social media on daily life. A few days ago, at GE’s Power Services Middle East & Africa Customer Summit, themed ‘The Digital.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 28th December 2016

East Africa: Tanzania, Malawi Ink 180MW Joint Power Deal

Mbeya — Tanzania and Malawi are expecting to implement a joint 180-megawatt electricity project that will enable each country to produce 90mw. The two countries also expect to implement another joint project on irrigation where a total of 600 hectares will be developed, with 3000 farms in each country. The implementation of the projects follow agreement over development for Songwe River Basin (SRBDP), signed by the.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd December 2016

Rwanda: Germany Injects �32.5 Million into Energy Sector

Efforts to boost power generation are set to receive timely support thanks to Germany's commitment to invest €32.5million, about Rwf30 billion into the sector. The funding, according to Ronald Nkusi, the director of external finances at Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, will help in the refurbishment and privatisation of the hydropower stations Rusizi I und Rusizi II at the border between Rwanda, Burundi and the DR.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd December 2016

Tanzania: Promising Power Transmission Projects in the Pipeline

Dodoma — The Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) is mulling over a number of power transmission projects, which would enable the country to have a power transmission ring. The National Power Backbone project coordinator, Mr Khalid James, said here yesterday that the scheme would involve connecting the southern regions of Lindi and Mtwara in the national power grid. Mr James elaborated that the transmission network.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd December 2016

Saudi Arabia Keen On Energy Deals with Ethiopia

A Saudi Arabian delegation visited GERD and received briefings on the construction of the dam. A high-level Saudi delegation visited the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) during its three-day state visit to Ethiopia and received updates by Project Manager Eng. Simegnew Bekele. The delegation, led by the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Court senior Advisor and Saudi Development Fund Board Chairperson Ahmed Alkhateeb, had.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st December 2016

Rwanda: Inflation Rate Drops to 6.4% in November

The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR) monthly consumer price index (CPI) indicated that Rwanda's inflation rate eased to 6.4 per cent year on year in November, from 7.4 per cent recorded the previous month. Rwanda uses CPI to measure the average change over time of goods and services bought by households. The report shows that foodstuff prices were the main drivers of inflation during November, especially.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st December 2016

Rwanda: Govt Lays Down Ambitious Plans for Electricity Generation

Rwanda targets to extend power to at least 70 per cent of the households in the country by 2018. To achieve this ambitious goal, government projects to boost electricity generation to 563MW within the next two years. Presently, about 25 per cent of the Rwandan households are connected to electricity, while the country's total installed power capacity is around 190MW, an increase from 186MW in 2015. Despite this rise in generation,.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 20th December 2016

Ethiopia: Multi Million Dollar Gibe III Hydropower Plant Begins Operations

Addis Ababa — Ethiopia inaugurated the $1.57 billion Gibe III hydro plant on River Omo on Saturday. The plant which is located 450km southwest of the capital Addis Ababa will increase Ethiopia's total electricity output to 4,238MW with 10 turbines installed, each with a capacity of 187MW. The plant is expected to supply both domestic and export markets. Gibe III is the third plant on the Gibe-Omo hydroelectric.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 20th December 2016

China Completes Ethiopia Hydropower Rehabilitation Project

Addis Ababa — China on Thursday handed over a hydropower plant rehabilitation project to Ethiopia. With an installed generating capacity of 6.6MW, the Aba-Samuel Hydropower Plant Rehabilitation Project was carried out in two years by PowerChina Huadong Engineering Corporation, for which the Chinese government provided a grant amounting to 95 million yuan (around 14 million U.S. dollars). Signing the document during the.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 20th December 2016

Rwanda: Govt Slashes Power, Water Tariffs to Attract Industry Investors

The Government has slashed unit prices for electricity and rural water supply by 50 and 30 per cent, respectively, a move officials say will help increase affordability, service efficiency and competitiveness, among others. Effective January 1, 2017, electricity tariff for households that consume not more than 15 kilowatts per month, will be Rwf89, down from Rwf182, translating into a 51 per cent deduction from the standard.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 14th December 2016

Tanzania's First Wind Farm Project to Take Off in May 2017

Singida Wind Power project, which is the first wind farm in Tanzania is expected to begin from May, next year, after negotiations for power purchase agreement between the developer and the government are concluded. The Managing Director of Six Telecoms, which is among partners to the project, Rashid Shamte told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the PPA negotiations with TANESCO, Ministry of Energy and Minerals and Attorney.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 12th December 2016