About 300,000 households and businesses will be linked to the national grid after the African Development Bank (AfDB) approved a Sh13.5 billion loan for a low-cost connection project.   The project targets homes not connected to electricity and which are within a 600-metre radius to a transformer.   The loan, which was approved on Monday, is the second disbursement from AfDB under the Last Mile Connectivity project.   The.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 30th June 2016

Zanzibar — All villages in Zanzibar will have access to reliable electricity supply by 2020, Members of the House of Representatives were informed.   Deputy Minister of Lands, Water, Energy and Environment, Juma Makungu Juma, said that the government has been working hard to ensure that houses in rural villages and inhabited small islands easily access power from the National Grid.   "We are on track to have our goal.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 30th June 2016

Zanzibar — Zanzibar may possibly have its own energy source if an ongoing European Union study will succeed, the House was informed.   Finance and Planning minister Dr Khalid Salum Mohamed and Energy minister Salama Aboud Talib said that research on possible alternative energy source has been going on in the isles.   Zanzibar relies on power from the National Grid from Tanzania Mainland.   The ongoing studies involve.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 29th June 2016

Morogoro — The World Bank yesterday approved a $200 million (about Sh440 billion) loan to boost connection of more Tanzanian rural households to electricity.   The World Bank board of executive directors approved the financing for the Rural Electrification Expansion Programme from the International Development Association (IDA). The new financing is a big boost to the project that is expected to bring about 2.5 million households in.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 24th June 2016

Arusha — The East African Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EACREEE) will be hosted at the Makerere University's College of Engineering, Art, Design and Technology.   Speaking at the launch last week, the EAC deputy secretary general (Productive and Social Sectors) Ms Jesca Eriyo said the main aim is to ensure availability of sufficient, reliable, cost effective and environmentally friendly energy.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 21st June 2016

 Iringa — The implementations of the first phase of projects to interconnect the nation electricity grid to that of Zambia and Kenya is expected to be completed in September.   The project dubbed Backbone Transmission Investment Project (BTIP) will interconnect national grid to that of Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) through Zambia.   BTIP project manager Mr Oscar said upon the completion of the project the national.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 13th June 2016

Kenya has developed the fourth-largest geothermal energy in the world, putting the country among top green energy economies.   The latest Renewables Global Status report shows that the amount of geothermal energy in Kenya's national grid expanded to a total of 600 megawatts (MW) by the end of 2015.   Geothermal now accounts for over a quarter of the country's total power capacity of 2,333MW.   Turkey set up the largest.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 8th June 2016

 Dodoma — The second phase of the rural electrification programme is 91 percent completed by, the deputy minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr Medard Kalemani has said.   The programme, which is rolled out by Rural Energy Agency (REA) is expected to end this month to pave the way for the third phase.   Mr Kalemani said the third phase aims to connect all villages in the country to electricity but focus will be put on.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 7th June 2016

 Kampala — A Chinese construction firm has embarked on the construction of the four mega sub-stations at Luzira, Namanve, Mukono, and Iganga industrial parks.   Mr Mark Namungo, the senior power analyst at the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL), said the project is expected to cost$100m (Shs337b) which was borrowed from the Chinese Exim Bank.   "... us being the government implementers of this.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 7th June 2016

UTHOR: By MARGARET NJUGUNAH, NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 2 - In a move that will see Kenya's wind power increased from the current 787 Megawatts, Kenya Power and Kipeto Energy Limited have signed a 20 year power purchase deal which will see Kipeto deliver 100 Megawatts of power to the country's power grid.   The wind project will be put up at a cost of Sh32.26 billion and will be funded by the US government's Overseas Private Investment.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 4th June 2016

The current vigour the 5thgovernment is exhibiting is key to achieving Sustainable Development Goal number 7, access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, the Head of delegation of the European Union to Tanzania and East Africa region has said.   Speaking yesterday when launching a new booklet titled 'Empowering Tanzania: Energy for Growth and Sustainable Development', Head of EU delegation Ambassador Roeland Van.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 4th June 2016

Lusaka — Africa was presented with its largest energy deal ever - a $12 billion package from the Africa Development Bank - as some leaders fought off pressure from environmentalists concerned about the threat of an impending construction boom of power dams, reiterating their position that the continent was simply tired of being in the dark.   Under the new deal, which was announced during the ADB's annual meeting in Lusaka last.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 2nd June 2016