he Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (Sefa) has approved a preparation grant for the development of a number of “solar-hybrid mini grids” in rural growth centres in Tanzania, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced.21 Jan 2015   The $420,000 grant has been awarded to Jumeme Rural Power Supply Ltd, which is a joint venture company formed by German energy supply systems firm Inensus GmbH, Austria-based .... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st January 2015

NAIROBI – KENYA requires $2 billion (Sh182,5 billion) to generate an additional 5 000 megawatts of electricity in two years. The government would start initiating a proposed 960 MW coal power plant in Lamu before embarking on other power projects to produce 4040 MW to be added to the national grid.   This, according to experts will help boost economic growth, job creation as well as lower the price of electricity. The East African.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st January 2015

A Kenyan green-energy company has become the first firm in Sub-Saharan to win the Zayed Future Energy prize in the enterprise and SME category. M-KOPA Solar was announced the winner at the opening ceremony of the annual Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. The Zayed Future Energy Prize brings with it a US$1.5 million (Ksh133 million) prize. M-KOPA Solar will use these funds to launch a training and development program called M-KOPA University, which.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st January 2015

Germany is to fund construction of the proposed 6.5MW Maziba hydroelectric power dam in the western district of Kabale, Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda has said. Rugunda told residents of Kyanamira sub-county recently that a contractor had already been secured for the $12m (Shs 34bn) project on river Maziba, 10km east of Kabale town. A 1.6MW plant built at the site in 1966 was decommissioned in 2002. In 2009, a new positive feasibility.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st January 2015

The Gilgel Gibe III Hydropower project, constructed and situated on the Omo River in Ethiopia is expected to, once completed, generate 1 870 MW of power assisting in meeting the energy needs of those residing in Ethiopia and neighbouring countries. Construction of the 243m concrete dam began in 2008, and is scheduled to start generating power in early 2015. It is reported that Gigel Gibe III’s ten 187MW turbine units will boost.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 16th January 2015

Kenya will save about Ksh 13 billion annually once the 105 MW geothermal power plants start to operate in Menengai, Nakuru by end of 2015. The project run by the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) has now awarded three IPPs land where they will put up power plants. The company is also constructing a major steam gathering pipeline that will distribute the steam from wells to turbines. “We now have three new investors partnering with the.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 16th January 2015

 Kenya Power has secured $25 million (Sh2.25 billion) funding from the Africa Finance Corporation.The money is part of a $150 million syndicated loan that the company is seeking to fund rehabilitation of its network ahead of absorption of extra 5,000 megawatts of power that are to be generated from the government’s plan to scale up power production by the end of next year. The terms of the loan remain undisclosed but according to a.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 15th January 2015

 Investment firm Centum is set to raise at least Sh39 billion as its share for the $1.8 billion (Sh163 billion) Lamu Coal power plant which it is building in a joint consortium.Centum and Gulf Energy, another Kenyan firm, form part of a consortium that won the tender to build the 960 megawatt (MW) power plant. Chinese multinationals Sichuan Electric Power Design and Consulting Company Limited, Sichuan Power Construction Company and China.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 15th January 2015

 Regional interconnections and oil discoveries are expected to drive the transmission and distribution industry’s (T&D’s) growth in East Africa, the second-fastest growing region in Africa, global growth consulting firm Frost & Sullivan said on Tuesday. The region’s power sector was currently highly underdeveloped and had the lowest electricity access rate on the continent, the firm stated while highlighting that.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 13th January 2015

NAIROBI – KENYA Power, the energy utility, is convinced it will record a Sh15 billion pre-tax profit in the 2014/2015 financial year, a senior official has said. The company, which in the past 22 years had not given its shareholders the highest return, would seek to break the new ground by making the profit. According to Kenya Power’s Managing Director, Ben Chumo, the forecast was based on a good performance by the power retailer.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 13th January 2015

Kenya will save about Ksh 13 billion annually once the 105 MW geothermal power plants start to operate in Menengai, Nakuru by end of 2015.    The project run by the Geothermal Development Company (GDC) has now awarded three IPPs land where they will put up power plants. The company is also constructing a major steam gathering pipeline that will distribute the steam from wells to turbines.   “We now have three new investors.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 9th January 2015

The Department of Energy in South Africa, has granted French electric utility company, GDF Suez as the preferred bidder in the latest round of its REIPPP programme for the 100MW Kathu Solar Park in the country’s North West province. Having been granted preferred bidder status, invites GDF Suez to enter into a 20 year power purchase agreement with state utility, Eskom.   This is not the first instance of the company’s.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 8th January 2015