Libya’s Energy Future: Industry and Political risk outlook was launched at a Chatham House seminar in London on 20 July.
Based on African Energy’s unparalleled track record in following Libya’s energy story and careful, originally sourced reporting from Libya and global markets, this updated and enlarged special report analyses the major issues and the financial and political trends influencing development of Libya's energy industries. Read more
A detailed guide to electrification in Africa
A 400-page study published in Paris by Karthala, L’Electricité au Coeur des Défis Africains (available in French only) includes an overview of the continental electricity supply industry and examples of generation, transmission and distribution projects. A chapter on decentralised rural electrification is followed by another on the establishment of decentralised services companies.
The book draws on articles and materials from a number of experts and sources, including African Energy.
Order a copy now, priced €36 / £30 plus postage and packing. Email: nick@africa-energy.com
AfricaHardball is an executive dialogue that brings together policy-makers, industry leaders and analysts to discuss the key political issues affecting the African energy industry in frank and open terms.
The last AfricaHardball roundtable was held on 29 June, prior to the start of EnergyNet Ltd’s annual Africa Energy Forum (AEF), in Basel. Read more
A detailed and frank analysis of Libya’s energy sector
Launched at a Chatham House round table seminar on Tuesday 20 July, Libya’s Energy Future 2010/11 builds on a special issue of African Energy that was published last year, one month before the 40th anniversary of Colonel Muammar Qadhafi’s ‘Great El Fatah Revolution’. Extensively rewritten and expanded by John Hamilton, supported by correspondents in Libya and third countries, and by Cross-border Information’s team of writers and researchers, it is intended to give an informed overview and analysis of the electricity, and upstream and downstream gas and oil industries in the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (State of the Masses).
Libya’s Energy Future offers not only detailed insight into specific projects and players, but also a clear understanding and analysis of the dominant issues, making it essential reading for anyone serious about doing business in Libya
Read moreabout Libya's Energy Future and the Chatham House launch seminar
The World Bank has approved a $12.7m emergency grant for an Emergency Electricity and Water Rehabilitation Project to help restore electricity and water supplies in the capital Bissau. The grant will complement the Multi-Sector Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project (MIRP) that was approved by the Bank in May 2006. more
KENYA
Funds line up for Olkaria
More finance has been lined up by Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) for its project to build two 140MW geothermal power plants in Olkaria, near Naivasha. more
DJIBOUTI
WBG agrees extra funding for access project
The World Bank Group has agreed additional grant financing of $6m for the Power Access and Diversification Project more
NAMIBIA
US bidders sought for Van Eck rehab study
Namibia Power Corporation (NamPower) is seeking proposals from US companies to carry out a feasibility study for the proposed Van Eck power plant rehabilitation project, which will be financed from a $400,000 US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) grant. more
EGYPT
Transmission line tender for wind project
Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company is seeking offers for the construction of the Suez Gulf/Samallout 500kV double circuit, overhead power transmission line. more
MOROCCO
GE, Cegelec to supply Kenitra turbines
GE and consortium partner Cegelec of France have won a 25-month contract worth more than E200m ($264m) to supply fuel-flexible gas turbines for the 300MW Kenitra power plant. more
ALGERIA
Sonelgaz bail-out shows how state solutions still predominate
Recent events at state utility Sonelgaz Holding seem to point to the limits of radical thinking on major Algerian energy sector problems. more
REGIONAL
Cost-reflective tariffs: obvious incentive and thorny political problem
This is the season for developers, bankers, government and national company officials and other members of the power development community to reflect on another year of under-achievement when it comes to attracting private investment to the continent’s electricity supply industry. more
TANZANIA: Caterpillar on track with Zanzibar scheme more
Issue 191 - 23 July 2010
POWER INDUSTRY
Failures suggest sub-Saharan ESI must look beyond project finance
There have been some positive signs for the sub-Saharan electricity supply industry. A few new developers have arrived on the scene, and some familiar faces, such as AES Corporation, are looking again for big deals, suggesting that more investment could be attracted to the sector. more
TUNISIA
Poulina builds up co-gen portfolio
Foodstuffs, paper, ceramics and building materials conglomerate Poulina Group Holding (PGH) plans to raise co-generation capacity to 50MW by 2011, executives told African Energy in Tunis. more
MOROCCO
Step-change in wind capacity
In the clearest sign yet of wind’s potential to meet large-scale power needs, Morocco’s renewables-friendly government has set a target of 2,000MW installed wind power capacity by 2020. more
EGYPT
USTDA funds Taqa CSP study
Taqa Arabia is inviting proposals from US companies for a feasibility study of its proposed concentrated solar power plant. more
EEHC seeks bids for smart metering study
Egyptian Electricity Holding Company is inviting US firms to bid to conduct a feasibility study for a smart metering project to improve the distribution of electricity networks. more
ETHIOPIA
Exports to Sudan to start in September
Improved rains have boosted reservoir levels and, once repairs to the Gilgel Gibe II power plant are completed, Ethiopia plans to start exporting power to Sudan via a new interconnection. more
GHANA
Ghana deal in balance as government stays firm on Kosmos sale
Ghana says it has secured sufficient funds to buy Kosmos Energy’s stake in the Jubilee field for itself, which would enable it to sell the stake on to the bidder of its choice, writeThaliaGriffithsandKevin Godier more
MAURITANIA
Donor deal opens way for bigger projects in Mauritania
A growing number of industry executives are making their way to previously unfashionable Nouakchott as rising demand for electricity is driving a push for more generation capacity. more
Financing structure for Ruzizi III comes into view
The politically complex redevelopment of the Ruzizi River cascade’s power schemes seems finally to be taking shape, writesDavid Slater more
DR CONGO / RWANDA
Projects line up for Kivu gas
Several projects are lining up technology partners and financiers in a move to generate electricity and stabilise Lake Kivu’s volatile methane gas. At the annual Africa Energy Forum’s AfricaGas session, held in Basel on 30 June, the following were discussed: more
GABON
Government pushes HEP, gas generation
Gabon is using only a fraction of its 6,000MW hydroelectric potential and is planning to raise finance to raise national generation capacity from 374MW to 1,000MW by 2016 and 5,000MW by 2020, according to energy and water resources minister Régis Immongault. more
ETHIOPIA
World Bank approves loan as supply improves
The World Bank has approved a soft International Development Association credit of $180m in additional financing for the Energy Access project to help the government to provide adequate and cost-effective electricity supply and scale up electricity coverage and access. more
Buchanan Renewables Fuel and two new Swedish co-investors are setting up a scheme to convert old rubber trees to woodchip for fuel to fire a 36MW power plant in Monrovia, as well as for export, writes Kevin Godier more
ALDWYCH
Industry veteran Tarnoy becomes MD
Power developer Aldwych International has named Helen Tarnoy as managing director to succeed Mark Fitzpatrick. more
ALGERIA
Government bails out Sonelgaz
The government has stepped in to ease state utility Sonelgaz Holding’s financial troubles by buying an AD200bn ($2.62bn) overdraft. more
TOGO
IFC boosts ContourGlobal with equity contribution to Togo project
The World Bank Group’s International Finance Association on 28 June announced it was taking an equity interest in US-based ContourGlobal’s Togo venture, which has a 25-year concession to develop, build and operate a 100MW thermal power plant in Lomé, backed by a power purchase agreement with state utility Compagnie d’Energie Electrique du Togo (Ceet). more
TANZANIA
Tanzania emerges as a diversified gas play
With Songas planning a major expansion of its domestic gas-to-power operation, BG assessing the potential of its Ophir farm-in and several other deals in the works, Tanzania’s gas industry is becoming an emerging force in East Africa. Critical questions now revolve around the extent of upstream reserves and the ability of regulatory structures and other local issues to support a bigger industry, writes Jon Marks more
MALAWI / MOZAMBIQUE
Lacking trust, Malawi pulls out of Moz link
A lack of trust between neighbours seems to have put in jeopardy what looked like a desirable cross-border transmission scheme in southern Africa, linking Malawi – which, with Tanzania, is the only Southern Africa Power Pool member not connected to its neighbours – to Mozambique. more
GHANA
Tema thermal plant nears financial close as Ghana struggles with its gas policy
Financial close for the Gecad venture’s 126MW thermal plant at Tema is expected by the end of July, with commissioning envisaged for May 2011, developer Aldwych International’s project director Christian Wright told the Africa Energy Forum (AEF) in Basel on 30 June. more
Issue 189 - 25 June 2010
NIGERIA
Nigeria gets new supply ‘template’ as government sees way towards fuelling gas-to-power boom
Two new committees to spearhead and monitor reform and efforts to unify contracts reveal the president’s focus on achieving stable power supply more
GUINEA
Big projects line up but government stalls
With potentially difficult elections beckoning as African Energy went to press, progress on an impressive roster of potential hydroelectric projects remains subject to Guinea’s volatile politics. more
MAP: Guinea's actual and planned hydroelectric capacity more
LIBERIA/REGION
EoIs out for Mount Coffee
An international call for expressions of interest (EoIs) has been issued for work to prepare for the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant project. more
TUNISIA
Three bids for Bizerte IPP
The Ministry of Industry, Energy and Small and Medium Enterprises has received three bids to build the planned Bizerte independent power project. more
KENYA
AfDB approves $32.5m loan
The African Development Bank has approved a supplementary loan of $32.5m to Kenya under the African Development Fund (AfDF) concessional window. more
ZAMBIA
CEC plans more capacity, DRC role
Faced with a rise in demand from Zambia’s mining sector, Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) is looking to expand its generation capacity. more
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