East Africa: Proposed steel plant for renewed Industrial growth

 The plant, which will have the capacity to produce 157,000 tonnes of steel products each year, is expected to go a long way in providing affordable raw materials for the country’s growing construction industry. Top Steel Kenya Limited is the company behind the plans for setting up the multi-billion shilling facility in Mwavumbo area of Kwale County and is in the process of seeking approval from relevant regulators. According to regulatory filings by Top Steel Kenya Ltd,.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 7th January 2015

East Africa & South Korea discuss bilateral ties

 President Paul Kagame and his South Korean counterpart Park Geun-hye yesterday held talks focusing on fostering bilateral relations between the two countries.   The meeting at the South Korean leader’s residence in Busan marked the end of Kagame’s two-day visit to the East Asian country.   By tapping into South Korea's transformation from a developing nation to among the top 20 economies in the world, the two presidents, in a closed-door session, discussed.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 7th January 2015

Tanzanian cement output expected to double

Tanzania expects to double its cement output over the next few years according to a report by the Daily News. The news agency reported that Tanzanian Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade, Janet Mbene expects the country’s annual cement production to rise to 6 million tonnes with the future opening of seven new factories. According to the article cement consumption is viewed as a barometer for construction activity, which is one of the main drivers of economic growth in the.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 6th January 2015

Tanzania: 45 Villages in Mara to Get Electricity

Musoma — AS part of the government's rural electrification plan, a total of 45 villages in Mara Region will be connected to power through the Rural Energy Agency (REA), it has been announced. The announcement was made by the Minister of Energy and Minerals, Prof Sospeter Muhongo, who is on a six-day tour of the region to inspect implementation of the second phase of rural electrification projects undertaken by REA and Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco). Prof Muhongo.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 6th January 2015

Kenya: Rwanda to import 30MW from Kenya in 2015

Kenya is to begin exporting 30MW of power to Rwanda via Uganda by July 2015, Kenya Power announced on 10 December, following the signing of a wheeling agreement with Uganda Electricity Transmission Company and Rwanda Energy Group (REG), and a power purchase agreement between REG and Kenya Power. Under the agreements, REG will pay Kenya Power $0.12/kWh for the electricity, while UETCL will levy $0.028/kWh as a wheeling charge..... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 6th January 2015

Solar Capital Wins R13b Energy Deal

Cape Town renewable energy company Solar Capital won a R13 billion South African energy deal to supply the South African energy grid with electricity generated from a 75 megawatt photovoltaic solar farm being developed in the Northern Cape. The deal was signed this week with the Department of Energy and Eskom and is the largest solar bid allocation in round 1 of the Department of Energy’s renewable energy independent power producer procurement program me.   Founder and.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 6th January 2015

South Africa solar booming as REIPPPP comes under scrutiny

The completion of South Africa’s latest utility PV power plant has coincided with new figures showing an “exponential” rise in the contribution solar is now making to the country’s grid. As Spain’s Acciona Energía announced its 94.3MWp Shishen project had begun operation, the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA) this week published data revealing how solar power production has mushroomed from less than 100MWh per hour to nearly.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 6th January 2015

Kenya Power receives Shs.17 billion loan

National electricity distributor, Kenya Power, has contracted a USD190 million (Shs.17 billion) long-term loan from the Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) to implement infrastructural development projects. Kenya Power’s Managing Director and CEO, Dr. Ben Chumo, said SCB emerged successful in an exercise carried out by the Company towards the end of last year through an Expression of Interest involving local and international financial institutions for debt tenors of between seven.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 6th January 2015

Kenya Power to sell electricity to Rwanda

  Kenya Power has entered into an agreement to sell 30MW of power to Rwanda. Kenya Power, Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Ltd (UETCL) and Rwanda Energy Group Limited (REG) have completed negotiations to facilitate the trade. The sale, expected to commence by July 2015, will be effected through the three entities’ already interconnected transmission grid, following the signing of a wheeling agreement between Kenya Power, UETCL, and REG on the one hand, and a.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 6th January 2015

South Africa tenders for coal-fired power plants

 South Africa for bidders to submit proposals to build coal-fired power plants as part of a string of initiatives launched this week aimed at ending chronic electricity shortages. Bidders will need to pay a nonrefundable R200 000 rand ($17 000) fee when they submit proposals to build, operate and maintain the new coal plants, according to a tender notice posted in national newspapers. The government will give the winners a power purchase agreement with struggling state utility.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 6th January 2015

Solar IPP gears up for construction of 86 MW Prieska plant

Independent power producer (IPP) Sonnedix, which reached financial close in December on a 86 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project near the Northern Cape town of Prieska, expects to begin site mobilisation during the second quarter of 2015 and for the plant to enter commercial operations by the third quarter of 2016. The project was among a group of 15 solar and wind projects to reach financial close under the third bid window of South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 6th January 2015

Ethiopia s Gilgel Gibe Power Project To Kick Off In June

 Ethiopia’s Gilgel Gibe dam  project should be up and running by June this year, this is according to Azeb Asnake, CEO Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation.   The project will be carried out along Ethiopia’s Omo River and is worth $1.8 billion. Gilgel Gibe project has began in 2008 and was to be fully functional three years later but it was delayed due to lack of funding as well as environmental issues; but it will be fully functional by next year. With.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 6th January 2015