Friday, 10 July

Dear <<First Name>>

It's great to see that the Kariba Dam is operating near capacity again. The drought has put Southern African power supply under considerable strain, but the upside is that it has prompted action in diversifying the energy mix as an important adaptation measure. With climate change continuing to accelerate, it's critical that we don't lose momentum in this diversification effort - despite the difficulties in the local environment - so that Zambia and Zimbabwe are less exposed to the impact of the next drought.

Of course, it also remains important to continue to accelerate renewable energy development in other regions.  In that context it's great to see the Marco Borero solar project received its final development licence this week with financial close expected soon. With mounting evidence that local clean energy developers are being overlooked by investors in favour of foreign-owned companies, I am humbled by the indomitable spirit and determination shown by first-time Kenyan developers, Henry Maina Kanyua and Faith Nzilani Maingi, in overcoming the myriad obstacles they have faced in getting the project to this point and am proud of Camco and REPP's role in helping them.

Henry and Faith's achievement marks a notable win for the sector, and sets up a brilliant competitive dynamic for the "first operating solar PV project in Kenya" title.  

Cheers

Geoff

Managing Director, Camco Clean Energy

West Africa

Burkina Faso: Government launches ‘solar cluster’ plan (PV-Magazine)
- Aim is to establish a local PV and energy efficiency industry with help from the GCF. 

The Gambia: IDA provides US$43 million to electricity modernisation programme (Afrik21)
- The Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernisation Programme (GERMP) aims to increase capacity and efficiency.

Sierra Leone: Battery rental project delivers affordable energy (ESI)
- Mobile Power and University of Sheffield have developed pay-per-charge smart battery packs.

Southern Africa

South Africa: ArcelorMittal SA is seeking a partner for two projects totalling 110MW (PV-Tech)
- IPP partner will build, own and operate facilities at AMSA Vanderbijlpark Headquarters.

Zimbabwe: IPP Centragrid to add 25MW of capacity by October 2021 (Afrik21)
- Nine new 2.5MW grid-connected PV facilities to be built at a cost of US$30 million.

Zimbabwe: Kariba hydro plant operating at near-full capacity after lengthy drought (Bloomberg)
- Recent inflows into Lake Kariba have resulted in increased reservoir levels.

East Africa

DRC: Equatorial power to install a 29.7kW mini-grid with 88kWh of battery storage (Energy Mix Report)
- The solar system on Idjwi island will be fully installed in a 20-foot container.

Kenya: New report analyses impact investors' blind spot (WRI)
- Report indicates local clean energy developers are being shunned in favour of foreign-owned companies.

Africa - general

East Africa: GERD is changing power dynamics in the horn of Africa (FT)
- Major powers have been using their weight to gain influence in the strategically important region.

General: Mini-grids can help achieve Sustainable Development Goal on energy access (PV-Tech)
- New reports claims mini-grids can expand access where costs prohibit main grid expansion.

General: World Bank approves infrastructure financing in Eastern and Southern African (ESI)
- US$425 million IDA financing approved and will be used in the Regional Infrastructure Financing Facility project (RIFF).

Rest of World

EU: Clean technology projects line up for US$1 billion EU support package (Reuters)
- EU Innovation Fund will help with the green recovery.

General: Transition from coal to clean energy is within reach (ESI)
- Report indicates that coal can be phased out by 2022 with net savings to society.

Currencies