Friday, 7 January

Dear <<First Name>>

Happy New Year! It’s been a few weeks since our last proper energy news update, so I hope you will enjoy this bumper edition covering the biggest developments that have happened since then. 

We were delighted to make a fairly major announcement of our own yesterday with the news that Camco-managed REPP has signed a ~USD4.7 million equity and senior debt deal with Lesotho-based renewable energy startup OnePower, alongside an equal investment from EU-funded EDFI ElectriFI. 

The investment follows the successful completion of a pilot mini-grid project in the village of Ha Makebe – also funded by REPP – and will pave the way for a further 10 mini-grids that, once built, will provide clean energy access to approx. 20,000 people and seven health clinics in rural Lesotho. With a total generating capacity of 1.8MW it is certainly not the largest project supported by REPP, but given that Lesotho is one of the least electrified countries in the world – with an electrification rate in rural areas of less than 20% - the project is expected to have a truly transformational impact on the rural communities it serves. 

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks and congratulations to Matthew Orosz and the OnePower team, to the Camco deal team of Jonty Levin, Rafikh Ismail, Alec Joubert and Aili Judström, and to everyone else who has worked so tirelessly to get the project to financial close. 

Cheers

Geoff Sinclair

Managing Director, Camco Clean Energy

West Africa

Ghana: Ram Charan Company and Masri Company sign USD2.2 billion deal (EconomicTimes)
- The waste-to-energy venture is expected to generate 300MW of power.

Nigeria: Clean energy start-ups receive USD10,000 grant (Afrik21)
- Shell has awarded grant funding to seven companies as part of the 2021 Enterprise Development Program.

Nigeria: USD1.3 billion to be invested in hydroelectric power station (ESI-Africa)
- The 700MW Zungeru project will be commissioned in four phases in 2022.

Rwanda: 10,000 families to receive solar home systems (NewTimes)
- The initiative, launched by the Rwanda Development Bank, aims to support some of the countries most vulnerable people. 

East Africa

Kenya: 50% tax allowance granted to mini-grid power producers (BusinessDailyAfrica)
- The tax cut aims to boost growth of small-scale plants in order to increase competition in the market and reduce electricity prices.

Tanzania: President Samia revises electricity connection fee (AllAfrica)
- The initial fee of 27000/- has been changed to 177,000/- for new electricity customers in rural and peri-urban areas.

Uganda: 60 villages in Kayunga district to be connected to electricity (ConstructionReviewOnline)
- The project will be constructed by Megger Technical Services, managed by UEGCL and the Rural Electrification Programme in the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development.

Zambia: Country signs five-year deal with the US government to increase energy access (ESI)
- The deal is expected to spur economic development in the country by providing reliable and affordable electricity to rural areas.

Southern Africa

Namibia: Tender issued for concentrated solar power and storage project (AfricanReview)
- The tender, launched by NamPower, is expected to raise up to USD1 billion.

South Africa: Africa Energy Indaba 2022 to be held in Cape Town (Afrik21)
- The 14th edition of the conference will be dedicated to the clean energy transition.

South Africa: Contracts awarded for 25 new renewables projects (AfricaNews)
- The government has awarded contracts worth a total of USD2.8 billion with the aim of reducing the country's heavy reliance on coal. 

Zimbabwe: Impala Platinum invests USD201 million in Zimplats project (ConstructionReviewOnline)
- The project involves the construction of two 185 MWp solar PV facilities. 

Zimbabwe: Work begins on a new transmission line for Bulawayo (ConstructionReviewOnline)
- The 360km line will run from Hwange Thermal Power Station to Bulawayo’s Insukamini Substation.

Africa - general

Africa: Shell Foundation investes in Nithio FI (Afrik21)
- The Nithio FI investment vehicle aims to provide electricity access to 3.5 million people by 2025 and to support the development of renewable energy based on artificial intelligence.

Algeria: Government launches 1GW solar tender (PV-Magazine)
- IPP’s have until April 30th 2022 to submit their bids and selected projects will be awarded a 25-year PPA.

Egypt: UAE-based company invests USD1 billion in renewables (RenewablesNow)
- Al Nowais has invested in two solar and wind projects, with a combined capacity of 1GW

Nigeria/Morocco: Joint solar energy project being developed in Jigawa state (ConstructionReviewOnline)
- The project is expected to improve power generation in Nigeria, especially in Zamfara, Jigawa, Katsina and Yobe states.

Rest of World

Germany: Three managers appointed for new clean energy foundation (Afrik21)
- The newly established Foundation for Clean Energy and Energy Inclusion in Africa aims to finance electrification through green mini-grids

UK: Biggest ever renewable energy support scheme opens (OffshoreWind.Biz)
- The fourth round of the Contracts for Difference scheme will give British renewable energy providers access to GBP285 million of funding.

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