Page 16 - AfrElec Week 39 2021

AfrElec NEWS IN BRIEF AfrElec

dedicated, near-constant source of flexible and Miano. Egypt and Sudan say they want a legally
predictable renewable energy. She added that the facility would conceive binding agreement, while Ethiopia says any
The project is currently making progress ideas that will change the company’s business pact should be advisory.
in gaining the requisite regulatory and and the energy sector for good.
government approvals in Morocco, according At the same time, the MD said the
to Xlinks. company had put in place measures to ensure
It is the first project from the business, that the employees and contractors working SOL AR
which has a top team consisting of Simon on the project were safe and observing the
Morrish, founder of Levitate Capital as CEO, laid-down protocols for COVID-19. Sun Africa seals solar deal
Paddy Padmanathan, president and CEO of The KenGen CEO thanked the local
independent power producer ACWA Power community for continuous support over in Angola
as vice chair and Sir Dave Lewis, former CEO the years noting that the project had so far
of UK supermarket chain Tesco, as executive benefited the local community through An agreement was recently signed between
chair. In Morocco, Xlinks is chaired by Dayae provision of employment for skilled, and the Angolan government and Sun Africa. The
Oudghiri. semi-skilled workforce. U.S. Company will provide drinking water
As part of the project, four 3,800km high- and install solar power systems in several
voltage direct current (HVDC) sub-sea cables localities in southern Angola. The project
are to be laid in waters skirting the coasts of will be implemented in partnership with the
Portugal, Spain and France before linking to HYDRO American company Africa Global Shaffer.
Britain’s electricity network via two 1.8GW This is one of the outcomes of the
connections in the county of Devon. Egypt’s stance on GERD roundtable discussion recently initiated by
Xlinks said that utilising the UK’s the U.S.-Angola Chamber of Commerce. The
Contracts for Difference renewable auction strengthened by UN U.S. Company Sun Africa has agreed with
scheme (CfD) would make the project a Angolan authorities for an investment of 1.5
source of revenue rather than cost, delivering Security Council statement: billion dollars in the southern part of Angola.
energy at £48 ($63.43)/MWh CfD, below the The funds will finance the installation of
government Department for Business, Energy MP drinking water supply systems in this semi-
and Industrial Strategy’s (BEIS’) central arid region. The company, which already has a
forecast for energy prices. A member of the Foreign Affairs Committee headquarters in the capital Luanda, will make
in the House of Representatives Tarek al- these investments in the southern provinces
Khouly, said that Egypt’s position on the of Cunene, Namibe, Cuando Cubango and
Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) Huíla.
R&D issue has been strengthened after the recent Sun Africa plans to raise the necessary
UN Security Council resolution. funds for its project from the U.S. Export
KenGen launches R&D statement in mid-September on the GERD Credit Agency (US Eximbank), a Washington-
The UN Security Council issued a
based financial institution that supports
centre dispute encouraging Egypt, Ethiopia and U.S. companies’ exports to various world
markets. Part of the funds will be used
Sudan to resume negotiations, under the
Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC President of the African Union to finalize for electrification, including all municipal
(KenGen) has kicked-off the construction of a binding legal agreement on filling and headquarters and major municipalities in
a Research and Development (R&D) Centre operating the dam. southern Angola.
at Tana Power Station located in Murang’a Khouly explained that Egypt has the full While very few technical details are
County, in a move to boost innovation in the right in this case. He said it demands justice available at this time regarding this project,
company. and not to harm the interests of any party, Sun Africa and its partner Africa Global
The construction of the Centre, which will with Egypt fully supporting all development Shaffer plan to achieve electrification via solar
also double up as an archive for the Company, in Africa. photovoltaic energy. After the signing of the
is expected to take 18 months to completion, He added that Egypt has also helped and contract, the period of execution of the project
making KenGen one of the first public sector participated in many development projects will be defined. The two companies already
entities in Kenya to establish such a facility. within Africa, and therefore Egypt’s position expect the project to last two years.
Speaking during the foundation stone is clear from the beginning that it is not “The electrification of Angola will be
laying ceremony, KenGen Managing against development anywhere as its many done either by conventional solutions, with
Director and CEO Rebecca Miano said the partnerships can testify. the extension of lines and the construction
project which was five weeks ahead of its Water is an existential issue for the of substations, or by using solar energy. The
implementation plan is part of KenGen’s Egypt, he said, and therefore Egypt by its United States is one of the leading countries
overall Diversification Strategy and would go commitment to international laws and in the installation of these systems, mainly in
a long way in helping the NSE-listed firm to agreements, is steadily urging the UN to remote areas, where this solution is the most
identify and implement new revenue streams assume its responsibilities in the face of available and accessible,” says João Baptista
much faster. continuous Ethiopian intransigence now Borges, the Angolan Minister of Energy and
“With this facility, KenGen employees made clear to the entire world. Water.
now have a place to carry out trials, tests, He stressed that Ethiopia must abide by
experiments and pilot new business in the international law and international norms,
context of our diversification strategy,” said and commit to a political solution.

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