Page 14 - AfrElec Week 11 2021

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Nigeria’s AllBase plans to on notice as arrears from its post-paid more than three months.
customers mount.
According to the utility firm, payment is
expand solar to Angola Power said that customers who will not enforced by way of disconnection if bills are
In a notice sent to newsrooms, Kenya
not settled within 21 days of billing.
Nigeria’s AllBase Energy is planning to deploy have paid their outstanding bills by the date
its solar power distribution system to Angola when the bill is due will have their supply of
in the third quarter as part of its African electricity disconnected immediately.
expansion plan, CEO Kunle Odebunmi said. “The customer will thereafter be required SOL AR
The company has people on the ground to pay the requisite re-connection fees for
in Angola developing strategy and plans a their accounts to be reinstated” the notice read Zambia’s GreenCo Power
funding round for “several million dollars” in part.
in the second quarter. This will pay for Kenya Power in addition warned launches tender for 40MW
the Angolan entry as well as to increase customers against self-reconnection since it
penetration into the Nigerian market, is an offence that attracts a minimum fine of of solar
Odebunmi said, according to the Africa Ksh 1mn and/or a jail term of not less than
Report. one year. GreenCo Power Services, a subsidiary of
The company will seek equity funding in “Customers may also reach the Company Africa GreenCo Group, is launching the
the coming round and is likely to shift to a through Facebook or Twitter or by visiting pre-qualification process for the selection
mixture of debt and equity in future rounds. any of the Company’s offices countrywide,” of an independent power producer (IPP) in
The size of the potential market in Angola Kenya Power added. Zambia. The company selected at the end
is the “sweetener” that puts it at the top of the According to the company’s annual report of the process will build a solar photovoltaic
list, Odebunmi says. Rapid growth in demand covering the year to June 2019, expected power plant with a capacity ranging from 10
is in prospect: the country’s objective is to flows from outstanding electricity arrears to 40 MW. Interested IPPs have until March
achieve a 60% electrification rate by 2025, (electricity receivables) stood at Ksh.23.6bn 21, 2021 to apply.
with renewables accounting for more than from Ksh.22.2bn in June 2018 indicating a GreenCo Power Services is starting a
7.5% of the mix. Even if it meets that target, steady rise in the arrears. pilot project under Zambia’s new electricity
40% of the population will still need access to According to the company’s annual report generation and marketing legislation. Africa
electricity. covering the year to June 2019, expected GreenCo’s subsidiary has been given the
flows from outstanding electricity arrears go-ahead by the authorities to play a major
(electricity receivables) stood at Ksh.23.6bn role in Zambia’s electricity sector, along with
from Ksh.22.2bn in June 2018 indicating a the state-owned Zambia Electricity Supply
SUPPLY steady rise in the arrears. Corporation (ZESCO).
From the pool of receivables, the company Unlike ZESCO, which distributes
Kenya Power threatens to elected to impair Ksh 12.3bn from Ksh 9.7bn electricity to households, GreenCo will sell
its output to industrial and commercial
indicating heightened concerns and risks for
cut off non-payers the non-recovery of bills. customers. As part of its pilot project, the
company will build a solar photovoltaic plant
The bulk of arrears at Ksh 11.4bn
Kenya Power has put electricity bill defaulters represented bills that have gone unpaid for with a capacity of between 10 and 40 MW. The

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