Page 13 - AfrElec Week 02

AfrElec
NEWS IN BRIEF
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finance this technical assistance. Ruzizi IV meets the goal shared by
Burundi, DRC and Rwanda to optimise exploitation of their energy resources by integrating electricity generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure.
The project falls within the overall regional energy market framework being developed by the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Programme (NELSAP) and the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP).
SOLAR
ADFD commits $33mn to West Africa
The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD)has signed three loan agreements valued worth $33mn with the governments of Togo, Niger and Liberia to develop solar project.
The agreements were signed in Abu Dhabi during the 10th Session of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly.
The capital is to be channelled into three renewable energy projects in the West African nations within the framework of the IRENA/ ADFD Project Facility.
$10mn has been allocated for the 2.1 MW solar rural electrification project that will benefit 100 villages in Niger.
A second allocation of $8mn is to finance the 2.1 MW River Gee mini-hydro project in Liberia, while $15mn has been earmarked for the 30 MW Blitta solar PV project in Togo.
Speaking about the alternative energy projects, ADFD director general Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi said: “ADFD is delighted to support the Governments of Togo, Niger and Liberia in achieving their national priorities and to advance clean energy alternatives that align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.”
He added: “Benefiting more than 750,000 households, the three renewable energy ventures will help stimulate long-term economic growth, create job opportunities, enhance climate resilience, and ensure electricity access in small villages located far from centralised power grids.”
Togo issues solar tender
The Togolese Agency for Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy has issued a request for pre-qualification to select bidders to develop and construct 60-80MW of solar capacity at two plants in the country 80 MW.
The tender is part of the World Bank’s
Scaling Solar initiative and will support the Togolese government’s efforts to build grid- scale PV plants at Kpalassi, near Awandjélo in the Kara region, and at Salimdè, near Sokodé in the central region. Developers have until March 30 to pre-qualify for the tender.
Togo’s rural electrification and renewable energy agency (AT2ER) said that the tender was for a private-public partnership, and that a 25-year concession for both plants was on offer.
Togo joined the Scaling Solar initiative in July. The programme is a “one-stop shop” which supports privately financed, grid- connected solar sites by helping with project development and legal, regulatory and technical analysis.
The planned PV projects would be the first utility scale solar facilities in Togo, where solar is so far only used in micro-grids that promote rural electrification.
International Renewable Energy Agency figures show the African country had only 3 MW of installed PV generation capacity at the end of 2018.
The access to power rate in Togo is 28%, and far lower in rural areas, while the country of 7.5mn people experiences frequent energy shortages as the near non-existant grid system fails to meet demand.
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