Page 12 - AfrElec Week 47

AfrElec
NEWS IN BRIEF
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expand its portfolio of solar plants providing power to commercial, agricultural and industrial clients through power purchase agreements or distribution contracts.
The investment contributes to EDF Group’s goal under the CAP 2030 strategy of doubling its renewable energy capacity worldwide to 50GW net between 2015 and 2030.
KarmSolar has a 170MW portfolio of PV plant projects in operations, under construction and advanced development, which will enable the Egyptian government to reach the target of generating 42% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2035.
EDF Renewables executive vice president international operations Frederic Belloy said: “We are delighted to establish this partnership to support Karm Solar in the delivery of its innovative business model.
“This partnership is fully in line with EDF Renewables strategy to offer relevant solutions helping commercial and industrial customers achieving their low carbon ambitions through theproductionandconsumptionofa competitive renewable energy.
“This investment is also in compliance with EDF international strategy, North Africa representing a great potential for development. Following the commissioning of our 130MW solar power plants in Benban recently, it further strengthens our long-term development strategy in Egypt.”
RENEWABLES
Zambian banks encouraged to lend to off-grid projects
Stanbic Bank Zambia says financial institutions have a significant role to play in helping households as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) overcome the country’s electricity crisis by financing projects for alternative power.
The crunch has resulted in power cuts often lasting over half a day and hurting business operations. Zambia’s government is working on constructing new power plants and importing extra power from South Africa’s Eskom -- itself struggling to meet local demand -- to try and minimise the impact.
Ending the country’s power problems cannot be left to the government alone, Stanbic head of marketing Perry Siame said, calling on public and corporate entities to look into alternative sources of power to ease pressure on the national grid.
“By using alternative sources of energy, not only is the strain on the national power grid lessened, but we also shield ourselves from
the infamous load-shedding,” Siame said, urging financial institutions to facilitate this transition since going off grid even partially often required significant financial resources not readily available for SMEs.
“Stanbic is aware of the problems being faced by SMEs in terms of acquiring alternative power generators under the current climate and as Zambia’s largest bank, Stanbic has taken the initiative and is helping local entrepreneurs overcome their power problems,” he said.
The bank recently recently participated in an alternative power expo in the capital Lusaka organised by state-owned power company ZESCO where it displayed
various electricity solutions including diesel generators, solar units and power invertors it finances under its Yasha Malaiti initiative.
R E N E W A B L E S
AllianceAfricaseeksnodto set up solar plant
Zimbabwean independent power producer (IPP) Alliance Africa Energy has submitted
an application for licencing to set up a solar power project with a generating capacity of 75MW. This comes at a time Zimbabwe has been facing power shortages mainly due
to low rainfall received during the 2018/19 rainy season which was not sufficient to fully support generation at the Kariba Hydro- Power Station.
Zimbabwe has since liberalised its energy sector to help promote the participation of private capital in energy generation to boost power supply.
In a notice, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) announced that it had received an application from Alliance Africa and that the applicant intended to
sell the power to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC).
Zimbabwe’s power demand averages 1,400MW per day, but the country only generates around 1 200MW, relying on imports from South Africa, Mozambique andtheDemocraticRepublicofCongoto supplement local supplies.
According to Zera chief executive officer Eddington Mazambani, a lot of IPPs have been failing to take off owing to the perceived country risk which makes it difficult for them to secure funding for their projects.
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Week 47 28•November•2019