Page 15 - AfrElec Week 27 2021
P. 15
AfrElec NEWS IN BRIEF AfrElec
Egypt is keen to diversify its sources of energy
production. It aims to optimise the use of
its natural resources and renewable energy
opportunities.
El Molla noted that the rapid signing
demonstrated the drive from political leaders
to establish Egypt’s position in hydrogen.
Support for hydrogen goes all the way to the
president, he said.
had approved projects by independent power Development Mechanism projects which can
producers (IPPs) for 66.6 MW. generate CERs with the potential to produce OUTPUT
Zimbabwe’s installed capacity is expected 1.5mn tonnes of carbon equivalent per year.
to increase by 66.6 MW by the end of the year. Its latest CERs under the United Nations Nigerian generators left idle
That is according to Edington Mazambani, Framework Convention on Climate Change
the chief executive of the Zimbabwe Energy (UNFCCC) are from its 105 MW Olkaria II Nigeria’s Association of Power Generation
Regulatory Authority (Zera), which has geothermal power station. Companies (APGC) has disclosed that only
granted concessions for the construction of “550,981 tonnes of CO2e has already been 25 of the 160 GenCos licensed by the Nigerian
seven solar photovoltaic plants scheduled to issued by the UNFCCC and are now available Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)
begin commercial operation in 2021. for sale,” KenGen said in a statement. are currently operating.
With an expected capacity of 25 MW, The East African nation’s biggest electricity This was disclosed by Dr. Joy Ogaji,
the largest solar plant is being built at producer has an installed generation capacity Executive Secretary of the association on
Chidobe-Mizpah in the Hwange district of of 1,818 MW, of which it says 86% is from Wednesday, at the Nigeria Oil and Gas
Matebeleland North province. The clean renewable wind, hydroelectric and geothermal (NOG) Conference and Exhibition in Abuja,
energy project is being developed by Power sources. according to the News Agency of Nigeria.
Ventures, which will operate the concession Ogaji also added that the current demand
for 25 years. In Seke, Mashonaland East for Nigeria’s energy according to data from
Province, Harava Solar Park is installing a 20 the National Control Centre, Osogbo, shows
MWp solar power plant. Three solar PV plants HYDROGEN that Nigeria’s energy demand was about
of 5 MWp each are also under construction 28,000MW while the currently available
in Bulilimamangwe and Gwanda in Eni signs hydrogen deal power was about 6,000MW.
Matabeleland South, Hwange in Matabeleland “NERC has issued 160 licenses to
North and Guruve in Mashonaland Central. with Egypt power generation companies. Only 25 are
These projects are being developed by operational currently. The other thermal
Plum Solar, SolGas, Richaw Solar Tech, and Eni has signed a memorandum of stations are waiting on the sidelines and if
Guruve Solar Park, respectively. With the understanding (MoU) to assess the feasibility they are actively involved, we can generate
exception of Plum Solar, which will operate its of hydrogen production in Egypt. an additional 30,000MW. The 25 operational
concession for 20 years, all other independent The agreement was entered into with GenCos have an installed capacity of about
power producers will sell their output to the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company 13,000MW,” Ogaji said.
the state-owned Zimbabwe Electricity (EEHC) and the Egyptian Natural Gas She admitted that available distributed
Distribution Company (ZETDC) for 25 years. Holding Company (EGAS). capacity had fallen from 9000MW in 2020
The memorandum will allow Eni to assess to 6000MW by 2021, citing issues including
the technical and commercial feasibility of load rejection by electricity Distribution
projects for the production of hydrogen in the Companies.
RENEWABLES country. “The three hydropower plants — Kainji,
EGAS president Magdy Galal, along with Jebba, and Shiroro — with an installed
Kenya’s KenGen increases EEHC’s Gaber El-Desouky and Eni subsidiary capacity of 1,500MW were also not being
optimally utilised,” she said.
IEOC manager Marco Rotondi signed the
sale of carbon credits MoU. African Continental Free Trade Agreement
She urged that the ratification of the
The parties will conduct a study into joint
Kenya’s largest utility KenGen said its certified projects to produce green hydrogen, using (AfCFTA) has made it imperative for Nigeria
emission reduction credits (CERs) available electricity generated from renewables, and to fix its power sector to make its companies
for sale had more than doubled to over blue hydrogen, through the storage of CO2 in able to compete with their counterparts across
550,000. depleted natural gas fields. the continent.
A CER is equivalent to one tonne of CO2 The study will also analyse the potential The Federal Government insisted that the
and they are part of emission reduction efforts local market consumption of hydrogen and 5 National Integrated Power Plants (NIPPs)
under the Kyoto Protocol. export opportunities. In addition, possible put up for sale will go on as planned. This
KenGen said it had an additional 309,495 development and business schemes will be follows the determination of the government
CERs certified under United Nations evaluated to implement the selected projects. to resuscitate these power plants and put them
guidelines on climate change. The Ministry of Petroleum noted the state’s to full use for the benefit of Nigerians.
KenGen has six so-called Clean interest in entering the field with new projects.
Week 27 08•July•2021 www. NEWSBASE .com P15