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rationalise electricity use, enabling consumers greener growth on the [African] continent,” for the implementation of a solar project
to keep track of their energy consumption, the the group wrote on its official website. to produce 70MWp of electricity from 16
IFC added. The report comes as Africa works to close photovoltaic solar power plants.
The IFC is a sister organisation of the its electricity access gap. Currently 650 million The results of the call for tenders for the
World Bank and member of the World Bank Africans, over two-thirds of the continent’s development of a solar project have just been
Group. It is the largest global development population, still lack access to reliable published by the government in Tunisia. The
institution focused on the private sector in electricity. objective of this project is to inject 70MWp
developing countries. The energy infrastructure deficit is a into the Tunisian national electricity grid
serious challenge to Africa’s development, said through the construction of 16 new solar
AfDB, adding that electricity shortages cost power plants in the country. At least six solar
between 2% and 4% of Africa’s GDP annually, power plants with a capacity of 10MWp each
COAL “greatly affecting prospects for economic will be built, as well as 10 installations of
growth, job creation, and investment.” 1MWp.
Ncondezi Energy says challenge. The North African country aims Ajim Djerba, Sidi Bouzid, Tataouine,
Morocco is making strides to address this
The 1MWp facilities will be built in
progress delayed in to source 52% of its energy from renewables Gabès, Kairouan and Médenine. Several
by 2030. Morocco is continuing efforts to
companies have thus been chosen to carry
Mozambique diversify its energy mix and ramp up its green out this project. This is the case of the French
company Akuo Energy, which joined forces
energy production by expanding its wind,
Ncondezi Energy said progress had been hydraulic, and solar infrastructure. with HBG Holding and Nour Energy to install
delayed on the development of its flagship Morocco announced in 2018 it sourced a solar farm in Gabes in the south-east of the
coal-fired power project and coal mine in 35% of the country’s electricity from country. The Tunisian government has also
Tete, Mozambique. renewable sources, aiming to reach 45% by chosen the consortium formed by Hatem
The delay came after discussions with state the end of 2020. Mabrouk and Bot Energy to build a solar
power company EDM indicated that available The country is widely recognised as a power plant in Médenine, again in the south-
technical and market assumptions for a tariff renewables leader not only in Africa, but east of Tunisia.
agreement were out of date. worldwide. The 2019 Climate Change The Tunisian authorities have entrusted
New independent studies were expected Performance Index (CCPI) ranked Morocco Ecodelta with the construction of a solar
to add at least two months to the project second globally and first in Africa and the farm in Médenine. Developed within the
development programme, moving a tariff MENA region. The evaluation considers the framework of public-private partnerships
agreement into the second half of 2020. criteria of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, (PPP), the construction of each of the six
‘Based on this, the company has renewable energy, energy use, and climate 10MWp photovoltaic solar power stations will
submitted an updated work programme to policy. require an investment of between 18.3 million
EDM for review and will provide a more and 23.7 million Tunisian dinars. As for the
detailed timetable update to investors at the 1MWp solar power plants, the construction
appropriate time,’ Ncondezi Energy said. of each plant will require an investment of
Construction contracts, meanwhile, were SOL AR between 2.4 million and 3.4 million Tunisian
expected to be signed in the third quarter of dinars.
2020. SolarIPPs to produce 70MW

in Tunisia Kenya’s largest dairy

SOL AR The Tunisian government has just selected producer wants to buy solar
several independent power producers (IPPs)
Morocco’s NOOR Solar

Projects Support Africa’s

Energy Transition

Morocco is playing an important role in
Africa’s energy transition with the Noor
Ouarzazate solar omplex, according to a
June 18 report by African Development
Bank (AfDB) Group. The complex, southeast
of Marrakech, is the largest concentrated
solar power (CSP) plant in the world and its
development benefited from $485 million in
AfDB funding.
The project provides Moroccans with
energy while preserving the environment,
helping to lay the foundation for AfDB’s
strategic priority of “more inclusive and

P12 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 25 25•June•2020