Page 12 - AfrElec Week 35

AfrElec
NEWS IN BRIEF
AfrElec
largely on aging, heavily polluting coal- red power stations but does not generate enough cash to meet its debt servicing costs.
It is also responsible for at least a third of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Installing the technology needed to reduce carbon and sulphur emissions would cost 10 times the ZAR26bn ($1.7bn) the Treasury has earmarked for Eskom in the nancial year ending in March 2020, part of a ZAR59bn ($3.8bn) two-year package.
at package is on top of a ZAR23bn ($1.5bn) a year bailout for the next three years.
“If we were to press a button today and solve all emissions troubles, it would cost us ZAR300bn ($19.7bn). But as you know we do not have money,” Eskom’s acting Chief Executive and chairman Jabu Mabuza said.
Windlab, Eurus Energy to
develop 80MW solar hybrid
project in Kenya
Authorities in Kenya’s Meru County have signed a memorandum of understanding with global renewable energy developers Windlab and Eurus Energy to develop an 80MW hybrid power project valued at KES15bn ($2.9bn).
e wind, solar PV and battery storage project dubbed Meru County Energy Park will consist of 20 wind turbines and more than
40,000 solar panels with ability to serve over 200,000 homes.
e MoU for the project was signed at the 7th Tokyo International Conference
on African Development (TICAD) in the presence of Kenya’s Foreign A airs Secretary Monica Juma and Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Construction is expected to start in 2021 as a public-private partnership deal between Meru County Investment and Development Corporation (MCIDC) and the two energy rms.
Eurus Energy is Japan’s largest renewable energy independent power producer while Windlab is a publicly listed wind energy development rm headquartered in Australia.
MCIDC acting managing director Samwel Odhiambo said the MoU will help fast-track delivery of the project and allow locals to tap into the associated bene ts.
“Signing the MoU here in Japan is a major milestone for the project. We are looking forward to hosting Africa’s rst hybrid renewable energy facility in our county,” said Odhiambo.
Nigeria drives forward solar hybrid at universities
Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has inaugurated a 7.1MW solar hybrid power plant in Bayero University Kano (BUK), to ensure sustainability in power supply.
He said that similar projects are being implemented in 37 Federal Universities and seven University Teaching Hospitals across the country.
e project in BUK will provide electricity for about 55,815 students and 3,077 sta of the university.
Osinbajo explained that the project would also empower the girl child and provide job opportunities, which was one of the major focus of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Rural Electri cation Agency (REA) managing director Damilola Ogunbiyi said the Energising Education Programme, (EEP), a Federal Government initiative under REA was aimed at developing o grid capacity power solutions.
She added that the EEP would provide street lighting for illumination and safety, as well as a world class renewable workshop and training centre for each of the EEP bene ciary universities.
Phase one of the EEP consists of nine Federal Universities and one teaching hospital across the six geo-political zones.
Ogunbiyi further explained that the projects would also power 2,850 street lights that would result in the decommissioning of hundreds of generators.
“While subsequent phases are to be funded by the Nigerian Electri cation Project which is also a Federal Government project administered by the REA in partnership with the World Bank and African Development Bank, she said.
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Week 35 04•September•2019