Page 14 - AfrElec Week 09 2021
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AfrElec NEWS IN BRIEF AfrElec
built on the right bank of the Lulua River, a update for Lesedi power will run from the Lesedi project to the town
sub-tributary of the Congo River. According of Serowe where it will connect to the existing
to the DR Congolese government, before New project power grid. Initial generation is proposed to
Delhi decided to stop construction, work was be up to 2MW of electricity. Funding required
already 55% complete for the civil engineering Tlou Energy has announced update on for phase one is ~USD $10m which can be
part. According to the government, 75% of funding for development of the Lesedi power staged if necessary or prudent to do so.
the power station’s electrical equipment has project, aiming to deliver cleaner electricity in Phase two funding is for the expansion
already been acquired. Botswana and southern Africa using gas and of electricity generation up to 10MW.
This equipment is not installed on the site. solar power. This will involve drilling gas wells and the
As for the electrical transformers acquired Tlou Energy has been working with a purchase of additional electricity generation
at a cost of $109 million, the DR Congolese number of parties to secure funding for the assets. Funding required for phase two is
government has decided to store them Lesedi project. The company is seeking project approximately US$20mn. Upon successful
in several towns in the country, pending finance to build a transmission line from the completion of phase one and two, the
the restart of the project. In 4 years, the Lesedi power project to the existing electricity Company plans to expand the project beyond
construction machinery has been dismantled, grid as well as electrical sub-stations, gas and 10MW.
a situation that should complicate any solar generation assets. As expected, the company has received
resumption of work. The most advanced project finance correspondence from advisors assisting the
“We only have 25% left in terms of discussions are currently with a very reputable Government of Botswana in the execution of
equipment and 40 or 35% for the civil Botswana based entity. Due to confidentiality their Coal Bed Methane (CBM) programme
engineering works. We are going to make the company is unable to name the entity for the development of up to 100MW of CBM
another assessment because most of concerned at this time. However, we can fuelled pilot power plants.
the equipment is not on site, it is still in confirm that their investment committee
Lubumbashi,” says Eustache Muhanzi, and board have discussed and are favourably
the Ministry of Hydraulic Resources and disposed to Tlou’s proposal. They are now
Electricity of the Democratic Republic of proceeding to get a third-party technical
Congo (DRC). review of the project as part of their due
diligence process. Once this report is assessed
an investment decision can be made.
The Lesedi project is proposed to be
COAL developed in two phases. Phase one involves
transmission line construction, sub-stations,
Tlou revealed funding grid connection, electricity generators and
potentially the drilling of additional gas wells.
The approximately 100Km transmission line
P14 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 09 04•March•2021