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Showing posts with label Energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Energy. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
India, partners IRENA on G20 energy transition - NaijaAgroNet
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The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in partnership with the Indian G20 Presidency, launched a comprehensive report today on how low-cost finance can accelerate the energy transition.
Monday, April 20, 2020
AfDB commits 100% to renewable energy projects for Africa - NaijaAgroNet
The African Development Bank Group has recommitted to supporting renewable energy projects by 100 per cent on the continent, reports NaijaAgroNet.
AfDB in a refutal over alleged plans to provide financial support to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project, declared ‘renewable energy as the future” path for Africa.
The group through its Acting Director of Communication and External Relations Department, Mrs. Nafissatou Diouf, said the bank is strongly committed to renewable energies, noting that for over a decade, the bank has played a leading role in crafting policies and delivering investments that promote sustainable development practices on the continent, including climate adaptation and resilience.
“The Bank is committed to facilitating the transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient development in African countries across all its operational priority areas,” she told NaijaAgroNet in a press statement.
AfDB maintained it did not have any plan to finance the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Project, declaring that the group is for “100% renewable projects and sustainable, low-emission agriculture and infrastructure.”
The Bank, she equally said, has prioritized investment in renewables and has not invested in any coal project in the past decade as it sees renewable energy as the future.
“Since the launch of the Bank’s Strategy for the New Deal on Energy in 2016, up to 2019 renewable energy projects constitute about 85% percent on average of the Bank’s power generation investments,” she said,
Maintaining that the Bank is working closely with African countries to realize their renewable energy potential and has developed dedicated programmes and instruments to achieve this goal.
Isaac Oyimah/Editor
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Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Energy Chambers demands better fiscal terms, incentives to encourage exploration - NaijaAgroNet
The African Energy Chamber has called for sustained fiscal reforms to attract capital and technology into exploration in the continent, reports NaijaAgroNet.
The chambers in its African Energy Outlook 2020 available to NaijaAgroNet, showed that hundreds of blocks and acreages will be up for grab across Africa, from Senegal to Nigeria to Somalia. Competition will be fierce to attract capital from a diversifying basket of explorers now coming from North America, Europe, Russia, China, India, South East Asia and the Middle East.
In 2019, several African countries revised their legal and fiscal framework to incentivize exploration, as new world-class discoveries were yet again made on the continent. With the signing of no less than 9 PSCs in 2019 following the passing of its brand new Hydrocarbons Code, Gabon has shown that investors are ready to keep betting on Africa providing that the right legislation and framework are put in place.
In its Energy Outlook 2020, the Chamber notably stresses investors’ concerns over uncertain fiscal terms in sub-Saharan Africa, and calls on governments to find better ways to reconcile their expectations of short-term tax gains with the need for sustainable and long-term investment in exploration.
The importance of increasing exploration efforts cannot be under-estimated in Africa. The continent is the world’s hottest exploration frontier, with several discoveries made over the past few years. The world’s largest discovery this year was made off the coast of Mauritania by Kosmos Energy. It adds up to other large discoveries made this year by Noble Energy in Equatorial Guinea, or the Springfield Group in Ghana for instance.
“2020 needs to be a drilling year,” declared Nj Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber and CEO of the Centurion Law Group. “Africa has the highest exploration success rates in the world. In basins like the MSGBC, international explorers like Kosmos Energy have even had a 100 percent success rate from all their exploratory drilling,” he added. “It is up to African governments and legislators to provide the right framework to keep attracting these kind of players ready to take risks and bet on our continent’s potential.”
Promoting and supporting exploration efforts across the continent is a key goal of the Chamber in 2020, as stated in its latest outlook for the sector.
Isaac Oyimah/Editor
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The chambers in its African Energy Outlook 2020 available to NaijaAgroNet, showed that hundreds of blocks and acreages will be up for grab across Africa, from Senegal to Nigeria to Somalia. Competition will be fierce to attract capital from a diversifying basket of explorers now coming from North America, Europe, Russia, China, India, South East Asia and the Middle East.
In 2019, several African countries revised their legal and fiscal framework to incentivize exploration, as new world-class discoveries were yet again made on the continent. With the signing of no less than 9 PSCs in 2019 following the passing of its brand new Hydrocarbons Code, Gabon has shown that investors are ready to keep betting on Africa providing that the right legislation and framework are put in place.
In its Energy Outlook 2020, the Chamber notably stresses investors’ concerns over uncertain fiscal terms in sub-Saharan Africa, and calls on governments to find better ways to reconcile their expectations of short-term tax gains with the need for sustainable and long-term investment in exploration.
The importance of increasing exploration efforts cannot be under-estimated in Africa. The continent is the world’s hottest exploration frontier, with several discoveries made over the past few years. The world’s largest discovery this year was made off the coast of Mauritania by Kosmos Energy. It adds up to other large discoveries made this year by Noble Energy in Equatorial Guinea, or the Springfield Group in Ghana for instance.
“2020 needs to be a drilling year,” declared Nj Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber and CEO of the Centurion Law Group. “Africa has the highest exploration success rates in the world. In basins like the MSGBC, international explorers like Kosmos Energy have even had a 100 percent success rate from all their exploratory drilling,” he added. “It is up to African governments and legislators to provide the right framework to keep attracting these kind of players ready to take risks and bet on our continent’s potential.”
Promoting and supporting exploration efforts across the continent is a key goal of the Chamber in 2020, as stated in its latest outlook for the sector.
Isaac Oyimah/Editor
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Friday, October 11, 2019
Mantashe launches African Energy series - NaijaAgroNet
The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy of South Africa, Gwede Mantashe, has launched the Africa Energy Series: South Africa 2019 report at the Africa Oil & Power conference, reports NaijaAgroNet.
On the second day’s theme of “Energy in Powering Growth”, panel discussions and talk sessions unpacked the challenges and opportunities in Africa’s power sector; Program highlights included topics such as the energy transition, Africa’s renewable energy sector, financing the power sector and energy security.
Following the successful conclusion of the first day of the three-day African Oil &Power conference and exhibition, the second day commenced today with a focus on the future of Africa’s power sector.
The day began with a keynote address from Kholly Zono, Acting CEO of CEF Group, who introduced Hon. Gwede Mantashe, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy of South Africa.
In his introduction, Zono outlined CEF Group’ energy s strategies and shared that the CEF group is, in line with the conference theme, motivated by the goal of making energy work and, is driven by the agenda of addressing inequality, unemployment, and poverty.
He said, at the core of its strategy, the group is built on the fundamental principles of empowering people and innovation.
“The theme of the conference #MakeEnergyWork resonates very well with the CEF Group of companies, taking into account the global challenges in terms of energy requirements,” Zono said. “Making energy work is challenging us to move beyond strategies and focus on innovative approaches.”
In his keynote address, Minister Mantashe spoke about the role the energy sector plays in driving economic growth.
“South Africa recognises the energy and mineral resources sectors as catalysts to economic growth. We have witnessed how an adverse impact of high costs and unreliable supply of energy have on the productive sectors of the economy,” Mantashe stated. He further added that the government is also promoting the Integrated Resource Plan and the Amendment to the Gas Act of 2001 to encourage investment in the energy sector and to increase energy security in the continent.
Minister Mantashe also launched the Africa Energy Series: South Africa 2019 report compiled by Africa Oil & Power and dedicated it to the late Deputy Minister, Bavelile Hlongwe.
Nenye Dom/Editor
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On the second day’s theme of “Energy in Powering Growth”, panel discussions and talk sessions unpacked the challenges and opportunities in Africa’s power sector; Program highlights included topics such as the energy transition, Africa’s renewable energy sector, financing the power sector and energy security.
Following the successful conclusion of the first day of the three-day African Oil &Power conference and exhibition, the second day commenced today with a focus on the future of Africa’s power sector.
The day began with a keynote address from Kholly Zono, Acting CEO of CEF Group, who introduced Hon. Gwede Mantashe, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy of South Africa.
In his introduction, Zono outlined CEF Group’ energy s strategies and shared that the CEF group is, in line with the conference theme, motivated by the goal of making energy work and, is driven by the agenda of addressing inequality, unemployment, and poverty.
He said, at the core of its strategy, the group is built on the fundamental principles of empowering people and innovation.
“The theme of the conference #MakeEnergyWork resonates very well with the CEF Group of companies, taking into account the global challenges in terms of energy requirements,” Zono said. “Making energy work is challenging us to move beyond strategies and focus on innovative approaches.”
In his keynote address, Minister Mantashe spoke about the role the energy sector plays in driving economic growth.
“South Africa recognises the energy and mineral resources sectors as catalysts to economic growth. We have witnessed how an adverse impact of high costs and unreliable supply of energy have on the productive sectors of the economy,” Mantashe stated. He further added that the government is also promoting the Integrated Resource Plan and the Amendment to the Gas Act of 2001 to encourage investment in the energy sector and to increase energy security in the continent.
Minister Mantashe also launched the Africa Energy Series: South Africa 2019 report compiled by Africa Oil & Power and dedicated it to the late Deputy Minister, Bavelile Hlongwe.
Nenye Dom/Editor
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Tuesday, October 2, 2018
African institute graduates 3rd cohort on water, energy - NaijaAgroNet
The Pan African University Institute for Water and Energy Sciences including Climate Change (PAUWES) celebrated the third graduating class of both the engineering and policy tracks of our Masters programmes in Water and Energy, reports NaijaAgroNet.
The graduating class made up of 79 students from across the African continent, received their diplomas during a ceremony at the University of Tlemcen. The graduating students and their guests were addressed by official representatives and dignitaries from the Algerian government from across Africa and Europe, including Her Excellency Prof. Sarah Anyang Agbor, the African Union Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology (HRST), Mr. Ali Benyaiche, the Governor of the Wilaya of Tlemcen, and Her Excellency Ulrike Knotz, the German Ambassador to Algeria.
This year’s graduating students are about to constitute the next generation of engineers and policymakers committed to addressing the issues critical to Africa’s sustainable development. PAUWES graduates have not only successfully completed their coursework requirements, they have conducted practice-oriented research for their master theses that address the water, energy, and climate change challenges facing Africa and elsewhere.
Additionally, they completed international internships in the private and public sectors at renowned research institutions across Africa and beyond, gaining a transcontinental perspective of those same challenges.
During the graduation ceremony, H.E. Prof. Sarah ANYANG AGBOR said: “I would like to congratulate you on your efforts and for upholding the core values of our continent. I wish you the best in your future endeavours. As a mother, let me advise you to always remember that in real life, every day you graduate. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. So always strive to graduate in every decision or activity you make. I am proud of you, we are proud of You, Africa is proud of You!”.
The graduating cohort represents and fulfils one of the key objectives of the Pan African University (PAU) and PAUWES—which is to foster an African learning environment of the most qualified and motivated scholars while revitalising and nurturing the quality of African higher education. The Class of 2018 has students from twenty African Union member states with all regions of the African continent represented. This diverse cohort of students have had the opportunity to study, being taught by and international faculty coming from four continents. Supported by the University of Tlemcen and the key thematic partner Germany, Prof. Abdellatif Zerga, Director of PAUWES, is confident: “The students of the Class of 2018 are well positioned to become change makers in public administration, policy-making, research, technology, private enterprise, and civil society.”
The PAUWES 2018 Class Booklet showcases this year’s graduates, and PAUWES is pleased to invite future employers to meet them.
PAUWES has also just welcomed the incoming class (students from 29 countries across Africa) and is proud to announce that thanks to a number of specific measures, gender parity could be reached, which is a huge achievement within our latest cohort.
Isaac OyimahGEE
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Thursday, August 30, 2018
Off-Grid Renewable Energy Conference goes to Singapore - NaijaAgroNet
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Monday, February 19, 2018
Energy impact investor All On seals 3 off-grid investments for Niger Delta
The Nigerian
off-grid energy investment company, All On, has closed a financial deal with
three firms for accelerated access to affordable and sustainable energy sources
in the Niger Delta, reports NaijaAgroNet.
Chief Executive
Officer of All On, Dr. Boer Wiebe,
made this known to NaijaAgroNet at the weekend, saying it follows
the equity investment made in 2017 to Nigeria
Solar Home System
market leader, Lumos Global BV, in the form of a debt facility to
facilitate a quick rollout in the Niger Delta.
"All On is also providing equity
and debt to Port Harcourt based Green Village Electricity (GVE), Nigeria’s
leading mini-grid player, for expansion in the Niger
Delta and across
Nigeria, while ColdHubs is receiving a convertible debt
facility to expand its solar-powered marketplace cold storage business to new
markets in the region," Wiebe said.
These
developments, NaijaAgroNet gathered are coming barely three months after All-On announced its first
set of transactions in Nigeria’s off-grid market, and two months after the firm and U.S. Africa Development
Foundation (USADF) announced a $3 million partnership to expand access to
energy for underserved and unserved markets in
Nigeria.
“The
investments made in these energy solution providers further demonstrate our
firm belief that off-grid energy is indispensable in the improvement of
Nigeria’s energy narrative. It therefore deserves adequate attention and financial backing from both the public
and private sectors.” Dr. Boer said.
Commenting, Lumos’s CEO Davidi
Vortman, said: “This debt facility from All On both cements the strategic
relationship between our two companies and goes a long way towards
significantly accelerating the speed of penetration of Lumos Solar Home Systems
in the Niger Delta region. All On has established itself as a leader in off
grid energy in Nigeria and we are therefore excited to work with All On to
enhance energy access for Nigerians in the Niger Delta and across the country.”
ColdHubs CEO,
Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu, described the investment as a demonstration of All On’s
commitment beyond simply addressing the
access to energy gap, to harnessing innovative renewable energy solutions for the preservation of perishable foods.
“This support by All On will enable Cold Hubs to further refine its
business model to help improve the livelihoods
of people and enhance food security in the Niger Delta,” he said.
In his reaction
to the financial close, Managing Director of GVE, Ifeanyi Orajaka, said: "We
at GVE are excited about this relationship with All On. An investment from a
world-class organisation such as All On further validates our position as one of the leading
and most innovative indigenous clean energy solutions providers in Sub-Saharan Africa.”
Isaac Oyimah/GEE
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Friday, November 17, 2017
Germany backs renewable energy projects in Africa with RLSF
The German Development Bank also known as Kfw and the African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI) have on the side lines of the annual Africa Investment Exchange: Power and Renewables Meeting, unveiled a new instrument to support renewable energy projects in sub-Saharan Africa that targets small- and mid-scale up to 50 Milliwatt (MW) green power renewable energy projects, reports NaijaAgroNet.
The facility, NaijaAgroNet gathered, is designed to provide a viable solution to one of the biggest challenges facing independent power producers (IPPs) operating in Africa, specifically the requirement to provide project lenders with a liquidity guarantee. The German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW will provide funding of up to 32.9 million EUR to the facility, which aims to enable small-and mid-scale renewable energy projects in Africa to reach financial close by addressing liquidity requirements that lenders frequently require in order to fund such projects.
NaijaAgroNet reports that the launch of the new facility is happening at an opportune moment when emerging markets are seeing record investments in the renewable energy sector. The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects sub-Saharan Africa’s renewables capacity to grow by 73 per cent (24.4GW) over the period 2017-22. In addition, small-scale projects are seen as a potential solution to Africa’s energy deficit because they are easier to implement and can target energy requirements at source, but these projects find it difficult to access the type of guarantees needed to reach financial closure. The facility will kick in by providing immediate liquidity to keep the IPP afloat during periods of payment delays that are beyond the grace period provided in the power purchase agreement.
Günther Nooke, Personal Representative of the German Chancellor for Africa, BMZ, said “The Regional Liquidity Support Facility will address a key challenge in renewable energy project finance and de-risk private sector investments. We are pleased to provide the funding to this innovative instrument underlining Germany’s commitment to the objectives of the African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI).”
The RLSF is designed to help independent power producers (IPPs) developing renewable energy projects in Africa to obtain the liquidity they need in the event that their off-taker (frequently a state owned entity) delays payment. The facility will provide immediate cash collateral supported by guarantees to a commercial bank that will in turn open a standby letter of credit to the benefit of the IPP. The amount provided will enable the IPP to operate and service the debt for up to 6 months. Furthermore, unlike most IPP letters of credit (which tend to be 12 month tenors) the facility is designed to be in place for multiple years.
Dr. Thomas Duve, KfW Director Southern Africa and Regional Funds, noted “We highly appreciate the opportunity to partner with ATI on this innovative instrument. The RLSF is a strongly market-driven concept, emphasizing KfW’s strategy to support and leverage the resources of local partners and the private sector.”
The facility, in combination with ATI’s traditional suite of political and trade credit risk insurance products (in particular ATI’s arbitration award default cover), means that ATI is able to cover the full range of political and financial risks facing investors on such projects.
Speaking at the launch, John Lentaigne, ATI’s Chief Underwriting Officer commented “We are delighted to be working with the German government, represented by KfW, on an initiative that directly targets one of the main bottlenecks preventing green power projects from being financed in Africa.”
Jef Vincent, Senior Advisor to ATI, who has overall responsibility for the initial implementation of the facility, added “Unlike some of the alternative solutions to the liquidity issue, ATI’s guarantee (as provided via the RLSF) will not require a counter-guarantee from the relevant Ministry of Finance, and as such we are confident this will be a very useful tool for those projects that we expect to support.”
Isaac Oyimah with agency report/GEE
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Friday, September 29, 2017
PAUWES graduates 48 on energy, water, climate change
The Pan African University Institute for Water and Energy Sciences including Climate Change (PAUWES) celebrated the second graduating class of its both tracks of two Master programmes with 47 students from across the African continent, report NaijaAgroNet.
The graduating students, NaijaAgroNet gathered have received their diplomas during a ceremony at the University of Tlemcen.
NaijaAgroNet reports that in order to gain a transcontinental perspective of those same challenges, our students have also completed international internships in the private and public sectors at renowned research institutions cross Africa and beyond. Besides focusing on their studies, the students of the Class of 2017—with the support of PAUWES—launched the first student-lead clubs, the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Club and the Community of Practice (CoP), which have contributed to the overall sense of community and leadership that our institute strives to promote.
This cohort of graduating students, NaijaAgroNet reports, represents and fulfills one of the key objectives of the Pan African University (PAU) and PAUWES, which is to foster an African learning environment of the most qualified and motivated scholars while revitalizing and nurturing the quality of African higher education.
Not only are an array African Union member states and eleven female students represented in the Class of 2017, but this diverse cohort of students have had the opportunity to study alongside an international faculty of over 100 professors and researchers from across Africa and the world.
Supported by PAUWES, the University of Tlemcen and our key thematic partner—Germany, we are confident that students of the Class of 2017 are well positioned to become leaders in public administration, policy-making, research, technology, private enterprise, and civil society.
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Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Green energy offerings comes to Africa
The solar pioneer, Gigawatt
Global has extended its services to Africa with provision of solar street
lights in Bujumbura, Burundi, reports NaijaAgroNet.
The Chief Executive Officer, Gigawatt Global , Yosef I.
Abramowitz, made this disclosure, saying that by expanding investments from
commercial scale projects to include off-grid additionally, the company has positively
impacted lives of millions of people in Burundi and throughout Africa.
Downtown Bujumbura, he said, just got a little brighter,
thanks to an innovative partnership between Mayor Freddy Mbonimpa and Gigawatt
Global, a founding member of United States Power Africa's Beyond the Grid
programme.
Abramowitz also said that this week solar-powered ‘light
islands’ began appearing in the heavily-trafficked central bus station and
nearby marketplace, extending commercial hours and personal safety.
“The city of Bujumbura is very pleased to be working with
Gigawatt Global on this important solar street lighting project,” said Mayor
Freddy Mbonimpa. “This project will enhance security as well as provide
opportunities for economic development to the citizens of Bujumbura. It is the
hope and wish of all involved that this project can spread throughout the city,
as well as expand to other cities in Burundi within the near future.”
Gigawatt Global is now in discussions to scale the
solar-powered ‘light islands’ program throughout the city and in other major
Burundian towns.
“We are grateful and pleased to work with the city of
Bujumbura, and the Honorable Mayor Freddy Mbonimpa to realise this important
first step of the solar street lighting project,” said Michael Fichtenberg,
Managing Director of Gigawatt Global Burundi.
“We intend to expand throughout the capital and to other
locations as part of our larger program of green electrification in Burundi,
with 40 'light islands' planned in the first phase of the program,” Fichtenberg
continued.
“Every country in which we develop commercial scale solar
fields will receive additional benefits like these ‘light islands’ and rural electrification
with mini-grids.”
Gigawatt Global, which provides 100 per cent financing for
its projects, pioneered commercial scale solar power plants in sub-Sahara
Africa, launching the first one in Rwanda in 2014, which is currently supplying
6 per cent of the country's generation capacity. Gigawatt Global will complete a 7.5 Mw
solar field in the Gitega region of Burundi in the next six months, which will
supply 15% of the East African country's generation capacity. Similar projects
are currently being developed in 10 African countries, including Liberia and
South Sudan, among many others.
Isaac Oyimah/GEE
... Linking agrobiz, sustainable environs, people & technologyBujumbura Mayor and Gigawatt Global leaders Michael Fichtenberg and Nathaniel Johnson sign the solar 'Light Islands' deal
Friday, June 2, 2017
ECOWAS gets $1bn Israeli solar energy boost
An Israeli renewable energy company, Energiya Global and the
USAID Power Africa Initiative have collaborated to boost the electricity power
supply in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with some $1billion
solar commitment, reports NaijaAgroNet.
This is coming as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed
Friday between the State of Israel and ECOWAS, Israel’s leading solar developer
to invest $1 billion over the next four years to advance green energy power
projects across the 15 member states of the West African economic community.
“In honor of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s two terms in
office, and Liberia’s friendship with the State of Israel, Energiya Global and
our international partners will finance and build a commercial-scale solar
field at the Roberts International Airport, which will supply 25 per cent of
the country’s generation capacity,” says Yosef I. Abramowitz, CEO. “We are prepared to finance and build the
first National Demonstration Solar Projects in all ECOWAS-affiliated countries
in order to promote political stability and social and economic development, as
well as to advance knowledge transfer.”
Energiya Global and its associated companies developed the
first commercial scale solar field in sub-Sahara Africa in Rwanda, which is supplying
6 per cent of the country’s power, and the group broke ground on a similar
power plant in Burundi, which will supply 15 per cent of the country’s power by
the end of the year. The solar group has
fields at various stages of development in ten African countries and expects to
announce its full program at the Israel-Africa Summit in Togo at the end of
October.
In an historic first, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu is scheduled today to address the 15 West African heads of state of
ECOWAS, as well as the head of the African Union. “Israel is coming back to
Africa,” the Prime Minister will announce, and will outline the technological
innovations in agriculture, water, green energy and more that can support economic
development in West Africa.
Isaac Oyimah/GEE
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Monday, January 23, 2017
EU signs N22.086trn grant with Zambia, improves access to energy
The European Union (EU) has signed up the sum of €65 million,
about N22,086,252,500.00, grant with Zambia to improve access to energy,
reports NaijaAgroNet.
This programme, NaijaAgroNet gathered would provide access
to reliable, clean and affordable electricity services to at least 63,000
households, or about 300,000 people, to social and public infrastructure and to
eligible Micro Small Enterprises (MSEs), which will be done through the
rehabilitation and expansion of the low voltage distribution network in
selected low income areas of Lusaka City with high population density.
The financing agreement for a grant of €65 million was
signed today in Brussels by Commissioner for International Development and
Cooperation Neven Mimica and the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Zambia
Felix Mutati. This took place in the framework of a meeting where Commissioner
Mimica and Minister Mutati exchanged views on the very good bilateral relations
between the European Union and Zambia.
Speaking on this occasion, Commissioner Neven Mimica said:
"This €65 million programme demonstrates the continued commitment of the
European Union in collaboration with European Financial Institutions (EFIs) to
provide the much needed capital investment for basic infrastructure
development, in order to improve the livelihood and social status of poor
communities in Zambia.
"The rehabilitation of the low voltage distribution
network and the new connections will allow for the provision of reliable and
affordable energy services and economic empowerment. The programme will support
the implementation of the European External Investment Plan which prioritises
socio-economic development through infrastructure and energy in particular."
The project is co-financed with the European Investment Bank
(EIB), which provides additional loans amounting to €15 Million. It is also
part of a larger Lusaka Transmission and Distribution Rehabilitation plan,
co-financed by the European Investment Bank, the World Bank and ZESCO Limited.
Currently Lusaka faces challenges, because its electricity
network infrastructure results in significant energy losses. This is coupled
with an increasing population in high density low-income areas, which is unable
to access electricity services due to high connection costs.
Lack of access to
electricity services seriously deprives the affected population, in terms of
quality of life and exposure to various hazards that go with it (in-door
pollution, unsafe cooking, poor social services, low self-esteem etc..),
worsening the social inequality gap between the low density and high density
urban areas.
In addition to the rehabilitation and expansion of the low
voltage distribution network, the programme includes a connection-fee subsidy
scheme to encourage new household connections as well as measures to promote
productive uses of electricity by women and Micro and Small Enterprises. These
will include facilitated access to micro credit lines and training in business
management and entrepreneurship.
Chuks Egbune/GEE
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Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Geothermal energy saves cost for sustainable food production
Geothermal energy which is
the heat energy radiating from the earth’s core
has been discovered to provide unique opportunities for cost efficient, sustainable
food production and processing in developing countries, according to
information released by FAO and made available to NaijaAgroNet .
According to Carlos da Silva, Senior
Agribusiness Economist in FAO, “It’s an energy source that’s renewable, clean
and low-cost once you’ve made the initial investment to harness it.”
Da Silva who works in FAO’s Rural Infrastructure
and Agribusiness Division said that “By
using a clean energy source, you’re not only addressing cost but also the
environmental impacts of food production and processing,” NaijaAgroNet reports.
Agriculture both consumes energy and
emits greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Research suggests
that using geothermal heating for greenhouses decreases fungus infections and
cuts fuel costs by up to 80 per cent, providing significant savings to
operating budgets.
In some developing economies, as
much as half of all food produced is lost post-harvest – that's due in part to
a lack of affordable energy for food processing, according to “Uses of
Geothermal Energy in Food and Agriculture.”
“Geothermal energy for agriculture
can be done even at small-scales and can significantly contribute to income
generation, providing employment and improving food and nutrition security in
developing countries,” adds Divine Njie, AGS Deputy Director and co-editor of
the report.
Worldwide, 38 countries currently
use geothermal energy for direct application in agricultural production and
some 24 countries harness it to generate electricity, with Iceland, Costa Rica,
El Salvador, Kenya, New Zealand and the Philippines deriving more than 10 per cent
of their electricity needs from natural heat sources.
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Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Bioenergy investors invade Africa, tackles food security
Head of NEPAD Energy Programme, Professor Mosad Elmissiry
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A two-day bioenergy symposium
brought together the experts and bio-energy investors to Johannesburg city in
South Africa to deliberate on exploration of the continent’s resources by
bioenergy industry for better energy and food security.
The bioenergy symposium hosted by
the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) discussed ways of tapping
into Africa’s resources in a bid to produce clean energy fuels.
The Energy Programme Head, at
NEPAD, Prof. Mosad Elmissiry said NEPAD’ objective is to drive bioenergy
programmatic activities and see real results that NEPAD is a result-oriented
organisation.
The symposium also sees to the
review of conditions, criteria and operation model to set-up Incubator Fund.
Also speaking about the outcome of
the symposium, the Project Team leader of BizClim, Gavin Maxwell said Africa
needs a solution that encourages enterprise and rewards work.
“This needs both public and private
investment harnessed and distributed through a trusted channel, and that is the
idea role for the Bio-Enterprise Incubator Fund,” Gavin explained.
He added that as BizClim is a
European Union Project providing technical assistance for improving the
business climate in Africa, the Pacific and the Caribbean, it has the interest
of Africa at heart to be part of the symposium.
NEPAD boss, Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki told
participants to think radically on how to forge strong partnerships which could
tackle developmental challenges in the continent as NEPAD’s role is to ensure
the implementations of decisions are taken on energy.
Equally commenting, Ms. Nomfundo Mthembu of
Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), says “Their approach is commendable
as it involves a wide variety of delegates from the Bioenergy community. Unlike
other development approaches, this approach is a “bottom-up” approach which is
mostly guaranteed to achieve a higher level of success.”
Yinka Awosanya/LS
... Linking agrobiz, people & technology
Thursday, July 5, 2012
NEPAD warns of food shortage
The New Partnership for
Africa’s Development (NEPAD) has warned of food shortage on the continent,
saying Africa is the most prone to food insecurity.
NEPAD revealed to NaijaAgroNet in a press statement that Africa needs energy security in order to
get out of poverty and achieve food security.
Speaking at a workshop on
linking bioenergy and food security in Africa recently, the chief executive
officer, NEPAD, Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki said transformation in energy generation and
services is necessary to achieve food security in Africa.
Also, experts at the
workshop agreed that African countries have to progressively move away from the
use of fossil fuels and increase the share of renewable energy sources in their
total energy mix.
Other energy highlighted by
the experts include solar, wind, hydropower and geothermal; that bioenergy
would play a major role in the coming decades on the continent.
Prof. Emile Van Zyl of the
University of Stellenbosch said Africa has the potential to be a major player
alongside Brazil in the biofuels trade if it applies modern technology as
Africa produces 606 million litres of biofuels equivalent of 2 per cent of the
global trade with South Africa alone accounting for more than half of the total
output.
NaijaAgroNet further gathered that the
technical arm of the African Union (AU) Commission, the NEPAD Planning and
Coordinating Agency has a vision to give 35 per cent of African population
access to energy in the next 20 years.
Yinka Awosanya/LS
... Linking agrobiz, people & technology
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Africa most prone to food shortage - NEPAD
Chief Executive Officer, NEPAD, Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki |
Available
statistics from the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) show that
Africa is the most prone to food insecurity as it affects a larger percentage
of the continent's population.
NEPAD revealed
to NaijaAgroNet in a press statement
that Africa needs energy security in order to get out of poverty and achieve
food security.
Speaking at a
workshop on linking bioenergy and food security in Africa recently, the chief
executive officer, NEPAD, Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki said transformation in energy
generation and services is necessary to achieve food security in Africa.
Also, experts at
the workshop agreed that African countries have to progressively move away from
the use of fossil fuels and increase the share of renewable energy sources in
their total energy mix.
Other energy
highlighted by the experts include solar, wind, hydropower and geothermal; that
bioenergy would play a major role in the coming decades on the continent.
Prof. Emile Van
Zyl of the University of Stellenbosch said Africa has the potential to be a
major player alongside Brazil in the biofuels trade if it applies modern
technology as Africa produces 606 million litres of biofuels equivalent of 2
per cent of the global trade with South Africa alone accounting for more than
half of the total output.
NaijaAgroNet
further gathered that the technical arm of the African Union (AU) Commission,
the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency has a vision to give 35 per cent of
African population access to energy in the next 20 years.
Yinka Awosanya/LS
... Linking agrobiz, people & technology
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