Botswana issues licence for first large scale solar power plant

The Botswana energy regulator has granted a generation licence for a 100 MW solar project to local firm Shumba Energy, a company executive said on Monday, making it the first independent power producer to set up a large scale solar plant in the country. Botswana does not currently have large scale solar power generation and its 600 MW national energy demand is met by state owned coal-fired plants and imports, primarily from South Africa and Mozambique.
/by

New IEA report paints complex picture for future of gas demand

A new International Energy Agency (IEA) report on the outlook for gas presents a complex picture of the fuel’s role in the unfolding energy transition, as well as the outlook for demand. The report forecasts that there will be an immediate 3.5% recovery in demand from the Covid-afflicted 2020 year, when demand fell by 1.9%.
/by

Sasol, IDC team up to stimulate South Africa’s green-hydrogen industry

JSE-listed Sasol and the State-owned Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) have signed a memorandum of cooperation to jointly advance South Africa’s green-hydrogen economy. In a joint statement, the two companies said the memorandum recognised that South Africa was in a unique position to leverage its world-class renewable resources and Sasol’s Fischer-Tropsch technology and skills to position the country as a global hydrogen leader.
/by

IFC, Canada invest in Kinguele Aval hydropower plant in Gabon

Development finance institution the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and various Canadian government organisations are providing a financing package for the 35 MW Kinguele Aval hydropower plant, in Gabon. Meridiam Infrastructure Africa Fund FIPS, Meridiam Infrastructure Africa Parallel Fund FIPS and the Fonds Gabonais d’Investissements Strategiques (FGIS), with the support of the government of Canada, are providing funding for the project, which is the first independent power producer project in Gabon.
/by