The Civil Engineering Contractor July 2018 | Page 10

INFRASTRUCTURE AFRICA

ALL OF AFRICA

Mixed outlook for renewables in Africa

Renewable energy has a mixed market outlook in Africa , says an article by GlobalData Energy published in www . power-technology . com . It reports that some countries appear reluctant to develop renewable energy due to abundant conventional resources , while for some the development of renewable energy is unaffordable . However , certain countries are actively pursuing a renewables programme through various support mechanisms such as renewable targets , feed in tariffs ( FiTs ) / auctions , net metering , and tax exemptions or subsidies . Some countries located in continental Africa — namely Algeria , Angola , Egypt , Ghana , Morocco , Nigeria , and South Africa — have renewable energy targets , implying that these governments are actively supporting the growth of renewable energy in their respective countries . The report found that while some countries have capacity targets , others target to achieve a fixed proportion of generation from renewable sources . A notable feature in this region is the growing popularity of the auction / tender mechanism to develop large-scale renewable projects ; countries like Egypt , Morocco , and South Africa have auction mechanisms for various renewable energy technologies . Countries including Algeria , Kenya , Nigeria , and Tanzania have already proposed renewable auctions and they are expected to announce these within a year . The report stated that from 2011 to date , six rounds of reverse auctions were held in South Africa . In these auctions , 6 376MW of renewable power capacity from 102 renewable projects has been awarded . Out of this awarded capacity , wind power accounted for more than 50 %, with 3 365MW capacity , followed by solar PV with 2 322MW capacity . The Egyptian government has decided to do away with a FiT programme for its third phase , replacing it with a tendering system for renewable energy projects in 2018 . A tender for 600MW of solar power was issued in December 2017 .

Source : www . power-technology . com

EAST AFRICA

RWANDA

Part-SA-financed Kigali water project wins award

According to the website of the Investec Asset Management-managed Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund ( EAIF ), in an online vote of water industry professionals from across the world , the 2018 World Water Summit ’ s Water Deal of the Year Award went to Kigali Water Limited ( KWL ). The global award came tops from a list of projects in North America , Asia , and the Middle East , and was announced on 16 April at the World Water Summit in Paris . When operational , the KWL facility will supply 40-million litres of clean water daily . It is EAIF ’ s first water project in a large city and a key component in Rwanda ’ s drive to have fresh water available to its entire population . EAIF was the Mandated Lead Arranger of the financing of the project , which was announced on 27 November 2017 . KWL is a subsidiary of Metito , one of the world ’ s largest water infrastructure and utility providers . The global water award is the second international water award to go to the KWL project . Earlier this year , the media and infrastructure intelligence organisation IJGlobal presented its Africa Water Deal of the Year Award to KWL . During the Paris conference , Martin Proos , a director at EAIF ’ s fund manager , Investec Asset Management , was a member of a distinguished panel of water industry finance experts looking at the issue of ‘ Establishing Bankability ’. The session addressed the challenge of making utilities bankable and looked at the dynamics of attracting private finance into public private partnerships in emerging markets . Source : http :// www . eaif . com /

SOUTHERN AFRICA

ZIMBABWE

Gwanda solar farm receives USD52m guarantee

Gwanda solar farm , part of Zimbabwe ’ s series of national strategic power projects , has received a USD52-million guarantee for the 100MW project envisaged to reduce the country ’ s power shortage , from Chinese electrical engineering group CHiNT Electric . The firm has announced it is willing and ready to provide a guarantee covering 30 % of the engineering , procurement and construction ( EPC ) aspect of the contract . By March this year , the solar project had not been able to proceed . The implementation of the solar project will also receive a boost following President Emmerson Mnangagwa ’ s state visit to China . The project had been delayed as a result of arrears incurred under the previous regime , which scuppered financial mobilisation . The advance payment would be used , among other purposes , to fund the facility costs and fees . The advance payment will be for the completion of any outstanding works . Source : https :// constructionreviewonline . com

10 - CEC July 2018