Energy

Electrical safety ‘non-negotiable’ in West Africa’s urbanisation

Meeting the needs of West African urbanisation safely

Electrical safety is non-negotiable in the urbanisation of West Africa, writes Ajibola Akindele MFR, country president, Schneider Electric West Africa

West Africa’s urban economies are experiencing noteworthy growth. From new residential estates to modern hospitals and hotels, construction activity is reaching impressive levels. Cities such as Lagos, Nigeria, Accra in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire’s Abidjan are expanding in both height and sheer footprint, driven by rising demand for housing, healthcare infrastructure, and commercial spaces.

However, there is also fundamental hurdle to cross, how does the industry ensure safety keeps pace with development. In some cases, infrastructure needs outstrip regulatory enforcement, and cost or time pressures may lead to shortcuts in installation practices.

And unfortunately, the results can be catastrophic: buildings that appear state-of-the-art conceal electrical vulnerabilities that pose risks to people, equipment, and long-term investment.

Imagine a luxury hotel undergoes renovations to add more rooms and conference facilities. Instead of using certified surge protection devices and arc fault detection systems, the cheaper, substandard alternatives are installed.

Within months, a power surge damages critical equipment and causes a small electrical fire in a utility room. And whilst no one is hurt, the hotel suffers reputational damage, financial losses, and unexpected downtime.

The real risks

Today, electrical safety isn’t just about ticking compliance boxes, it’s about protecting people, equipment and infrastructure.

According to the US’ National Fire Protection Association National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) home electrical systems are responsible for over 46,000 fires and nearly 400 deaths annually. In fast-growing markets like West Africa, where infrastructure expansion often outpaces enforcement, the risks can be even more prevalent.

Therefore, when taking a closer look at the electrical safety hazards, it poses the following, very real risks:

Fire hazards: faulty installations or overloaded circuits can spark devastating fires.

Equipment damage: overvoltage and surges can destroy expensive equipment.

Human risk: electrical shock remains one of the most serious hazards, with outcomes ranging from injury to fatality.

Electrical safety is the core of innovation

At Schneider Electric, safety is not an optional feature, it forms the very foundation of our business. We work hand-in-hand with builders, contractors, and electricians across Africa to ensure buildings are powered safely and sustainably from day one.

Our portfolio of electrical protection products is designed to meet the ‘three golden rules’ of safety:

Protection of people: residual current circuit breakers (RCCB prevent electrocution.

Protection of equipment: surge protection devices (SPD) guard against costly voltage spikes.

Protection against fire: arc fault detection devices (AFDD) reduce the risk of electrical fires caused by hidden faults.

Here, ranges like our Easy9, Resi9, and Acti9 Active modular range of circuit protection and distribution systems provide all-in-one protection that is accessible, reliable, and trusted by professionals worldwide.

Building trust through awareness

There is still a lack of awareness regarding the various electrical hazards and their resultant solutions. It is here that education is vital in building a marketplace that is safe and informed.

At Schneider Electric we are not only protecting equipment and property but safeguarding the humans that occupy it.

We are addressing this gap by: partnering with homebuilders and contractors to ensure they have access to quality products and training; educating electricians and consumers on the importance of certified electrical safety solutions; and supporting compliance with international and national standards, ensuring that West Africa’s rapid growth is also safe and sustainable.

In the end, developers, contractors, and governments in West Africa must work together to raise safety standards, and manufacturers like Schneider Electric are ready to provide the expertise and products to make that possible.

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Balancing power 'critical' for African grid stability

Balancing power supply is essential for grid stability

Kevin Parkes, head of business development AMEAPAC at Aggreko, talks fast and flexible power and the value of grid stability for African utilities

Africa’s rapid integration of renewable energy is intensifying the challenge of balancing power supply and demand on the continent’s grids. The transition is urgent because most grid infrastructure was built for centralised fossil-fuel generation which is easier to manage than the variable and intermittent nature of solar and wind power. Grid operators across the continent need to find smarter ways of preparing for a future where stability can’t be guaranteed by traditional baseload plants alone.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), renewables accounted for 30% of global electricity generation in 2023 and this figure is expected to increase to 37% in 2026. In Africa, they account for around 25% of electricity generation as of 2024, which is still significantly below the average but is comprised of hydro with solar and wind forming a growing proportion. While behind the global levels, renewables are changing energy planning on the continent, putting pressure on systems to respond more effectively to fluctuations in frequency or demand. Grids face higher risks of blackouts, damage to infrastructure and rising operational costs if not.

Without fast-acting reserve capacity, systems can collapse in seconds. In July 2022, Oman experienced a nationwide blackout that lasted more than five hours. It affected homes, hospitals, airports and critical infrastructure and was linked to overstretched capacity and lack of real-time balancing. The incident exposed gaps in system planning and response coordination and emphasised the importance of balancing power.

Balancing power – the ability to reserve capacity that can be activated instantly to correct real-time mismatches between supply and demand – provides the speed and control required. The grid’s balancing system must be capable of responding to sudden drops in renewable output, surges in demand or frequency deviations and voltage instability. Industry best practice suggests that maintaining a reserve margin capable of covering the largest credible contingency plus extra capacity for forecasting errors is the best way forward.

However, too much reserve increases costs and too little creates risks. Balance is key and it comes with a strategic mix of technologies, planning and regulatory support. And in Africa, where many utilities are already dealing with ageing infrastructure, energy theft and uneven demand patterns, the need for balancing power is critical. It needs to become a central part of grid reliability.

Modern grids are increasingly investing in alternatives to create this balance. Fast-ramping engines and gas turbines are offering a smart and rapid start route to load balancing as they can follow load more efficiently. Reciprocating engines can deliver up to 60% more long-term value than aero-derivative turbines due to lower fuel costs and more flexibility. Another option is to combine renewables with advanced battery storage as these smooth out frequency and voltage disturbances. They are particularly effective with solar and wind.

Smart grid technologies are other considerations as they introduce intelligent capabilities such as real-time monitoring, automation and control for faster detection and response to load imbalances. Hybrid power systems combine renewables with thermal and battery systems, and they are proving a reliable route to managing efficiencies and emissions performance across a utility’s power portfolio. Finally, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) solutions, while still in the early phase of development, are a growing solution that can support load balancing effectively.

What does this mean for Africa? Well, across vast distances and varied infrastructure, grid conditions vary widely. Balancing power gives operators the tools they need to manage uncertainty while still prioritising the much-needed integration of new solar and wind plants without destabilising the grid. This provides a path to decarbonisation that is both practical and performance based.

Balancing power solutions give African entities the ability to respond to load fluctuations and changes while keeping the continent’s energy profile consistently moving towards one that is renewable, reliable and clean.

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Rolls-Royce powers Sibanye-Stillwater mine

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Delivering power to Rustenburg mine in South Africa. (Image source: mtu solutions)

Rolls-Royce in Africa has supplied and commissioned four 2500kVA prime rated containerised mtu Series 4000 generators to mining group Sibanye-Stillwater

The generators have been deployed at the K4 shaft in Rustenburg, South Africa, to provide critical back up power for underground mining operations.

“The project was a follow-up project of the first project at K3 Shaft which indicates satisfied repeat client,” mtu solutions said in an update on social media.

After the latest installation, it means Sibanye now owns a total of eight the same generators.

“The generators were specifically designed to withstand inrush current and other poor power quality events caused by mine shafts and hoists,” the statement added.

“Furthermore the containers were designed to withstand [a] high heat and high dust environment.”

Rustenburg is a shallow to intermediate level platinum gold metals (PGM)) operation, with surface sources and concentrators located northeast of the town of Rustenburg in North West Province, 120 km north-west of Johannesburg.

The site has more than 14,000 employees and contractors working on it.

It marks the latest successful installation for the Rolls-Royce brand in Africa, after commissioning 10 mtu gas gensets for the Egyptian Wood Technology Company’s (WOTECH) production plant at the start of the year.

The plant, in northern Egypt, produces medium-density fibreboard (MDF) from rice straw for use in furniture and buildings.

As the facility has no access to the public grid, it relies on the 20-cylinder mtu gas gensets which have a collective output of 25MW.

In June, Rolls-Royce officially opened a new headquarters and training facility in Johannesburg to support its Power Systems division.

The new centre will support the growing fleet of Power Systems’ mtu mobile and stationary power solutions across critical sectors such as energy, technology, mining, transportation and oil and gas.

Cobus Van Schalkwyk, director global mining and managing director, Rolls-Royce Solutions Africa, said at the time that the new facility “is a clear signal of our confidence in Africa’s growth and our commitment to being closer to our customers.”

The new training centre is designed to support between 100 and 150 trainees annually with a wide range of training engines, including mtu 2000 and 4000 series, used for power generation, mining and rail applications.

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Everllence to supply new Mauritania power plant

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Martin Chmiela, head of power, Asia Pacific, Everllence, and Mian Sun, deputy GM of the 5th Engineering Department, CNEEC, at the contract-signing ceremony in Beijing. (Image source: Everllence)

China National Electric Engineering Co. Ltd. (CNEEC) has awarded a contract to Everllence for the supply of dual-fuel engines for a new Mauritanian power plant

Everllence, formerly MAN Energy Solutions, announced in a statement that it will supply four high-efficiency 18V51/60DF engines for the power plant in Nouakchott, Mauritania’s capital.

The value of the contract was not disclosed.

With a total power output of 74 MW, the new power facility is set to play a key role in closing the existing gap in the country’s electricity supply.

“Everllence is making a vital contribution to stabilising Mauritania’s energy supply with this power plant,” said Ghassan Saab, head of power, MEA region at Everllence.

“We have been a trusted partner for energy projects across Africa for over half a century." Saab added.

"Everllence has realised power plants in more than 30 African countries, contributing over 2.5 GW of installed capacity to the continent.”

Under the latest contract, each engine will deliver 18.5 MW of electric power for the new plant, which will be operated by SOMELEC, Mauritania’s national power utility.

The state power firm also plans to build additional facilities to gradually meet the country’s growing electricity demand, the Everllence statement noted.

For its latest project, Everllence said production planning at an early stage and close collaboration with both the EPC contractor and end user will enable exceptionally short delivery times, with commissioning scheduled to be completed by late 2026.

“We’re proud that CNEEC is relying on our technology to strengthen the power supply in Mauritania,” said Martin Chmiela, head of power, Asia Pacific at Everllence, who signed the contract with CNEEC in Beijing recently.

“Our dual-fuel engines offer maximum fuel flexibility. Depending on availability, the engines can seamlessly switch between fuels without compromising performance, ensuring reliable power-generation at all times.”

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Maxion Wheels new solar project at Joburg plant

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Maxion Wheels investing in solar energy. (Image source: Maxion Wheels)

Maxion Wheels, a leading producer of wheels for passenger and commercial vehicles, has completed a 2.9 MWp solar project at its Johannesburg manufacturing plant

The move reflects a shift in the commercial and industrial (C&I) energy market to renewables and away from traditional thermal based power solutions.

Terra Firma, a South African C&I solar and storage solutions provider, worked on the project, timed which was timed with Maxion Wheels South Africa’s 60th anniversary event.

“Integrating renewable energy into our operations marks a significant milestone in our Roadmap Zero strategy towards net-zero emissions by 2040, and reinforces our position as a global leader in advanced manufacturing,” said Milos Despotovic, managing director, Maxion Wheels South Africa.

The carport and ground mount solar installation will supply approximately 20% of the manufacturing facility’s annual energy needs, reducing Maxion’s reliance on the national grid and providing protection against energy-related tariff increases.

It will also reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 5,100 tonnes per year.

A second phase of additional rooftop solar capacity is scheduled for completion in Q1 2026, with the possibility of integrating a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for energy arbitrage and backup power.

South Africa’s automotive industry contributes 5.3% of GDP and supports over 500,000 jobs across the value chain.

However, the sector is under increasing pressure due to global trade barriers, growing competition and decarbonisation requirements.

For manufacturers such as Maxion Wheels, where electricity is one of the largest input costs due to energy-intensive processes, managing energy spend is critical to maintaining competitiveness.

Solar power offers a solution that enables firms to reduce and manage costs, improve resilience and reduce climate impact.

As the world's leading manufacturer of steel and aluminium wheels, Maxion Wheels produces approximately 50 million wheels per year across its 31 locations on five continents.

The Johannesburg plant produces high-precision aluminium wheels for major automotive OEM customers in South Africa.

Given its intensive industrial processes, continuous uptime is mission-critical.

The plant relies on extensive machinery including various robots, integrated foundry systems and automated conveyor networks operating around the clock.

For Terra Firma, the project meant ensuring continuous power supply while meeting strict health, safety and operational standards at every step of the deployment.

Under a comprehensive medium-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), Terra Firma financed, designed, engineered and installed the project, and will manage and maintain it for its lifetime.

The PPA delivery model offers the cost and GHG emission reduction benefits of solar power, without the capital expenditure or risks of ownership, according to said Grant Berndsen, CEO, Terra Firma.

“We thank Maxion Wheels for entrusting Terra Firma as their energy partner to bring this project to life,” said Berndsen.

“Together, we’re demonstrating how solar power helps enable long-term sustainability, resilience and global competitiveness for South Africa’s automotive manufacturing sector.”

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