Energy

Ethiopia appoints Weranso solar consultants

Ethiopia investing in solar energy

South Africa’s Thabo Consulting Engineering (TCE Africa) and Portugal’s Sun Business Development (Sun BD), have been awarded a contract to provide consultancy services for Ethiopia’s Weranso solar PV project

The contract, worth US$706,790, includes consultancy services for a feasibility study; preparation of an environment and social impact assessment; preparation of a resettlement action plan; and to compile bidding documents for the utility-scale project.

The 100MW Weranso project is being led by the Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP) with support from the African Development Bank and will be built in the country’s north-eastern region, near to Djibouti.

It forms part of a broader Ethiopia-Djibouti interconnection initiative and expands on the country’s bold energy production ambitions.

The Ethiopian government is also looking at the construction of another utility-scale solar PV projects, Gad II, also 125MW, as it seeks to further expand its renewables power capacity.

In 2025, the country inaugurated the flagship Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which has an installed hydro capacity of 5,150MW.

The government hopes to raise Ethiopia’s total installed capacity from around 9,750MW currently to 14,000MW by 2030, with a strong focus on solar, hydro, wind, geothermal and other renewable energy sources.

EEP is simultaneously upgrading its transmission and distribution infrastructure, most recently completing a capacity expansion at the 230kV Legetafo substation, which it called “a major milestone in strengthening Ethiopia’s regional power grid.”

A defining feature of the project, it noted in a statement, was its execution by its own maintenance professionals, “demonstrating the strength of in-house technical capacity.”

EEP is also moving forward with the Gimbi-Tulu Kapi transmission and substation project in support of the nation’s mining sector, supplying reliable energy to the Tulu Kapi gold mine.

On the Weranso project, TCE Africa and Sun BD secured their contract against competition from other international consultants, including firms from China, Nigeria and Germany.

Ethiopia's Tulu Kapi gold mine finance deal agreed

Ethiopia inaugurates GERD hydro dam

AI streetlights could finance Lagos–Calabar Coastal highway

AI streetlights could finance Lagos–Calabar Coastal highway.(Image credit: iLamp)

Nigeria’s long-stalled Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway could gain new momentum through an unconventional financing model that turns roadside infrastructure into a major source of income

A proposal led by British greentech company Conflow Power Group, in partnership with Nigerian infrastructure firm Mora Energy, is being discussed with the Nigerian Government to address the project’s persistent funding challenges. The plan centres on the deployment of thousands of iLamps, solar-powered smart streetlights that also function as nodes in a distributed, AI-driven data centre network.

The iLamps operate entirely off-grid, requiring no external electricity supply. Each unit is equipped with Nvidia AI processors, allowing it to provide computing power that can be rented by global AI companies, including OpenAI, creating a continuous revenue stream alongside its public infrastructure role.

Through a collaboration with UK-based AI Factories Limited, every iLamp would serve as part of a decentralised AI computing network. Each unit is expected to generate up to US$4,500 per year in fees paid by AI service providers

If rolled out along the full 700km highway, the proposed installation of around 28,000 iLamps could generate approximately US$1.26bn annually, potentially covering a significant portion of the highway’s construction and long-term financing needs.

Stanley Chuka-Umeora, founder of Mora Energy, said, “Our government contacts immediately understood the significance of what Conflow was proposing. For 50 years, Nigeria has struggled with this project because we were applying 20th-century solutions to 21st-century problems. iLamp represents genuinely innovative thinking. It is not just infrastructure, it is revenue-generating technology that brings AI capabilities to Nigeria for the first time.

“Government officials were particularly impressed that iLamp solves multiple problems simultaneously. It's not just about financing, it's about security, communications infrastructure, and bringing cutting-edge technology to Nigerian communities.”

Zainu Goba, CEO of iLamp Africa, highlighted the commercial appeal of the model.

“The financial mathematics are compelling. iLamp doesn't just provide lighting and security, it creates a new revenue stream that could contribute more than a billion dollars towards project costs annually. Combined with zero operational costs through solar power, this improves the project's attractiveness to private investors and has the potential to positively transform the lives of millions of Nigerians,” he said.

Under the proposal, revenue generation would begin as soon as completed sections of the highway become operational, reducing dependence on toll revenues and public funding. Beyond lighting, the smart streetlights would deliver a range of services, including surveillance, vehicle recognition, emergency response systems, public connectivity and environmental monitoring, all powered entirely by solar energy.

The initiative would also create one of Africa’s largest distributed AI computing networks, allowing data processing to take place locally rather than abroad. This could support Nigeria’s expanding technology ecosystem and strengthen its position as a regional hub for AI infrastructure.

Discussions between iLamp Africa, Mora Energy, the Nigerian Government and other project stakeholders are ongoing, with the aim of formally integrating the technology into the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway.

Originally conceived in the 1970s, the 700km highway is intended to link nine coastal states and stimulate trade, tourism and economic development across southern Nigeria. Despite its strategic importance, the project has faced repeated delays due to funding gaps, political transitions and economic pressures.

Although construction resumed in 2024, only about US$747mn has been secured so far, representing less than 6% of the estimated US$11–12.5 billion total cost. The remaining shortfall of more than US$10bn continues to raise concerns that progress could once again be stalled without innovative financing solutions.

Namibia’s Zhero green ammonia project boost

green_ammonia_molecular_structure_closeup

Namibia is keen to lead Africa’s nascent green ammonia sector (Image source: Adobe Stock)

A flagship green ammonia project in Namibia, led by Zhero, a European clean energy developer, has received a US$5.15mn funding boost from SDG Namibia One Fund

Namibia’s energy transition and green hydrogen fund is supporting the Zhero Molecules Walvis Bay Project through funding provided by the European Union’s Global Gateway and Invest International.

Expected to start commercial operations in 2030, the project aims to produce 500,000 tonnes of green ammonia annually, avoiding an estimated 1.2 million tonnes of carbon emissions a year.

“Namibia has the natural resources, strategic location and national vision to become a global leader in green ammonia and hydrogen,” said Paolo Gallieri, Zhero’s chief operating officer.

“With this support, we are strengthening our ability to deliver a world-class facility that can attract long-term investment, create economic opportunities for the country and contribute to global decarbonisation efforts.”

Zhero Molecule Walvis Bay is the company’s flagship project in green molecules.

The project will be powered by an integrated renewable energy system comprising 3 GW of solar PV, 2.2 GWh of battery energy storage, a 1.6 GW electrolyser system and 110 km of new transmission infrastructure.

A desalination plant is planned as part of the project’s water supply solution.

Green ammonia produced by the project is expected to serve global decarbonisation markets, including fertilisers, maritime fuels and industrial feedstocks.

SDG Namibia One Fund (also known as Climate Investor Three Namibia) is managed by Climate Fund Managers (CFM), a climate-focused blended finance investment manager, in partnership with Dutch development finance institution, Invest International, and the Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia (EIF).

“Zhero’s project aligns strongly with Namibia’s ambition to build a competitive green hydrogen and ammonia industry, as well as with the mandate of our SDG Namibia One Fund,” said Darron Johnson, regional head of Africa at CFM.

“The site benefits from exceptional solar resources, ample land and direct access to deep-water export infrastructure at Walvis Bay, making it well-suited for industrial-scale green ammonia production. Through its blended finance structure, SDG Namibia One is providing early-stage development capital alongside Zhero needed to de-risk the project and prepare it for financial close, creating the conditions for private capital to invest at scale in the construction phase. We look forward to working with Zhero to bring this important project from development, through construction and into operation.”

Green ammonia is produced by combining green hydrogen, generated through electrolysis powered by renewable energy, with nitrogen extracted from the air.

It is a zero-carbon fuel and chemical feedstock with applications across sectors including fertiliser production, maritime shipping and industrial processes; green ammonia is seen as important for decarbonising these hard-to-abate industries, where few alternative zero-carbon solutions currently exist.

The industrial-scale green ammonia facility, located near Walvis Bay in the Erongo region on Namibia’s central coast, is expected to create 6,000 jobs during the construction phase and around 500 permanent roles.

A final investment decision is targeted for 2027, with commercial operation expected in 2030.

Liebherr explores green ammonia potential for power generators

Namibia hydrogen project marks another milestone

EDF, Adani, among seven shortlisted for SA transmission upgrade

power_transmission_lines_silhouette_south_africa

International companies are lining up to expand South Africa’s transmission grid (Image source: Adobe Stock)

South Africa has pre-qualified seven international groups under the first phase of its multi-year Independent Transmission Procurement (ITP) mega project

The shortlist includes an intriguing mix of global players from across the continents, including India, China, Europe and the Middle East, with familiar names such as Adani Power, Electricite de France (EDF) and China’s State Grid International.

The transmission project is estimated to cost around R440bn (US$26bn) over the next 10 years and will play an integral role in shoring up South Africa’s beleaguered power sector.

The finalists from the list will assist in the construction of a 14-000 kilometre power transmission line, to be built in stages, under a strategic public-private partnership.

Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said that out of the 17 responses to its pre-qualification documents, seven had now been shortlisted under the first phase of the ITP project.

Final requests for proposals are anticipated to be released by the third quarter of the 2026/27 calendar year, he added.

The seven pre-qualified companies are:

• Adani Power Middle East Ltd – Momentous Energy (Pty) Ltd Consortium (Lead member: Adani Power Middle East Limited)

• AREF Cobra Transmission Consortium (Lead member: Grupo Cobra South Africa Holdings (Pty) Ltd)

• Consortium Pulse Infrastructure (Lead member: Celeo Redes S.L.)

• EITP Consortium (Lead member: Okavango Projects SA (Pty) Ltd)

• State Grid Consortium (Lead member: State Grid International Development Co., Ltd)

• The Hyperion Consortium (Lead member: EDF EN South Africa (Pty) Ltd)

• Transmission Africa Consortium (Lead member: China Southern Power Grid International (HK) Co., Ltd)

The ITP project forms a critical — and costly — part of South Africa’s attempts to rebuild its once-illustrious power sector and to connect about 1.6 million households that still have no access to electricity.

The government is now relying on private sector collaboration to rapidly expand and modernise the country’s transmission infrastructure, an area once the domain of state-owned power utility, Eskom.

A core part of the strategy is to include a policy of localisation and industrialisation, which now sits at the centre of South Africa’s energy infrastructure programme.

“Through the ITP programme, large-scale infrastructure investment is being aligned with clear industrial policy objectives to ensure that growth in the electricity sector translates into tangible economic and developmental outcomes,” an Energy Ministry statement read.

“By prioritising local production, skills development, enterprise participation and technology transfer, the programme seeks to ‘crowd in’ private investment while simultaneously supporting local industry, expanding industrial capability, and securing long-term economic value for the country.”

South Africa secures World Bank loan for infrastructure revival

GE Vernova updates Secunda power plant

Benin electricity distribution boost after EBRD loan

EBRD loan to boost electrical distribution in Benin (Image source: Adobe Stock)

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has made its first investment in sub-Saharan Africa with a pledge to boost Benin’s electricity sector

The bank will provide a €30mn sovereign loan to Société Béninoise d’Énergie Électrique (SBEE), the national power distribution utility.

It forms part of part of a €173mn programme, with planned co-financing by the Agence Française de Développement (AFC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), that also benefits from a grant under the EU’s Africa Investment Platform.

It will support Benin’s efforts to expand reliable electricity access to underserved communities in the Mono, Couffo and Borgou regions, strengthening the national grid and connecting 600,000 people.

In a statement, EBRD said the loan to SBEE “marks a significant step in strengthening Benin’s national grid, modernising its distribution infrastructure and improving the daily lives of rural communities and vulnerable households, particularly women.”

This rural electrification project is expected to enhance energy reliability and connect to the grid 120,000 new households, across 750 rural villages and towns.

The project involves extending, modernising and increasing the density of the medium- and low-voltage distribution network across the various regions, paired with modern grid enhancements such as improved fault-detection systems and stronger cybersecurity capabilities for SBEE.

“I am delighted to sign our first financing in sub-Saharan Africa only a few months after Benin became a recipient country,” said Dasha Dougans, EBRD’s head of Benin.

“This transformative investment will help expand access to reliable electricity for thousands of families. It will also strengthen the resilience and sustainability of Benin’s energy infrastructure, which is fundamental to accelerating rural development and unlocking economic potential.”

Benin became an EBRD shareholder in 2024 and a country of operation in July 2025.

The bank added that it plans to invest in “sustainable critical infrastructure” in the West African country “that underpins private-sector development” and supports the modernisation and efficiency of enterprises and strengthening of the economic governance of institutions.

Spiro accelerates electric mobility

China's solar panel sales to Africa soar

Sidebar