East Africa 
Southeastern Africa’s biggest solar PV plant opens in Malawi
President Lazarus Chakwera has officially inaugurated the 60 MW Salima solar PV plant.
A project like Salima is critical to reduce the country's spending on expensive diesel generation and its dependence on hydropower.
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Tanzania
ORCA Energy submits $50m capex plan for Songo Songo development next year
The 2022 programme notably includes $20 million for a 200 km2 3D seismic program over the Songo Songo development license.
Infrastructure
Berbera International Airport officially opens after successful renovation by the UAE
The base case development plan envisages a two-train onshore facility with a combined capacity of 10 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).
EV Batteries
Tanzania issues special mining license for world’s largest unexploited nickel deposits
The Kabanga Nickel Project holds the world’s largest development-ready nickel sulphide deposit and will produce Class 1 battery grade nickel, cobalt and copper.
Railways
Tanzania selects Turkish contractor to extend its standard gauge railway
The project is part of a 1,219km SGR line that Tanzania is building to support regional trade in East Africa by linking Dar es Salaam with the port city of Mwanza on the shores of Lake Victoria.
Cooperation
Kenya is positioning itself as Africa's next big financial hub
Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, has successfully established itself as a regional hub for trade, commerce, innovation and technology. Now, it wants to compete with Mauritius or even Dubai to be a global gateway for capital flowing into Africa’s rapidly growing economies.
Up in the Air
First wind turbine installed at Djibouti’s Goubet wind energy facility
The 59 MW facility has been under construction since October 2020 and will be Djibouti's first utility-scale wind project and the country's first independent power producer (IPP).
Drilling for Gas
Orca Energy to execute $21.4m workover program in Tanzania
PanAfrican Energy Tanzania, the company that operates the wells and gas processing plant at Songo Songo in Tanzania, has signed an agreement with Exalo Drilling for the workover of three onshore wells. Activities are set to start in September 2021 on Songo Songo Island.
Renewable Energy
Kenya’s second biggest wind farm starts commercial operations
The 100 MW Kipeto wind farm has officially achieved commercial operations date as of Monday, July 5th. Majority-owned by Actis (88%) via BTE Renewables, Kipeto Energy is Kenya’s second largest wind energy facility after the Lake Turkana facility.
Infrastructure Expansion
Sahara Tanzania doubles its petroleum products storage capacity
Nigerian energy and power conglomerate Sahara Group has been present in the country since 2015, starting with 10 loading arms and four storage tanks with a combined storage capacity of 36m litres.
Downstream
Djibouti embarks on massive infrastructure expansion
Foreign investors from China, the Middle East and the United States are injecting billions into the country’s ports, oil & gas terminals, free trade zones and a 750km rail line that serves Ethiopia’s population of over 110m.
Biodiversity
Kenya’s Kipeto wind farm has secured a $10m loan agreement to fund biodiversity
The shareholders of Kipeto Energy Plc have arranged a $10m pioneering loan agreement with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to finance human-wildlife initiatives around Kenya’s second biggest wind farm.
Mega Project
Negotiations on $30bn Tanzania LNG project to start on November 8
The base case development plan envisages a two-train onshore facility with a combined capacity of 10 million tonnes per annum (mtpa).
New Project
Africa Oil sets new production target for $3.4bn Project Oil Kenya
The new development concept relies on 130,000 bopd facility and unit cost of $22/bbl. However, a new strategic partner is still needed to take the Final Investment Decision.
Natural Gas
APT receives 2-year extension to meet gas exploration targets onshore Tanzania
Located in southern Tanzania, the Ntorya gas project is located within the Ruvuma PSA, which used to be operated by Aminex' subsidiary Ndovu Resources before ARA Petroleum took over operatorship of the asset with a 50% interest last year.
New Frontiers
What does the EACOP Bill mean for Africa’s most controversial pipeline project?
On September 1st, the Ugandan Cabinet approved the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) Bill that gives significant support to the pipeline's construction and operation by granting it four different fiscal packages.
