Solar Power

Ncondezi Energy launches feasibility study for 300 MW of solar PV plus BESS in Mozambique

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LSE-listed Ncondezi Energy announced last week that it has launched a feasibility study for up to 300 MW of solar PV power plant plus a battery energy storage system (BESS) in Mozambique. The project is planned in the country’s Tete Province where the company is already developing an integrated coal mine project under mining concession 5967C.

The solar power plant is planned by its subsidiary, Ncondezi Green Power Holding, and would connect to the Mozambican grid to supply electricity to the country and the larget Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

WSP Group Africa has been selected to carry out the study, expected to last four months. Electricity production could then start as early as 2024.

“The FS Study will take a modular design approach to the Solar Project allowing for greater flexibility including the potential for a scaled development programme of 30MW, 60MW, 100MW, 200MW and 300MW,” Ncondezi Energy said.

In October last year, Ncondezi Energy had already commissioned its maiden commercial & industrial 400 kWP solar and 912 kWh battery storage project in Mozambique.

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Angolan Government awards concession tender for critical Lobito Corridor railway

The Angolan Transport Ministry has awarded the 30-year concession for rail services and logistics support over the Lobito Corridor to the consortium of Trafigura (49.5%), Mota-Engil (49.5%), and Vecturis (1%). The Lobito Corridor is a key route that connects mines in the D.R. Congo to the Lobito Port in central Angola, from where commodities can be exported to global markets. Until now, exporting Congo’s copper, cobalt and metals required several weeks by connecting to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, Beira in Mozambique, or as far as Durban in South Africa. The concession follows a competitive tender and can be extended by another 20 years after its initial period. “With increased dynamics in the transportation of minerals and other materials in the coming years and improved competitiveness of the rail system, it is expected that the Lobito Corridor could become the 3rd most important corridor in the SADC region by 2050,” Trafigura said in response to the award. The private consortium will operate, manage, and maintain the rail infrastructure that links the Port of Lobito to Luau in eastern Angola, next to the DRC border. Key commodities include minerals, liquids, gas, and cargo transport. A significant investment is notably expected into improving the infrastructure and rolling stock for freight operations to increase capacity.

Lekela Power sold in “Africa’s biggest renewable energy deal”

Actis and Mainstream Renewable Power have sold Lekela Power to the Infinity Group of Egypt and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). With an installed wind power capacity of 1 GW, Lekela Power is Africa’s largest pure-play renewable energy independent power producer (IPP). The platform was until now owned at 60% by Actis and 40% by Mainstream Renewable Power Africa Holdings. It currently owns five operational wind farms in South Africa (624 MW), one in Egypt (252 MW), and one in Senegal (159 MW). “This acquisition marks an important milestone in our journey to build a 3GW renewable energy platform. Working together with our partner, Infinity, we aim to more than double the capacity of our joint operating assets over the next 4 years, which stands at 1.4 GW after the Lekela acquisition,” said Samaila Zubairu, CEO of the AFC. Several projects are already in Lekela Power’s pipeline including the expansion of Senegal’s 159 MW Taiba Ndiaye Wind Farm by 100 MW and the addition of 175 MWh of battery storage. In Ghana, the platform is also planning the Ayitepa Wind Farm in two phases of 150 MW and 75 MW.