US-backed peace deal unlocks investments in renewables

June 30, 2025

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US-based Anzana Electric Group has committed to funding the $760 million Ruzizi III hydropower plant, setting the ball rolling for the construction of the 206 MW plant located on the Ruzizi River between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The deal comes as part of peace talks mediated by the US between the two countries.

  • The project has been under consideration for more than a decade but delayed by conflict. Its development might drive regional integration and strengthen energy security and stability.

  • The signing of the peace agreement could open up the mineral-rich region to new investment and potentially increased power demand.

  • Our take: The peace deal might attract foreign investors to DR Congo to tap into power generation and the mining of critical minerals… Read more (2 min)

Tanzania has commenced trial runs for evacuating 50 MW of electricity from Ethiopia via Kenya's network, opening up the wheeling market, which could potentially connect to the southern African power pool. Tanzania now joins Kenya, Sudan and Djibouti in importing hydropower electricity from Ethiopia and targets 200 MW by 2027 for energy security needs.

  • The deal marks the first trilateral arrangement in the East African region where power has not previously been transmitted via a third country. This could accelerate creating an East Africa Power Pool (EAPP) market transmission pricing methodology. 

  • Ethiopia's hydro-dams make it a regional power hub. It exports 200 MW to Kenya and 254 MW to Sudan and Djibouti, earning it about $140 million last year.

  • Our take: Africa's electricity future lies in interconnected grids... Read more (2 min)

Independent power producer Globeleq and energy supplier African Rainbow Energy have signed agreements with South Africa’s Department of Electricity and Energy and the National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), paving the way for the 612 MWh Red Sands Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) in the Northern Cape to proceed.

  • South Africa’s Independent Power Producer programme has been instrumental in enabling large-scale battery projects such as Red Sands BESS by providing a transparent, competitive framework and long-term off-take agreements.

  • The model is now inspiring similar initiatives across Africa, with countries such as Senegal, Egypt, The Gambia and Botswana launching storage tenders, accelerating the region’s transition to flexible, renewable-driven grids.

  • Our take: Red Sands proves BESS is viable at utility scale in Africa… Read more (2 min)

Dr Mohamed Alhaj, Founder & Managing Director of Terra Energy, speaks at the recently concluded AFRIRUN IV event in Ethiopia

 

Events

🗓️ Register for the Achieving Africa’s Energy Transition webinar (Jul 9)

🗓️ Participate in the Hydrogen Water Connection webinar (Jul 24)

🗓️ Attend Zambia’s C&I Energy + Storage Summit (Aug 27)

Jobs

👩🏻‍💻 Become AFDB’s Capacity Development Analyst (Ivory Coast)

👨🏻‍💻 Apply for Globeleq’s Shift Engineer position (Kenya)

💼 Join Rubicon as a Light Manufacturing Supervisor (South Africa)

Various 

💡 Namibia's NamPower commissions $90.3 million solar power plant

💰 Westa Solar secures $15 million for West African solar expansion

⚡ Researcher unlocks energy potential of fruit peels for electronics

🌊 Rwanda's Nyabarongo II Hydropower Plant reaches 50% completion

Seen on LinkedIn 

Makena Ireri, Director at GEAPP, says, “What if we stop asking how much energy Africa has or needs, and start by asking what that energy is for?”