Africa is coming closer to together as an electricity market

April 10, 2025

Egypt has approved a power deal with Emirati firm K&K to export electricity to Italy via an undersea cable, paving the way for feasibility studies. This is their second such agreement after one with Saudi Arabia. It adds to a growing list of cross-border power agreements in Africa, both intra-continental and extra-continental.

  • At least five multi-billion-dollar projects are currently being planned to export over 15,000 MW of solar and wind power energy from sunny North Africa to chilly Europe.

  • Electricity exports are becoming a major revenue source for Egypt. In 2023, its electricity exports totalled $119 million, ranking 89th in product export values, with Libya ($92.2 million) and Jordan ($26.5 million) as the primary destinations. The country imported no electricity that year.

  • Our take: Demand for reliable and sustainable power is pushing countries to broker power deals… Read more (2 min)

The populous West African country has taken a significant step in its power sector by signing a $329 million agreement with China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC). This deal will see CMEC rehabilitate and construct 544 km of transmission lines under Phase 1, with a load capacity of 7,140 MW. Phase 3 targets a 25,000 MW load capacity.

  • Nigeria's grid is among the worst in Africa, losing almost half of the power it generates due to ageing infrastructure, illegal connections, and vandalism. The national power utility is struggling with losses and lacks the capital to reinvest in upgrading costly power infrastructure.

  • The country's energy sector needs about $31 billion between now and 2030 to meet its growth target. The transmission and distribution lines will need more than a third of this.

  • Our take: Nigeria needs to move fast in grid infrastructure upgrade to retain its anchor customers… Read more (2 min)

Despite having nearly achieved a 100% urban electrification rate, Kenya's rural population continues to face electricity challenges. For many in these areas, solar power has become the only viable solution. This week, Caleb Sewui, a businessman from Bungoma, Kenya, shares his experience with solar energy after dealing with unreliable grid power.

  • Utility power company Kenya Power struggles to maintain a stable power supply, especially during rainy seasons. This leads to untimely blackouts, which affect customers adversely.

  • "If anything, stepping away from the grid has been one of the best financial decisions I've made," Caleb stated in an interview.

  • How much can you save with solar?... Read more (2 min)

Abba Aliyu, CEO of the Nigeria Rural Electrification Agency, speaks at the 8th Mini Grid Event in Lusaka, Zambia

Events

🗓️ Learn all about optimising  energy consumption in industrial systems (Apr 16)

🗓️ Register for a session on the future of energy and artificial intelligence (Apr 22)

🗓️ Attend the Namibia International Energy Conference 2025 (Apr 23)

Jobs

💼 Join Globeleque as a Financial Accountant (South Africa)

👨🏻‍💻 Spearhead monitoring and evaluation operations at SNV (Kenya)

👨‍💼 Become an Area Business Manager at Sun King (Uganda)

Various 

🔌 Schneider Electric unveils smart solar solution in Uganda

⚡  South African Casino installs rooftop solar the size of four rugby fields 

💸 EBID pledges  $258m for infrastructure and private sector growth in West Africa.

Seen on LinkedIn 

Nelson Lage, President of ADENE - Portuguese Energy Agency, says, “The energy transition must be shared, inclusive, and accessible.”