Kenya is considering public-private partnerships (PPPs) to expand its electricity generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts (MW) by 2032.
The East African nation also plans to use similar PPP arrangements for infrastructure and irrigation projects.
According to President William Ruto, the partnerships will play a key role in scaling up investment in power generation and modern infrastructure to support industrial growth and food security.
“Our talks focused on deepening investment partnerships in infrastructure and energy, including projects to expand Kenya’s energy generation capacity to 10,000 megawatts in the next seven years,” President Ruto said after meeting a United Arab Emirates (UAE) delegation in Nairobi on Monday.
“We are committed to strengthening our bilateral relations with the UAE through enhanced trade, investment, and economic cooperation under the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), unlocking opportunities for growth, job creation, and shared prosperity,” he added.
The President noted that the initiative will include the development of 50 mega dams under PPP arrangements to boost irrigation and food production.
It would be recalled that President Ruto recently visited Qatar, where he cited Kenya’s limited power supply as a major constraint to attracting foreign direct investment, including the establishment of data centers that require at least 10,000 MW of reliable electricity.
Kenya’s installed capacity currently stands at 3,192 MW, according to data from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA).
However, system losses in transmission and distribution averaged 23.36 percent in the year to June 2025—meaning nearly one in four units generated never reaches consumers.
The figures underscore the scale of the challenge ahead, as the country must not only triple its generation capacity but also significantly cut losses to meet future demand.
The government says its pivot to PPPs aims to mobilize private capital for new power plants and infrastructure while modernizing the national transmission grid to improve efficiency and reliability.
In November 2024, the administration signaled plans to explore alternative financing for the country’s aging power network following the cancellation of a Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) deal with Indian-based conglomerate Adani Solutions.
Alaa El-Din Abdel Fattah has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM), effective January 1, 2026. He succeeds Ibrahim Mekki.
El-Din Abdel Fattah began his career as a chemist at the Alexandria Petroleum Company in 1993. He rose through the ranks to become Assistant General Manager for Operations at the Egyptian Linear Alkyl Benzene Company (ELAB) in 2010.
He later served as General Manager for Paraffin and Alkyl Production in 2017 and was appointed Chairman and Managing Director of ELAB in 2024.
Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi congratulated Abdel Fattah on his appointment and emphasized the importance of continuing ECHEM’s comprehensive modernization plans aimed at maximizing the value of Egypt’s petrochemical sector, boosting local production, substituting imports, and expanding exports.
The minister also commended Mekki for his contributions to updating the national plan for the petrochemical industry, implementing green initiatives, and expanding production at key complexes such as MOPCO, ELAB, and Egyptian Petrochemicals.
Badawi noted that the coming period will focus on building upon these achievements and completing ongoing ambitious projects.
TMC Compressors (TMC) has secured a contract from MODEC to supply a large-capacity marine compressed air system for the FPSO Gato do Mato, which will operate offshore Brazil.
Under the contract, TMC will deliver a marine compressed air system consisting of multiple compressors to provide control and service air across the vessel. The company did not disclose the contract value.
The system is designed for high reliability and easy onboard maintenance, minimizing downtime and operating costs for the remote deepwater facility located about 200 km from shore.
“We have designed our compressors so that the offshore crew can easily maintain them without needing external service technicians,” said Hans-Petter Tanum, TMC’s Director of Sales and Business Development. “Our systems are purpose-built for marine and offshore environments such as FPSOs operating far from shore.”
The FPSO Gato do Mato – Orca Project is being developed through a partnership among Shell (50%, operator), Ecopetrol (30%), and TotalEnergies (20%), with PPSA serving as contract manager. Once completed and installed, the FPSO will have an oil production capacity of 120,000 bpd and will be moored in 2,000 m of water.
TMC has previously supplied marine compressed air systems to multiple MODEC-built FPSOs. According to Tanum, the new award underscores a long-standing collaboration between the two companies built on performance reliability and trust developed over several decades.
Ghana’s Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, together with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has indicated that it is exploring ways to ensure that the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) introduced by the previous administration does not lead to wastage of existing investments in LPG refuelling stations.
The Chief Executive of the NPA, Mr. Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, Esq., said the intention is to maintain both the CRM and the current LPG refill system concurrently.
“It is wrong to use policies to collapse people’s investments. When people invest, we can’t use a policy to destroy their investment,” he said.
Mr. Tameklo made these remarks on Tuesday at the launch of the NPA 2025 Consumer Week Celebration at Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region.
The event, which was preceded by LPG safety awareness durbars in Maamobi and Teshie, as well as market engagements in Ashaiman, was held under the theme: “LPG: A Sustainable Energy for a Better Tomorrow.”
Godwin Edudzi Tameklo Esq., Chief Executive Officer of National Petroleum Authority (NPA)
Participants—including industry players, opinion leaders, market women, traders, transport operators, and students—were treated to performances by Stonebwoy and Nacee.
The week-long celebration aims to sensitize the public on the benefits of using Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), the implementation of the CRM, and the Authority’s role in protecting consumer interests within the petroleum downstream sector.
The NPA Boss noted that LPG forms a key part of Ghana’s sustainable future, stressing that by choosing LPG over charcoal and firewood, “we protect the forests, reduce pollution, and improve public health.”
“Through the CRM, the NPA ensures that all cylinders are safely filled, inspected, and distributed through licensed bottling plants. Our goal is to make LPG the preferred energy choice for every Ghanaian household,” he said.
Mr. Tameklo added that the NPA envisions a downstream petroleum industry that is innovative, efficient, and sustainable.
“Since assuming office as Chief Executive of the NPA, I have emphasized the importance of affordability, quality, and reliability in the supply of petroleum products to Ghanaians. Our commitment remains to ensure fair pricing and strict adherence to industry standards, in alignment with the vision of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama to reset and transform the sector while rolling out the 24-hour economy,” he said.
The Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Mr. Richard Gyan-Mensah, who delivered the keynote address on behalf of the sector Minister, Mr. John Abdulai Jinapor, stated that LPG has emerged as one of the most viable transitional fuels, serving as a bridge between dependence on traditional biomass (charcoal and firewood) and the cleaner, modern energy systems the country seeks to develop.
Hon. Richard Gyan- Mensah, Deputy Minister for Energy and Green Transition
“LPG is not just a cooking fuel; it is a health intervention, an environmental safeguard, and a driver of economic empowerment. Compared to charcoal or firewood, LPG produces up to 60 percent fewer carbon emissions, significantly improving indoor air quality while helping to reduce deforestation,” he said.
For his part, the Chairman of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD), Mr. Gabriel Kumi, said the Chamber is not opposed to the introduction of the CRM but rather to the mode of implementation that threatens existing investments in the LPG sector.
Gabriel Kumi, Chairman of Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC)
“The Chamber is not against the introduction of the CRM. What we are against is the previous attempt to shut down existing investments. We believe you don’t collapse existing businesses—you run them side by side,” he said.
The renewable energy boom has been heating up around the world, with many countries shattering their previous records for clean energy expansion year after year.
But in many grids, the rapid growth of renewables has outpaced the advancement of critical supportive infrastructure, from sufficient power lines to reliable and practical energy storage options.
As a result, renewable energy is facing a two-pronged and seemingly dichotomous problem – too many new clean energy projects without a grid to plug into, and too much clean energy already on the grid at times when no one needs it. But all of this is about to change as the world’s rate of electrification heads into overdrive.
The AI boom is reshaping energy systems, policy, investing, and infrastructure around the world. As the private sector races to build as many new data centers as it possibly can, the public sector is frantically trying to predict and adequately prepare for future energy demand.
The problem is that no one knows exactly how much energy the tech sector of the future will demand – but most experts project that it will be a whole lot. However, while we know that AI is extremely energy-intensive and that its integration will continue to expand at a rapid pace, scientists also argue that AI will be instrumental to increasing the energy efficiency of countless other sectors, creating a seriously messy spreadsheet for utilities to puzzle out.
But it is clear that we will need all of the clean energy we can get to power our ever-more electrified and data-driven world without tossing climate ambitions out with the bathwater.
This means that we can no longer afford to see new renewable power projects beset by grid-connection delays, nor can we afford to give away clean energy for free at peak production hours. As Utility Drive reported last week, “The era of ‘free’ excess renewable energy is over.”
This year, the world will see a record number of hours of negative electricity prices, as excess supply and low demand cause utilities to drop their prices below zero, effectively paying consumers to take energy off their hands.
While negative prices are a boon for consumers in the short term, they present a serious problem for investors and for power grids themselves. Plus, a lot of that excess energy ends up going to waste, since there is no profit to be made.
But Utility Drive reports that “with rising energy demand, wasting power will soon be an unaffordable luxury,” and that surpluses will very soon become a thing of the past. Making sure that no energy is wasted will require major advances in energy efficiency and energy storage, and especially long-duration energy storage (LDES).
LDES can capture excess electricity at peak production hours – when the sun is beaming on photovoltaic panels and the wind is roaring through turbines – and feed it back into the grid as needed, after sunset or even in later seasons when the daylight hours are shorter, for example.
Currently, global energy storage systems are dominated by lithium-ion batteries, even the best of which can only hold onto energy for a maximum of four hours, give or take.
Finding a longer-term solution will be critical to ramping up clean energy production to meet demand projections without compromising energy security.
There is currently a fierce global race to find a high-efficiency, affordable, and long-term storage solution to fit the increasing demands of our rapidly changing energy landscape.
The Economist has noted that, as a result of its integral importance, energy storage is heating up to be “clean energy’s next trillion-dollar business.”
Potential solutions vary wildly in approach and in materials, from huge weights for gravity-storage in high-rises to storing heat in mounds of sand or dirt, to name just a few projects from among a myriad of other technologies currently in development.
But not all of these storage solutions are created equal, especially in terms of efficiency – a factor which will soon become all-important as energy demand continues to rise.
“Round-trip efficiency, or RTE, will be a key determinant of which technologies can deliver at the scale and cost we need and which ones will perpetuate the pattern of waste,” reports Utility Drive. “The industry must prioritize high-efficiency LDES technologies now to achieve both our climate goals and economic viability.”
Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the World Bank to drive ongoing reforms and enhance efficiency within the country’s energy sector.
Mr. Jinapor made this known when he received a delegation from the World Bank, led by Dr. Robert Taliercio O’Brien, Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, during a courtesy call on Monday.
The discussions, he noted, focused on key areas of partnership, ongoing reforms, and strategies to sustain and build on the progress achieved so far in the sector.
According to the Minister, his top priorities remain centred on three critical objectives— reducing system losses, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring affordable and reliable power for all Ghanaians.
“I emphasized that our focus is on strengthening the fundamentals of the energy sector to deliver sustainable, affordable, and reliable electricity to every Ghanaian,” Mr. Jinapor stated in a post on his Facebook wall.
He further noted that the Ministry is pursuing strategic efforts to secure additional generation capacity at lower costs, stressing that the government’s overarching objective is to obtain the most cost-effective new power sources to strengthen the sector and deliver long-term benefits to the nation.
The World Bank team, for its part, reaffirmed the institution’s role as a strategic partner to Ghana and expressed continued commitment to9 supporting the Ministry in achieving its objectives.
The former Managing Director of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) Company Limited, now known as BOST Energies, Dr. Edwin Provencal, has reportedly been arrested by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) while attempting to board a flight at the Kotoka International Airport.
Dr. Provencal was said to be en route to Mozambique for an engagement when the arrest took place.
It is not yet clear what necessitated EOCO’s action.
Some social commentators are linking his arrest to the previous administration’s Gold-for-Oil (G4O) programme.
However, this portal recalls that in October 2025, EOCO issued a statement debunking a report about the alleged arrest of the Chief Executive Officer of Springfield E&P, Mr. Kevin Okyere, in Dubai, following claims that the agency had failed to act on a petitioner’s case.
In that statement, EOCO clarified that it was investigating two cases. It explained that the first case involved Springfield E&P, while the second concerned a dispute between Springfield E&P and BOST, following a petition the office had received.
EOCO noted that the BOST–Springfield case was of significant economic importance, with immediate implications for BOST’s finances, making it a priority investigation.
This portal cannot confirm whether Dr. Provencal’s arrest is connected to the Gold-for-Oil programme or the Springfield E&P–BOST dispute.
Efforts by this portal to reach his lawyers for comment have so far been unsuccessful.
Power distribution companies in the Federal Republic of Nigeria metered 70,888 new electricity customers in August 2025, bringing the total number of metered customers across all Distribution Companies (DisCos) in the country to 6.58 million.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) disclosed this in its Metering Factsheet for July and August 2025.
According to the data, 70,888 customers were metered in August, compared to 76,783 in July—reflecting ongoing metering efforts across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
As of July 2025, the active customer population across all DisCos stood at 11.89 million, but increased to 11.96 million in August.
“Out of this figure, 6.58 million customers were metered, resulting in a metering rate of 55.01 per cent, which represents a slight increase from 54.71 per cent recorded in July,” the report stated.
The factsheet listed the top-performing DisCos as Eko (84.25 per cent), Ikeja (84.83 per cent), and Abuja (73.92 per cent).
It added that these figures highlight gradual progress in closing Nigeria’s metering gap and improving transparency and billing accuracy for electricity consumers.
Zambia’s Energy Regulatory Board (ERB) has shut down Uno Hillview Service Station in Chalala, Lusaka, following reports of fuel contamination at the station.
According to the ERB, after receiving a report of contamination, it directed the suspension of all fuel sales at the station and commenced investigations into the incident.
A statement issued by ERB Public Relations Manager, Namukolo Kasumpa, said preliminary investigations revealed that the incident occurred on Saturday, 8th November 2025, around 09:00 hours.
“Findings so far indicate that a petrol tank at the service station may contain residual water from the recent rainfall, which may have led to the contamination of the fuel,” the statement said.
The ERB assured the public that it is carrying out a full investigation to bring the matter to its logical conclusion, reaffirming its commitment to protecting consumers and ensuring the delivery of quality energy products and services.
Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has called on world leaders to rally behind Ghana and Africa in achieving clean and sustainable energy across the globe.
Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at a high-level summit of world leaders at this year’s COP30 in Brazil, he emphasized that Africa has the capacity to influence the world’s energy landscape due to its vast natural resources.
According to him, the continent is endowed with abundant solar, wind, and hydropower potential that can be effectively harnessed to address the global climate crisis.
As leader of Ghana’s delegation, he therefore urged the hundreds of world leaders present to tap into Africa’s natural endowments to drive the necessary transformation in the world’s energy and climate situations.
“The African position is clear. We are not asking for charity. We are asking for partnership in the truest sense,” the Minister stated.
“We stand ready to be a powerhouse of green energy for the world. But we cannot do it alone. Therefore, on behalf of a continent poised at a pivotal moment in history, I call upon this assembly and our developed partners around the world: We urge you to match our ambition with your action,” Ghana’s Lands and Acting Environment Minister stressed.
Minister Buah also noted that, now more than ever, there is a crucial need for world leaders to walk the talk on global climate financing.
He said this would go a long way toward preserving the environment and reducing the adverse impacts of climate change worldwide.
“The climate finance promised for so long must now flow — not just in words, but in predictable, concessional, and private-sector-leveraged investments that reach the communities who need them most,” the Minister stated.
“We need increased ambition for climate finance, with a significant portion dedicated to adaptation and recognition of Africa’s special circumstances,” Armah-Kofi Buah emphasized.
In his concluding remarks, he reiterated Ghana’s readiness to be a key player in addressing the climate challenge and called for stronger collaboration and partnerships.
“Let us leave Belém with a resolve to harness not only finance, but also technology, innovation, and artificial intelligence to accelerate justice, equity, and shared prosperity.
From the Volta to the Western shores, Ghana stands ready to power Africa’s clean future,” the Minister concluded.
COP30 is the world’s largest climate conference, convening global leaders in Belém, Brazil, to accelerate efforts to cut emissions, scale up climate finance, and support countries most affected by climate impacts.
The summit serves as a key milestone in advancing the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Ghana is currently being represented by accredited delegates and individuals in Belém, located in Brazil’s northern region.
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has emphasized that the power sector remains central to stimulating the country’s economy, particularly in the industrial, educational, and healthcare sectors.
He expressed the government’s full commitment to improving electricity supply and enhancing citizens’ livelihoods.
He made these remarks on Monday during a meeting at the State House with a delegation from Siemens Energy, led by Dietmar Siersdorfer, Managing Director for Middle East and Africa.
The President stated that the completion of the phased power project under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) – Siemens Energy will position Nigeria prominently on the continent by harnessing latent potential in human and material resources across various sectors.
Bola Tinubu, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser for Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said: “There is no industrial growth or economic development without power. I believe that power is the most significant discovery of humanity in the last 1,000 years. I appreciate the partnership on this initiative. The progress of the project to date is notable, but it is not yet where we want it to be. We value the support and commitment of the German government and Siemens. Your investment and commitment align with Nigeria’s future. Our education, healthcare, and transportation all depend on energy, and without power, none of this is possible. We are taking it very seriously.”
The President also directed the expansion of major transformer substations from two to three phases to boost the country’s power supply.
“We are inspired and motivated. This is what we want to achieve on the continent. We want everyone to witness the glory of our economic recovery and the fight against poverty,” he added.
He assured the delegation that the government would continue providing the necessary resources for the power project.
Power Minister Adelabu stated that the sector had achieved critical milestones, including decentralization and liberalization. He noted the signing of the Electricity Act 2023 and the development of a National Integrated Electricity Policy after 24 years, attracting over $2.2 billion in fresh investments. Fifteen state electricity markets have since been activated.
Adelabu highlighted that since the signing of the Accelerated Agreement at COP28 in Dubai (December 2023), attended by President Tinubu and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the PPI has recorded significant milestones.
Under the Pilot Phase (Phase Zero), major infrastructure upgrades and capacity enhancements have improved grid stability and reliability nationwide.
Siemens Energy has delivered and commissioned 10 units of 132/33kV mobile substations, three 75/100MVA transformers, and seven 60/66MVA transformers across key load centers, adding 984MW of transmission capacity.
In December 2024, the Federal Executive Council approved the EPC contract for Phase One, Batch One, covering upgrades and new installations of five key substations in Abeokuta, Offa, Ayede-Ibadan, Sokoto, and Onitsha. Civil works mobilization has been finalized, manufacturing is ongoing, and two substations are targeted for completion by the end of 2026.
Phase One, Batch Two includes six Brownfield and ten Greenfield substations with a cumulative capacity of 4,104MW, covering key load centers nationwide.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun stated that the PPI would enhance Nigeria’s ease of doing business, create jobs, and reduce poverty.
Dietmar Siersdorfer noted that two of the five Batch One substations are expected to be completed by December 2026. A training center is being constructed to develop local talent in electrical engineering, generate jobs, and transfer technology.
“The PPI is not just a project but a platform for long-term development and prosperity,” he stated, adding that Nigerian professionals will be directly engaged at project sites, creating thousands of local jobs through services, accommodation, and transportation.
Johannes Lehne, representing the German Ambassador, assured President Tinubu of continued support and collaboration from the German government.
South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has approved a 20-year licence extension for Eskom’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Unit 2, allowing it to continue operating until 2045.
Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Unit 2 marks 40 years of safe, clean, and reliable operation, reaffirming South Africa’s capability to manage world-class nuclear facilities and deliver affordable, low-carbon electricity to the nation.
This follows a similar approval granted for Unit 1 in 2024.
Since entering commercial operation on 9 November 1985, Unit 2 has been a cornerstone of South Africa’s energy system—providing dependable baseload power, enhancing grid stability, and supporting economic growth in the Western Cape and beyond.
With both Units 1 and 2 now extended for an additional 20 years, they will together supply approximately 1,860 MW of clean, reliable, and affordable power to the national grid for the next two decades—supporting the goals of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025 and South Africa’s just energy transition.
“Koeberg’s 40-year milestone is a proud moment for South Africa and proof of our ability to operate complex infrastructure safely and sustainably. With both units now licensed for another 20 years, Koeberg remains a cornerstone of our energy security and a key contributor to the clean energy transition under IRP 2025,” Eskom’s Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane, said in a statement on Sunday.
Commenting on the achievement, Eskom’s Group Executive for Generation, Bheki Nxumalo, said:
“Koeberg’s success over the past four decades is driven by the exceptional dedication, professionalism, and expertise of its employees—men and women whose commitment ensures safe, reliable operations every day.
“Their work keeps the lights on for millions of South Africans. Koeberg’s consistent performance continues to demonstrate operational excellence, environmental stewardship, and the value of investing in South African skills and capability.”
Koeberg Unit 2, which currently contributes 946 MW to the grid, achieved a 100% Energy Availability Factor (EAF) for 244 consecutive days this year, reflecting world-class reliability.
The station has also received more than 14 NOSCAR safety awards from the National Occupational Safety Association (NOSA), underscoring its strong culture of safety and discipline.
Located near Cape Town, Koeberg reduces transmission losses, supports regional energy needs, and operates within a 3,000-hectare nature reserve—highlighting Eskom’s commitment to sustainability and environmental preservation.
Shell has exited the MarramWind and CampionWind projects off the coast of Scotland following a strategic review, the company said on Monday, a move that aligns with its current pivot away from renewables.
Shell sold its 50% interest in MarramWind to ScottishPower Renewables and returned the CampionWind lease to Crown Estate Scotland, it said. While ScottishPower Renewables said it would continue the development of MarramWind, it was not immediately clear whether CampionWind would move forward as proposed under Crown Estate Scotland.
Under CEO Wael Sawan, Shell has pivoted away from renewables and doubled down on oil and gas to boost investor confidence.
“After a comprehensive review and in line with Shell’s previously announced refocusing of its power strategy on leveraging Shell’s strengths in trading and retailing, the conclusion was to not take the CampionWind project forward,” a Shell spokesperson said.
As proposed, CampionWind, 100 km (60 miles) from the east coast of Scotland, could deliver up to 2 gigawatts of power.
Crown Estate Scotland said in a statement it will assess options for the CampionWind site in line with market demand.
MarramWind, located 75 km off the north-east coast of Aberdeenshire, has a potential capacity of up to 3 gigawatts. If successfully developed, it could power the equivalent of more than 3.5 million homes.
“With sole responsibility for MarramWind – alongside our MachairWind project – we will now continue the development of these wind farms and maintain our positive engagement with local people and businesses,” a ScottishPower Renewables spokesperson said.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Monday the biggest use of the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office will be for nuclear power plants.
The LPO has hundreds of billions of dollars in financing aid, including loan guarantees for projects that struggle to get bank loans. During President Donald Trump’s first term in the White House, the only use he made of the LPO was for financing reactors at the Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia.
“By far the biggest use of those dollars will be for nuclear power plants to get those first plants built,” Wright told a conference of the American Nuclear Society. The U.S. currently has no commercial nuclear reactors being built, though several intend to reverse their permanent shutdown status and open again, and there are other plans to build new large and small reactors.
Wright said electricity demand from artificial intelligence and data centers will bring in billions of dollars of equity capital from “very creditworthy providers.” That financing will be matched “three to one, maybe even up to four to one, with low-cost debt dollars from the Loan Programs Office,” Wright said.
