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RES4Africa, Enel Green Power and the European Investment Bank Encourage African Youth to Find Green Energy Solutions to Community Challenges

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The second Micro-Grid Academy Young Talent of the Year Award today acknowledged energy innovation from across Africa that can accelerate the green transition and improve economic opportunities.

Backed by the RES4Africa Foundation, Enel Green Power and the European Investment Bank the yearly competition encourages young energy entrepreneurs from across the continent to develop projects that expand enegy access, enable greater use of renewable eneryg and accelerate sustainability.

Young finalists from across West, East and Southern Africa presented their innovative ideas to expert judges from the RES4Africa Foundation, Enel Green Power and the European Investment Bank.

The 2021 edition of the Micro-Grid Academy Young Talent of the Year Award has arrived to its final steps. Today, the eight young African innovators selected as finalists out of nearly 50 applicants presented to the international public their disruptive projects for the first time. The presentation took place during the event Public Competition for the MGA Young Talent of the Year 2021 finalists, and represents a preparatory step for the announcement of the three winners, that will be held the 28th of September in the framework of the Precop26.

The three entities strongly believe that renewables and innovation will be the response to the climate changes and energy deficit that Africa faces. In this deeply needed path towards its just energy transition, the continent can and must rely on one of its most precious resources : its youth. With this joint initiative, RES4Africa, Enel Green Power and the European Investment Bank put together their efforts to support those young people from all Africa countries who are committed and motivate to create a real change in their communities.

These are the finalists identified by the selection committee, who publicly presented their project ideas and among which there are the three future winners:

• Adekoyejo Ifeoluwapo Kuye, 26 years old from Nigeria, introduced a project focused on a sustainable cold chain for food;

• Alex Makalliwa, 31 from Kenya, presented his initiative of electrical tricycles for heavy loads in Nairobi;

• Benson Kibiti, 34 also from Kenya, performed an overview on an PV-powered trolley for heating up food and providing power;

• Lucas Filipe Tamele Junior, 24 from Mozambique, focused on waste management, biofertilizers and biogas;

• Matjaka Ketsi from Lesotho is 28, and presented an initiative aiming at building solar-powered Learning Centres for rural communities;

• Shedrack Charles Mkwepu is instead 26 and comes from Tanzania: he designed a system that allows farmers to control irrigation and other soil parametres from a mobile phone;

• Carol Ofafa, 32 from Kenya, proposed the installation of a PV system for health facilities;

• Kumbuso Joshua Nyoni, 34 from Zambia, envision an integrated Water-Food-Energy model for PV power and a water pumping system.

The webinar benefitted from the presence of Salvatore Bernabei, President of RES4Africa and Head of Enel Global Power Generation, as well as of Maria Shaw Barragan, Director of Lending in Africa, Caribbean, Pacific, Asia and Latin America, European Investment Bank. They introduced the objectives of the MGA Young Talent of the Year Award, while reflecting upon youth’s impact on the just energy transition.

Moreover, after the finalists’ presentation, a final feedback was provided, with closing remarks, by Roberto Vigotti, Secretary General at RES4Africa Foundation, Carmelo Cocuzza, Head of Corporates Unit, European Investment Bank, and Silvia Piana, Head of Regulatory Affairs Africa, Asia and Australia Area at Enel Green Power.

“The ability to generate innovation will be a fundamental driver to pave the way for a transformation that goes well beyond the dynamic of the Energy sector” commented Salvatore Bernabei “We are here give voice and visibility to young talents, innovators, entrepreneurs promoting the best innovative ideas to stimulate socio-economic progress from within and free the creativity of the younger generations in designing the Africa of tomorrow”.

Increasing energy access and enabling more sustainable energy use is crucial to unlock opportunities for communities across Africa. The finalists in this year’s Micro-Grid Academy Young Talent Awards all demonstrate inspirational and innovative thinking that combined world-class energy expertise with unparalleled understanding of local energy needs and all deserve to win. The European Investment Bank is pleased to join RES4Africa and Enel Green Power to support talented young innovators and encourage them to become green energy leaders of the future.” said Maria Shaw-Barragan, European Investment Bank Director for Global Partners.

RES4Africa Foundation (Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa) envisions the sustainable transformation of Africa’s electricity systems to ensure reliable and affordable electricity access for all, enabling the continent to achieve its full, resilient, inclusive and sustainable development. The Foundation’s mission is to create favourable conditions for scaling up investments in clean energy technologies to accelerate the continent’s just energy transition and transformation.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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African Nations at Odds Over Location of Africa’s First Energy Bank, Nigeria Faces Opposition

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Renewable Energy

A brewing dispute among African nations has thrown into question the location of Africa’s inaugural energy bank, with Nigeria encountering fierce resistance from at least six countries on the continent.

The proposed financial institution with an initial capital of $5 billion, aims to bolster investment in the oil and gas sector across Africa.

Ghana, Egypt, South Africa, Benin Republic, Cote d’Ivoire, and Algeria have emerged as formidable opponents to Nigeria’s bid for hosting rights.

These nations have actively lobbied decision-makers who will ultimately determine the bank’s headquarters.

The disagreement underscores the significance attached to the financial institution’s location, with each nation vying to secure economic advantages.

The contentious deliberations have attracted the participation of key stakeholders, including Angola, Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, and Equatorial Guinea, among others.

The establishment of the energy bank is seen as crucial to the future of Africa’s oil and gas industry, especially amid declining Western investments in fossil fuels.

The proposed bank aims to bridge the funding gap plaguing the sector, which is vital for Nigeria’s ambition to tap into its vast oil reserves.

While Nigeria’s leadership in the African Petroleum Producers Association (APPO) would seemingly provide leverage, internal and external dynamics complicate its bid.

Nigeria’s APPO representative has highlighted the need for proactive engagement and commitment, cautioning against complacency in the pursuit of hosting rights.

The decision on the bank’s location is expected to be reached by the end of March, emphasizing the urgency for Nigeria and other contenders to articulate compelling arguments and fulfill stringent criteria set by APPO.

The outcome will not only shape the future of Africa’s energy landscape but also reflect the continent’s evolving geopolitical dynamics.

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60% of Metered Customers Bypass Meters – TCN Reveals

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The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has disclosed that 60% of metered customers bypass meters.

Ali Ahmad, TCN’s General Manager, shared this alarming statistic during the National Institute of Physics’ webinar series 2.0, themed “Policy, Regulatory, and Technical Constraints in Achieving Energy Security in Nigeria: The Way Forward.”

Ahmad’s presentation shed light on Nigeria’s energy landscape, where out of an estimated population of 230 million, only 13,112,134 citizens are officially registered to use electricity.

Moreover, just 44.23% of these registered customers possess meters, indicating a significant gap in metering coverage across the nation.

With only 2.52% of Nigeria’s population metered, Ahmad emphasized that meter bypass directly contributes to the country’s energy poverty, characterized by unreliable and unaffordable energy access.

He stressed the critical importance of energy security, defined by having dependable and reasonably priced energy sources, to drive sustainable development.

Highlighting the various forms of energy poverty in Nigeria, Ahmad underscored the necessity of achieving energy sovereignty and independence for national progress.

Nigeria’s energy vulnerability, he explained, stems from heavy reliance on gas, insufficient production capacity, and unreliable gas supplies.

The TCN’s revelation underscores the urgency for comprehensive reforms in Nigeria’s energy sector, including robust measures to combat meter bypass, enhance metering infrastructure, and ensure equitable energy access for all citizens.

Addressing these challenges is paramount to advancing energy security and fostering socio-economic development across Nigeria.

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Heirs Energies Expands Gas Supply to Geometric Power’s Aba Plant

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Heirs Holdings

Heirs Energies, a leading integrated energy company, has announced the expansion of its gas supply operations to the newly-opened 188-megawatt power plant operated by Geometric Power Limited in Aba, Abia State.

This move represents a significant milestone in Heirs Energies’ commitment to enhancing Nigeria’s energy landscape and promoting economic development.

The company, in a statement released on Wednesday, revealed its ongoing provision of gas to TransAfam Power Limited and First Independent Power Limited, both key players in Nigeria’s power sector, to support the national grid.

Now, extending its services to Geometric Power’s Aba plant, Heirs Energies reaffirms its dedication to powering Nigeria and fostering socio-economic growth.

Osa Igiehon, the Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Energies, expressed the company’s dedication to illuminating Nigeria and facilitating its journey toward prosperity.

He emphasized that Heirs Energies isn’t merely a participant in the energy sector but a catalyst for progress and development.

With the ability to supply gas to major power plants, Heirs Energies underscores its pivotal role in Nigeria’s energy sector and its commitment to driving operational synergies across the energy value chain.

Founded in 2021, Heirs Energies operates OML17 and related infrastructure, ensuring a reliable supply of gas to the domestic market.

By supplying gas to critical power plants like Geometric Power’s Aba facility, the company contributes directly to Nigeria’s industrial and economic advancement.

Heirs Energies’ gas expansion initiative aligns with its vision of creating a Nigerian champion in domestic gas supply, driven by Tony Elumelu’s Africapitalism philosophy, which advocates for businesses to deliver economic and social benefits to stakeholders.

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