AfDB Injects $9.72 Million into Modernizing Africa’s Hydropower Systems
The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), managed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), has allocated $9.72 million to drive the Africa Hydropower Modernization Program (AHMP), aiming to overhaul hydropower systems across the continent.
The funds will expand ongoing AHMP efforts, focusing on 12 private sector-led projects in eight countries. Noteworthy projects include upgrading the cooling water system of Sudan’s 280 MW Roseires plant to mitigate forced outages and replacing electromechanical equipment at the 7 MW Lubilanji 1 plant in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
“About half of Africa’s hydropower assets are over 30 years old and aging fast; modernizing them with the latest electromechanical and digital technologies is the fastest and cheapest way to increase clean energy capacity and enhance system flexibility needed to accelerate energy transition efforts,” said João Duarte Cunha, AfDB Division Manager for Renewable Energy and SEFA Manager.
Total AHMP investments, estimated at around one billion dollars, anticipate an additional 570 MW of capacity, inclusive of private sector contributions.
They also target a reduction of annual greenhouse gas emissions by 1,700 kilotons of CO2 equivalent, marking a significant stride in Africa’s decarbonization.
Aligned with the Bank’s New Deal on Energy for Africa, the funding program prioritizes low-carbon technologies and the integration of renewable resources.
