Financing and major infrastructure projects
The African Development Bank approved an 878 million dollar loan for the second tranche of the Algerian Laghouat-Ghardaïa-El Meniaa rail corridor, with the aim of extending the rail network from 6,000 to 15,000 kilometres by 2030. In Niger, it is granting 144 million dollars to improve governance in the energy sector and support private business.
Morocco is raising 105.5 billion dirhams through innovative arrangements, securitisation and bonds, to finance high-speed rail, motorways and airports without weighing on the state budget. Côte d'Ivoire has launched its 2026-2030 national development plan, worth 114,838.5 billion CFA francs, which aims to turn the north into an agro-industrial and logistics corridor with a dry port at Ferkessédougou. Algeria plans 64 billion euros of hydrocarbon investment by 2030, and the Economic Commission for Africa has welcomed the Nigeria-Morocco pipeline as a major initiative for regional energy security.
Target stated in support of the African Development Bank loan.
SourcesCapmadBanque africaine de développementLe360Afrik.comAPA NewsChallenge
Energy and electrification: projects and reforms
Burkina Faso has launched the presidential initiative Faso Wa-Fulu with 2,800 billion CFA francs to electrify 6,700 localities and reach 17.9 million people by 2030. Rwanda has opened a tender for a 200 MW floating solar project with 800 MWh of battery storage. Gabon and EDF have signed a protocol for the 400 MW Booué hydroelectric dam, intended to close the country's power deficit.
On the regulatory side, several countries are opening their electricity markets to private investors: Togo has adopted a bill easing investment, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has validated its grid code and tariff methodology, Kenya is opening supply to large consumers and Zambia is allowing miners to buy power directly from independent producers. A private 200 kilometre cross-border interconnection between the DRC and Zambia, from Kalumbila to Kolwezi, is under study for 300 million dollars.
6,700
Localities to electrify in Burkina Faso by 2030
200 MW
Rwandan floating solar, with 800 MWh of storage
400 MW
Booué dam in Gabon, with EDF
200 km
DRC-Zambia interconnection under study, Kalumbila-Kolwezi
SourcesAPA NewsPV MagazineCMS
Mining and local processing
African leaders are arguing for local mineral processing in order to capture more value. Ghana plans to stop exporting raw minerals by 2030. In Zimbabwe, the continent's first lithium refinery, operated by Zhejiang Huayou, has come on stream after the conditional easing of the concentrate export ban.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia are developing a cross-border special economic zone for battery precursors. Botswana has renegotiated its agreement with De Beers, raising the share of diamonds marketed by the state from 25 to 50 per cent. These moves follow a continental trend illustrated by the Simandou project in Guinea and Barrick's extension of the Lumwana copper mine in Zambia.
SourcesThe StarForbes Afrique
Telecoms and digital: sector dynamics
In telecoms, Senegal has suspended Starlink's licence following an appeal by Sonatel, while Côte d'Ivoire has authorised the operator to offer fixed satellite internet access. Kenya is consulting on a dedicated data centre licence and Ghana has removed NGIC's monopoly on wholesale 5G.
On the digital side, the Via Africa submarine cable project aims to link Europe to South Africa. In energy, TotalEnergies is raising 1.8 billion dollars with Global Infrastructure Partners for its African oil and gas infrastructure, and Mauritania has signed the agreement for the AMAN green hydrogen project with CWP Global, with no financial close at this stage.
SourcesCMS