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Kenya triples its power target, aiming to expand use of nuclear and geothermal energy

Kenya triples its power target, aiming to expand use of nuclear and geothermal energy

Kenya has tripled its long-term target for expanding its renewable power capacity to meet surging demand and support its industrialization, but that might not result in more affordable power for consumers
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India Allows Delayed Renewable Projects to Retain Grid Access Through Penalty Payments

India Allows Delayed Renewable Projects to Retain Grid Access Through Penalty Payments

India's Central Electricity Regulatory Commission has introduced a new policy allowing solar and wind developers who miss project deadlines to retain their grid connectivity by paying a daily penalty. This measure aims to prevent grid space from remaining unused due to project delays. Developers will be charged $10.48 per megawatt per day until their projects are completed. If the start of commercial operations is delayed, the penalty triples. However, this relief is not indefinite; developers have three months to secure land, six months to arrange financing, and 12 months to commission the completed projects. This move follows an earlier decision by New Delhi to exempt wind and solar developers from transmission charges if their projects face delays due to transmission capacity constraints, provided they have signed at least seven-year power sale contracts by the end of the year.
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Abu Dhabi's GSU Inaugurates 50MW Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant in Central African Republic

Abu Dhabi's GSU Inaugurates 50MW Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant in Central African Republic

Global South Utilities (GSU), an Abu Dhabi-based company, has inaugurated a 50MW solar photovoltaic power plant in Sakaï, located on the outskirts of Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic. This significant infrastructure project was completed approximately one year after breaking ground. The new solar plant aims to substantially enhance the country's electricity generation capacity, which is crucial for its economic and social development. The Central African Republic has historically faced challenges with energy access and reliability, and this project represents a major step towards addressing those issues. The inauguration marks a milestone in the country's efforts to diversify its energy mix and reduce its reliance on traditional, often unreliable, power sources. The plant's completion is expected to provide a more stable and sustainable power supply to residents and businesses.
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Brookfield Renewable Faces Scrutiny Over Penobscot River Fish Kills Amidst Dam Relicensing

Brookfield Renewable Faces Scrutiny Over Penobscot River Fish Kills Amidst Dam Relicensing

Brookfield Renewable, the owner of the Ripogenus Dam on the Penobscot River, is facing increased scrutiny and calls for greater oversight following a turbine shutdown on July 27 that resulted in a catastrophic fish kill of juvenile landlocked salmon. This incident, triggered by a broken transmission line cross-arm at McKay Station, follows a similar event in 2023. Brookfield is currently in the final stages of relicensing the Ripogenus Dam, located about 30 miles west of Millinocket. Local property owners and conservation groups have filed complaints with federal regulators, accusing Brookfield of poor maintenance and repeatedly disrupting water levels, which impacts the river's renowned fishing and whitewater rafting. Critics argue that the dam's current 30-year license, inherited by Brookfield, is inadequate for wildlife protection and lacks provisions for backup systems to mitigate dramatic water flow changes. Despite ongoing concerns, Brookfield has not received license violations.
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Ghana Seeks to Halt Recruitment of Citizens by Russia Amidst Ukraine War

Ghana Seeks to Halt Recruitment of Citizens by Russia Amidst Ukraine War

Ghanaian Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has met with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, to address concerns regarding the recruitment of Ghanaian citizens into the Russian military. This development follows reports of at least 62 Ghanaians having died while fighting for Russia in the Ukraine war, an increase from 55 reported in February. Russia's recruitment of African nationals has become a growing concern across the continent, with allegations that some individuals were lured into military contracts through misleading job offers. Countries like Kenya and South Africa have also been working to repatriate their citizens who were reportedly deceived into signing contracts with the Russian military. An investigation by INPACT suggests that over 1,400 African nationals from various countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa, were recruited to fight for Russia between 2023 and 2025, with an estimated 316 fatalities.
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Ghana Accuses Russia of Illegally Recruiting Citizens for Ukraine War, Raising International Concerns

Ghana Accuses Russia of Illegally Recruiting Citizens for Ukraine War, Raising International Concerns

Ghana has formally accused Russia of illegally recruiting its citizens to serve in the Russian Armed Forces and participate in the ongoing conflict against Ukraine. Ghana's Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, met with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow to address these allegations. Lavrov confirmed that Ghanaian citizens had signed contracts with Russia's Ministry of Defense, attributing their motivations to 'solidarity with a country that had also helped them fight racism' and financial incentives. According to Ukrainian intelligence data from February 27, over 1,780 Africans from 36 countries are reportedly fighting for Russia, including 272 Ghanaians. The promised salaries for these recruits ranged from $30,000 to $40,000 per year. This recruitment drive has resulted in significant casualties, with 62 Ghanaian nationals killed and 15 still missing while fighting for Russia.
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Oklo Develops Compact Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Recycling Services Amidst High Valuation and Regulatory Hurdles

Oklo Develops Compact Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Recycling Services Amidst High Valuation and Regulatory Hurdles

Oklo Develops Compact Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Recycling Services Amidst High Valuation and Regulatory Hurdles
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UNDP Seeks Communication Officer for Kenya's Solar Cooling Project to Reduce Post-Harvest Losses

UNDP Seeks Communication Officer for Kenya's Solar Cooling Project to Reduce Post-Harvest Losses

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kenya is actively seeking a Communication Officer to lead communication, visibility, knowledge management, and learning efforts for its Solar Cooling Project. This initiative aims to significantly reduce post-harvest losses in Kenya, which currently exceed 40% due to inadequate cold storage, poor handling, limited awareness, workforce gaps, and weak financing. The project directly supports Kenya's updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and Climate Smart Agriculture Strategy. Implemented through UNDP and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the project plans to expand market-led solar-powered cold storage by financing 1,000 facilities. The Communication Officer will be responsible for developing and implementing a communication and knowledge management workplan, creating content such as news articles, case studies, and social media posts, and translating technical project information into accessible messages for various stakeholde...
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New York Utilities Seek Approval to Own and Operate Renewable Energy Projects

New York Utilities Seek Approval to Own and Operate Renewable Energy Projects

New York Utilities Seek Approval to Own and Operate Renewable Energy Projects
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Blind Egyptian entrepreneur's AI app helps others 'see' the world

Blind Egyptian entrepreneur's AI app helps others 'see' the world

By Mariam Rizk, Sherif Fahmy and Mohamed Ezz CAIRO, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Karen Morad went blind five years ago, yet on holiday in Kenya in June, the 16-year-old Cairo schoolgirl felt like she could suddenly see again thanks to an app developed by her brother that described the safari in audiovisual.
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Analysis-Emerging markets march out of 'valley of tears' as investors diversify

Analysis-Emerging markets march out of 'valley of tears' as investors diversify

By Libby George and Karin Strohecker LONDON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - War, tariffs and AI gyrations have done little to dent the flow of cash into emerging markets, as reforms, deeper local capital markets and diversification away from U.S. assets reshape the asset class.
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North Macedonia Scraps Hydropower Plans in Sar Mountain Valley, Allowing Ecosystem Restoration

North Macedonia Scraps Hydropower Plans in Sar Mountain Valley, Allowing Ecosystem Restoration

North Macedonia has decided to dismantle and remove infrastructure related to two planned small hydropower plants, Pena 84 and Pena 85, in the Leshnica Valley within Sar Mountain National Park. For years, this valley has been a focal point of conflict between energy development and environmental preservation efforts. Although the hydropower projects were never completed or put into operation, their installed infrastructure remained a visible reminder of the plans. The Sar Mountain National Park public institution announced that this removal is a crucial first step towards restoring the natural state of this exceptionally valuable area. The projects, developed by Gravis Hydro, were planned with capacities of 2.89 MW and 2.46 MW, respectively. The park's management plan explicitly prohibits the construction of new hydroelectric power plants in any of its three protection zones, citing the disruption of ecological processes in river ecosystems as a significant threat. The Leshnica Valley is recognized as a Eu...