At the Africa‑Europe High‑Level Forum in Vienna today (18/12/2018) the European Investment Bank formally agreed a total of EUR 495 million of new financing for three projects to support sustainable transport, clean energy and internet access projects in North, West and East Africa.

At its Africa Day in Addis Ababa, the European Investment Bank announced today its strong support for the construction of a 420-MW hydropower project in Cameroon. The EIB will provide a EUR 50 million long term project finance loan to NHPC (Nachtigal Hydro Power Company) under the Impact Financing Envelope of the ACP Cotonou Investment Facility.

A new high-level platform initiative brings together key players in the sustainable energy sector from the public and private sectors of both Europe and Africa. Today at the Africa Investment Forum in Johannesburg organised by the African Development Bank, the European Union and the African Union have launched the EU-Africa high-level platform on sustainable energy investments in Africa.

A few months after becoming the first region to sign a partnership agreement with Energies for Africa, the association set up by Jean-Louis Borloo, the Hauts-de-France region is continuing its commitment to the African continent by hosting the Regional Forum for Energy Stakeholders.

On 15th October 2018, the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement – AFD) announced the third edition of its Digital Challenge, which promotes the work of entrepreneurs involved in the African digital revolution.

Funds totaling €36.7 million have been awarded by Germany’s development bank KfW and the European Union. The project is set to be located in Boundiali, in the northern part of the Sub-Saharan country. Germany’s development bank, KfW signed two contracts yesterday with the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Ivory Coast for the financing of a 37.5 MW PV project in Boundiali Department, in the northwestern part of the Ivory Coast.

For engineer Henri Prévot and Central African Republic deputy Jean-Pierre Mara, writing a joint op-ed in Le Monde, France’s efforts to promote solar energy have more chance of success in Africa than at home. Contrary to popular belief, sub-Saharan Africa is electrifying fast.

The European Union (EU) remains convinced that financial commitment is the best way to combat climate change; a global phenomenon. The organisation wants to invest more in zero CO2 emission projects in Africa.

Theresa May has revealed that the UK Government will invest £56m into a South African battery storage project to help the nation bolster its renewable power generation output. The contribution will be made to the $500m (£384m) Clean Technology Fund - a joint project from the World Bank, African Development Bank and South African Government, which aims to fast-track the region’s access to clean energy technologies.

French Telecoms company, Orange (www.Orange.com) and leading West African Connectivity and Data Centre services provider, MainOne (www.MainOne.net) have struck a partnership that will see the French telecoms giant co-invest in two new cable landing stations in Dakar, Senegal and Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire while the broadband infrastructure provider will provide additional capacity via its 7000km cable system from Europe to Africa with landing stations in Nigeria, Ghana and Portugal, reinforcing the position of both companies in the African telecommunications ecosystem.