Infrastructure news from around the continent

RWANDA

Steady growth in electric mobility

In an effort to encourage electric mobility, the Rwandan government has implemented the following measures: • reduced electricity tariffs • spare parts, charging station equipment and batteries are VAT zero rated products and are exempt from certain import and excise duties • an exemption of a 5% of withholding tax at customs • rent-free land for charging stations • free licence and authorisation for commercial EVs • 15% corporate income tax and a tax holiday for manufacturing and assembly firms. There is now a growing fleet of electric vehicles in the capital, with the government considering electric buses to further cut carbon emissions.

Just recently, a start-up named OX Delivers introduced electric trucks that can glide through dirt roads and deliver harvest from farmers to markets, airpollution-free. Victoria Motors has also taken advantage of these incentives. “At inception, we anticipated a slow but steady growth of the electric mobility market in Rwanda. We have, however, been surprised by the uptake of our e-mobility transport solutions, particularly after the passing of the government incentives late last year. These in a way have made the vehicles more affordable to the Rwandan market,” says Joshua Nshuti, innovations and business development manager, Victoria Motors.

“However, it is not enough to make a decision to acquire a brand-new vehicle based purely on initial cost but rather the initial cost coupled with maintenance and operational costs over the life of the vehicle. Once this approach is taken into consideration, electric vehicles always prove better value for money before even considering the comfort, safety features and modern driving experience they offer,” he adds.

ETHIOPIA

GERD: Second turbine begins producing power The Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), set to be Africa’s largest hydroelectric scheme, has kick-started electricity production from its second turbine. Ethiopia first began generating electricity at the dam in February 2022. Currently, the two turbines, out of a total of 13 at the dam, have a capacity to generate 750 MW of electricity.

The dam is in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia. Its primary purpose is electricity production to relieve Ethiopia’s acute energy shortage and for electricity export to neighbouring countries. Filling the reservoir began in July 2020. It will take between four and seven years to fill with water, depending on hydrologic conditions during the filling period.

The potential impacts of the dam have been the source of significant regional controversy. Egypt, a country that relies heavily on the waters of the Nile, has demanded that Ethiopia cease construction on the dam as a precondition to negotiations and has sought regional support for its position. Ethiopia denies that the dam will have a negative impact on downstream water flows and contends that the dam will, in fact, increase water flows to Egypt by reducing evaporation on Lake Nasser.

GHANA

$133 million investment in water supply infrastructure

The Bono Region authority and Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) are partnering to improve water supply in Sunyani through a $133 million (R2.24 billion) investment.

Bono Regional Minister Justina Owusu-Banahene recently visited the construction of a new water supply facility at Abesim, close to Sunyani, along with Samuel Ason, chief engineer for GWCL in Bono.

A water intake that will feed a drinking water plant with a daily capacity of 55 000 m3 will be constructed as part of the project.

Furthermore, elevated and groundlevel tanks with a combined capacity of about 16 500 m3 will be included in the future facilities. In addition, 10 000 household meters will be installed as part of the project to improve the water supply in Sunyani, along with the construction of two booster stations, 93 km of transmission pipelines, buildings to house laboratories and chemical storage, and a power line to serve the entire region.

KENYA

Water supply system in Naivasha Industrial Park

The system, inaugurated by President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, will supply water to the Inland Container Depot (ICD) and the Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency, appointed by the Kenyan government, carried out all the work. The development project required a US$8.42 million (R139 million) investment and involved the construction of five large boreholes, the laying of pipes, storage tanks, the installation of pumps, and the construction of kiosks to supply the local communities.

In addition to water supply, the project improves wastewater management in the Naivasha SEZ and ICD, including reticulation and effluent disposal systems.

With delivery of the future facility beginning in 2025, earthworks are anticipated to begin towards the end of July 2022. GWCL currently supplies residents in Sunyani town through groundwater pumping stations. By storing rainwater, the utility hopes to ease pressure on the water table.

NAMIBIA First Bitcoin ATM goes live

The first Bitcoin ATM in Namibia is now operational at Maerua Mall in Windhoek via the Crypto Kiosk. Operating in full compliance with the Namibian Financial Intelligence Centre, the Crypto Kiosk requests certain information from the user before transacting, such as Namibian ID number, postal address and a selfie of the client. Additionally, if a client is transacting more than N$5 000 (R5 530), they will need to submit their residential address and a copy of the identity document to comply with current regulatory policies.

Users of the Crypto Kiosk can buy or sell Bitcoin and Ethereum, two of the biggest cryptocurrencies.

A Bitcoin ATM can liquidate cryptocurrency into cash directly from crypto wallets, and turn cash into cryptocurrency, sent directly to crypto wallets. Bitcoin ATMs look like traditional ATMs but do not connect to a bank account, and instead connect directly to a crypto exchange or private wallet.

There are currently 38 317 Bitcoin ATMs located in 77 different countries.