IN BRIEF

Equity Funding For The Drc

Nuru, one of Africa’s pioneering renewable energy-powered metrogrid companies, has announced the successful close of over US$40m in Series B equity funding and anticipates the close of an additional $28m in project finance by the end of July 2023.

The funds will enable Nuru to begin construction on 13.7 MWp of projects, designed to significantly expand its existing operating assets in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and help bridge the enormous energy gap in the country.

Less than 20% of the DRC’s population has access to energy, and with a rising energy demand projected for the future, Nuru’s approach to renewable energy access unlocks the immense market potential across the country with its utility-scale solar metrogrids.

1mw Gas Powerplant Established For A Large Paint Manufacturer Based In West Africa

Nicen Industries Limited, one of the largest paint manufacturers in Aba Nigeria, is establishing a gas power plant to improve operations amid unreliable grid supply. Chris Eze, Managing Director at Nicen Industries explains: “The decision to install the energy resilient power plant is one of the most rewarding decisions the company has taken since it was founded in 1990.”

According to Eze, when the power supply became unsustainable in Aba, and the cost of diesel increased, the company began inquiring about a sustainable solution. They subsequently contacted Clarke Energy, a multinational specialist in engineering, installation, and maintenance of sustainable power generation solutions, to install a gas power plant.

Clarke Energy supplied and commissioned a 1MW gas power plant solution which included the complete front end engineering design, installation and project management and continues to provide maintenance support to the plant.

Ioannis (Yiannis) Tsantilas Managing Director of Clarke Energy Nigeria commented: “The 1MW power plant solution delivery describes the Clarke Energy commitment towards improving the manufacturing and processing value chain in Aba and the south-eastern part of Nigeria. Clarke Energy partnered with NICEN in its vision to improve its costs of manufacturing durable plastics and high-quality decorative paints that are affordable and competitive in the local market.”

The plant is powered by natural gas supplied by Shell Nigeria through gas pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“The engine is one of the best that we have seen,” said Eze, “Even before we got in contact with them, we made enquiries and found that Clarke Energy engines are good, and many companies in Aba are already using the company’s products. So we signed up,” he said.

NEW GENSETS ARE NOW POWERING NIGERIA’S TELECOMS SECTOR

JMG, an official FG Wilson dealer in Nigeria and one of FG Wilson’s key worldwide network of 370 dealers, has been appointed by the largest mobile operator in West Africa to help power a multi-million pound modernisation of Nigeria’s mobile communications network.

The £6m project will see JMG deliver power solutions for MTN Nigeria’s network upgrade. With nearly 50 years’ experience of delivering world-class power solutions throughout Africa, JMG has been a partner of FG Wilson for 15 years.

Telecoms giant MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. offers mobile network services and business solutions to more than 45 million subscribers and currently provides network coverage to almost 90% of Nigeria’s land mass.

The power solution to be delivered for MTN by JMG will involve the installation of 12 high-capacity FG Wilson generator sets at MTN Switch Locations in Asaba, Lagos, Kano and Ibadan. The installation will provide Nigeria with enhanced network coverage to meet the growing population’s increasing requirement for an enhanced mobile communications capacity. The initial three-month installation project will encompass the supply and installation of six 2,000 kVA, three 1,500 kVA and three 1,250 kVA generator sets.

Commenting on the project, Mazen Jubaili, JMG Managing Director, said:“We have a proven pedigree of delivering world-class power solutions for some of the most significant projects in Nigeria and it is a strong endorsement of our work that MTN Communications has chosen us.”

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