The AfDB and International Hydropower Association co-hosted a roundtable at the AfDB headquarters in Abidjan Côte d’Ivoire. The event brought together more than 100 participants representing more than 30 key stakeholder organisations, including governments, developers, investors, lenders and manufacturers. One of the key findings of the roundtable was: “existing low-performing and non-operational hydropower infrastructure present opportunities to be refurbished at a fraction of the costs and much lower environmental and social impacts of greenfield projects.”

The AfDB, through SEFA, approves a USD 1 million programme to kick off a programmatic approach towards the modernisation of hydropower plants on 13 September 2021. The programme starts with IHA conducting a continental mapping of rehabilitation needs (similar work has been done in Latin America for the Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) and in Asia for the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB). Based on IHA’s assessment and the macroeconomic environment, the programme will select two pilot projects and support feasibility work, legal documentation and capacity-building activities until the pilot projects reach a bankable stage. AfDB/SEFA has noted and is appreciating strong interest from key stakeholders in the hydropower sector to support the programme and will discuss closer collaboration once the IHA study has tentative results.

SOME LINKS:

Press release
African Development Bank’s SEFA provides $1 million to kick off modernization of Africa’s Hydropower Fleet | African Development Bank - Building today, a better Africa tomorrow (afdb.org)

Appraisal report
Multinational - Africa Hydropower Modernization Program - Project Appraisal Report | African Development Bank - Building today, a better Africa tomorrow (afdb.org)

The International Hydropower Association commences its continental mapping on 8 November 2021. IHA is looking at a total of 86 stations across 20 countries in three phases:

• Initial screening and data gap analysis: IHA will conduct an initial screening based on literature and available databases

• Station-level data collection: IHA will engage facility owners to obtain accurate and up-to-date information on plant performance.

• Detailed assessment of stations in high need of rehabilitation: for stations deemed to be in high need of rehabilitation, IHA will conduct a more detailed evaluation to estimate the scope and cost of rehabilitation.

The AfDB/SEFA followed an invitation from the International Water Power and Dam Construction Magazine to bring the programme to the attention of a broad audience.

An article presenting the more comprehensive programme and AfDB’s wider support to the Hydropower Sector was issued in the November 2021 edition.

The AfDB/SEFA received the first assessment from IHA on the need for rehabilitation based on a literature review on 20 January 2022. This first deliverable indicates that 5 of the 24 GW being assessed are in high demand of rehabilitation as generation numbers are unusually low.

A workshop was organised as part of the continental mapping to introduce plant owners to the ongoing mapping and the overall modernisation programme. This workshop was by invitation only and for plant owners, IHA and the AfDB to ensure engagement between parties relevant to the current phase of the programme and specific rather than broad discussions. The programme was attended by more than 100 participants representing, with roughly 24 GW installed capacity, more than half of the continent’s installed hydropower capacity. While the workshop was closed to ensure limited discussion among parties relevant to the current phase, both the presentation and the recording (english version) and (french version) are available for viewing.

#GlobalHydropowerDay!

11 October 2022 celebrates the positive impacts of sustainable hydropower on people and communities worldwide.

The AfDB and SEFA are celebrating the first global hydropower day by formally launching the scale-up of the Africa Hydropower Modernisation Programme. Interested Sponsors and OEMs are invited to express their interest in response to the two Requests for Expression of Interest.

IHA, AfDB and SEFA have partnered to organise the World Hydropower Outlook - trends, opportunities, and solutions in Africa webinar. Olamide Niyi-Afuye chaired the webinar from Mainstream Solutions. Daniel Schroth provided an overview of the hydropower sector, representing the AfDB’s Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Department, and Shorai Kavu represented the Ministry of Energy of Zimbabwe. The opening was followed by a presentation from IHA & AfDB/SEFA on the findings and progress of a hydropower modernisation programme they are implementing and a panel discussion featuring representatives of Gilkes, Scatec, the Ugandan Electricity Generation Company and AfDB.

The recording of the webinar can be accessed here.

As part of the Africa Energy Forum 2023, the AfDB is launching the Continent-wide mapping of the hydropower rehabilitation candidates report. The report was funded by the Africa Hydropower Modernisation Programme and prepared by the International Hydropower Association (IHA). It identifies 21 stations accounting for 4.6GW installed capacity in high need of modernisation.