Nachtigal Hydro Power Company (NHPC), owned by EDF International (40%), IFC (20%), the Republic of Cameroon (15%), Africa50 (15%) and STOA (10%) have begun construction of the Nachtigal 420MW hydropower dam, situated on the Sanaga River, close to Yaoundé on 1 February 2019. In July 2016, Nachtigal Hydro Power Company was created to assist with the project and signed a Concession Agreement for Electricity Generation in April 2017. The Nachtigal financial closing was completed on 24 December 2018.
The Nachtigal hydroelectric power plant is a sizeable project for the country and will, on commissioning, be the most important generation resource in Cameroon. It aims at providing around one third of the electricity needs and generating numerous economic benefits for the local economy.
At the end of 2021, the updated schedule includes a 10-month delay due to the impact of the Covid health crisis. The transmission line of more than 50km, linking Nachtigal to Yaoundé, is completed. Commissioning of the first unit is scheduled for mid-2023 and operational commissioning is planned for mid-2024.
Following the MoU signed with the Government of Cameroon awarding EDF exclusive development of the Kikot hydroelectric project on the Sanaga River, discussions between the Republic of Cameroon and EDF enabled an agreement to be signed, on 25 June 2021, on the joint development of this project and a JDA (Joint Development Agreement).
EDF continues to act as consultant to Eneo, the incumbent electricity operator in the distribution sector.
The two Benban 65MW solar power plants, developed on a parity basis with Egyptian company Elsewedy Electric, were commissioned in August 2019, and are delivering very satisfactory performance. The PPA is for 25 years.
In 2019, EDF Renewables took out a strategic stake in KarmSolar, a major player on the emerging market for privately produced and distributed solar power in Egypt. The company also operates microgrid projects that include storage. KarmSolar has a portfolio of 30MW of operational solar power plants and 200MW of plants under development.
EDF is also assisting Egypt with its energy transition in a consultancy capacity. In the field of transmission with EETC (Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company), EDF is supervising the engineering and construction of the dispatcher in the Delta (2017 contract) and the new national dispatcher to be located in Egypt’s new administrative capital (2019 contract).
To support the EIB, EDF is pursuing its consultancy activity with EETC for the development of its transmission network.
For EEHC (Egyptian Electricity Holding Company), in the field of distribution, in 2021 EDF International Networks completed the deployment of 53,000 smart meters as part of a consortium led by French manufacturer Sagemcom and including the Egyptian company Globaltronics.
EDF group is developing the “Biovéa” project for a biomass electricity power plant with two 23MW units in partnership with SIFCA, an Ivorian agro-industrial group in West Africa, and Meridiam, an investment firm. This project is included in Ivory Coast’s development master plan. An agreement on the transmission price for electricity was entered into with the State of Ivory Coast on 30 November 2017. The concession agreement with the State was signed on 9 December 2019. The signing of the financing documentation and the construction contract took place in June 2021. The financial closing took place at the end of 2021 and the start of construction is scheduled for early 2022.
In 2019, EDF International became a 49% shareholder in Conergies Group with strong development and innovation expertise in the fields of heating, ventilation, industrial cooling and solar power in West Africa.
In August 2016, the Group created a local subsidiary to support its development strategy in the Ivory Coast and in the subregion. In October 2016, EDF created the ZECI company, a joint-venture with the US company Zola Electric, for the deployment of an off-grid energy project for rural and peri-urban populations (see also section 1.4.5.3.9 “Off-grid energy”).
The Group is also present in Ghana through the ZEGHA company (see also section 1.4.5.3.9 “Off-grid energy”).
The Group is present in the country through BBOXX Togo Capital, a joint venture created with the British company BBOXX, for the deployment of off-grid energy solutions for rural and peri-urban communities (see also section 1.4.5.3.9 “Off-Grid Energy”).
In early 2020, EDF created a branch to support its development strategy and ensure the continued provision of engineering services.
Since July 2018, EDF group has been contributing to the development of Kenyan company SunCulture to support the sale, installation, and maintenance of solar pumps for rural households, mainly in Kenya.
In 2020, EDF acquired an indirect interest in Bboxx Capital Kenya, which for the past few years has been carrying out the sale, installation, and maintenance of solar kits for rural households in Kenya (see also section 1.4.5.3.9 “Off-grid energy”).
In February 2021, EDF invested 50% in Econet Energy Kenya (EEK), a company specialised in distributed solar power for the business market. EEK develops solar self-consumption solutions ranging from design to maintenance and financing. It operates assets in the industrial and tertiary sectors.
The EDF group engages in development and project monitoring activities in the Middle East, and has a regional location based in the United Arab Emirates covering business in the region. In addition, the Group has locations in Qatar (Doha), Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), Lebanon (Beirut), Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi and Dubai).
These locations generate commercial business and projects in these countries, where the main challenge in the coming years is to make progress in the post- petroleum energy transition.
The major projects in the zone are located notably in the United Arab Emirates
with, in 2021, in Abu Dhabi:
(1) Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.
