Besides, EDF HQ Singapore Pte. Ltd gives support for project development for other subsidiaries in Asia (business development, finance and human ressources).
Japan
EDF opened a Japanese subsidiary EDF Japan KK in July 2022. EDF Japan KK is hosting the corporate management team of EDF Asia. It is also engaging into business development activities in Japan (hydrogen downstream import and applications, batteries). Low Carbon hydrogen-based projects will also be leveraged to support this kind of projects in Asia and globally.
Australia
To pursue its development and extend its presence in Asia, EDF initiated a process with the Foreign Investment Review Board to open a subisidiary in Australia in 2023.
The main focus will be on hydropower, PSP (pump storage plant) and other innovative projects to support the country’s energy transition.
1.4.5.3.7 Africa
The Group is developing on the African continent by assisting countries with high-energy demand, on a selective basis appropriate to each geographic region, and by building sustainable and multi-industry partnerships.
EDF is also intensifying its action in the supply of competitive off-grid energy. The EDF group has more than twenty years’ experience in off-grid power provision in Africa. Since 2017, the EDF group has joined forces with innovative start-ups to supply power and services to customers in rural areas and on urban outskirts in line with their income and needs. These solutions range from the sale of individual solar kits to mini-grids and solar pumps for farmers. Such services enable more than 2 million people in South Africa, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, Zambia and Togo to light and power their household appliances.
The EDF group has also created NEoT Offgrid Africa (1), a company that will contribute to the financing of proposed off-grid energy supply and service solutions.
South Africa
- The EDF group has had operations in South Africa since 1978 with the construction of the Koeberg nuclear power plant. EDF has also been assisting the national electricity supplier ESKOM with the operation and maintenance of this power plant. Framatome is also a major supplier to ESKOM (general maintenance and fuel).
- The EDF group has established a privileged relationship with ESKOM, which was memorialised in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in May 2022. It aims to facilitate exchanges between the parties’ technical teams and to assist ESKOM in dealing with the challenges it faces in South Africa.
- The EDF group established a EDF Development South Africa 2007 in Johannesburg, with a view to preparing the relaunching of the South African nuclear programme. The South African subsidiary is also responsible for developing EDF’s business activities in Southern Africa, particularly as regards generation projects as well as the sale of services relating to thermal and hydropower engineering, transmission and distribution. In December 2018, EDF Development South Africa purchased 30% of the South African engineering company GIBB Power to support the development of its engineering activity in the Southern Africa Region.
- The EDF group’s renewables activities in the country began in 2011 with the acquisition of Innowind, in which the Group now has an 84% stake, allowing it to respond to renewables calls for tender issued by the South African government. Three wind power projects were won in 2012 and one in 2015, totalling 142MW. All four projects are currently in operation. In 2021, EDF Renewables (South Africa) was awarded several significant contracts in these government tenders. In the first quarter of 2022, EDF took the final decision to invest in a hybrid wind, solar and battery project (of 75MW) (Umoyilanga), which is expected to be commissioned in 2024. In October 2022, the legal closing of three wind projects totalling 420MW was finalised. They are expected to be commissioned in mid-2024. EDF Renewables won a tender by the mining company Anglo American for 100MW of photovoltaic capacity to supply its Mogalakwena mine (final investment decision expected in 2023). It announced the creation of a joint venture (Envusa Energy) with Anglo American to develop up to 5GW of renewable projects.
- In August 2022, the Group acquired a 50% stake in DPA Southern Africa to develop solar projects for commercial and industrial customers (C&I) in South Africa (project portfolio of over 80MW).
- In the off-grid sector, KES (Kwazulu Energy Services), established in 2002 and 50% owned by EDF International, sells and operates solar kits for low-income residential customers.
Mozambique
- The Group has been active in Mozambique since the end of the 1980s involving the provision of engineering services. It has established privileged partnerships with EDM (Electricidade de Moçambique), formalised by the signature of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2017, which was renewed in November 2021 for three years.
- In July 2022, EDF IN was selected to execute a contract to reduce non-technical losses on the EDM distribution network (financed by the French Development Agency – AFD).
- The consortium comprising EDF and TotalEnergies has been pre-qualified to participate in the tender for the Mphanda Nkuwa hydropower project (1,500MW). The submission of tenders is expected to take place in March 2023.
- EDF signed a FEXTE (2) in August 2022 with EDM concerning the AFD financing. The aim is to improve the performance of the network to prevent widespread blackouts, as occurred in 2020, with actions to be implemented in 2023.
Morocco
The EDF group has been active in Morocco since the 1970s. To help support its development in the region, the Group created EDF Maroc in 1997, EDF Renewables Maroc in 2012 as well as EDF Fenice Maroc in 2016.
It has formed preferred partnerships with National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) and Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), electricity distribution authorities, and industrial players. The Group does business in the areas of renewable, thermal and hydraulic generation, as well as in networks and training.
- The Group is contributing to the decarbonisation of the Moroccan energy mix. After having been selected by ONEE in a tender for the development, financing, construction and operation-maintenance of the Taza wind farm (150MW), the consortium led by EDF Renewables (3) commissioned phase 1 of this project (87MW) in July 2022. The consortium has started discussions on phase 2 with MASEN and ONEE with the goal of commissioning this second phase in 2025.
- At the conclusion of a tender launched by MASEN, EDF Renewables, acting through a consortium (4), was chosen in 2018 to design, build, operate and maintain the first phase of the Noor Midelt solar complex. This 800MW capacity project is an innovative hybrid power plant combining concentrated solar power and photovoltaic solar power, a world first. The power purchase agreement was signed between the consortium and MASEN in 2020.
- EDF Renewables Maroc, in partnership with MASEN, began construction of the new Koudia Al Baïda wind farm (100MW) in July 2022. This project will “repower” the existing wind farm in the north of the country (50MW), the first such project in Africa. The wind farm is expected to be commissioned in the second quarter of 2024.
Senegal
The Group is also present in Senegal, through the wholly-owned company ERA, the operator of the rural electrification concession in Kaffrine-Tambacounda-Kédougou. In an electricity sector that is undergoing institutional changes (a new electricity code was adopted in July 2021), the question of the economic sustainability of the rural electrification concession model remains topical through issues of tariff revision. ERA submitted a request to the regulator for an exceptional tariff review, which is still pending.
