AfDB Approves $1m Grant For Africa’s Hydropower Stations

The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $1 million grant for the modernisation of Africa’s aging hydropower fleet.

According to a statement from the AfDB, the modernisation of hydropower stations is an opportunity to increase generation capacity at low-cost, and with relatively short lead-times and minimal environmental impact.

It said the grant would also fund the mapping and evaluation of African hydropower facilities’ rehabilitation needs.

It would also support the preparation of modernisation works for two pilot facilities to a bankable stage.

The statement added that the move was expected to add 200 megawatts in generation capacity, create 150 jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 300 kilotons of carbon dioxide annually.