wiredInUSA March 2020

Djibouti plans its first wind farm

Securing the dry season power supply

A wind power project consortium has approved funding for the construction and operation of a 60MW wind farm in the Ghoubet area, near Lake Assal in Djibouti. The consortium, consisting of Africa Finance Corporation, Climate Fund Managers, FMO — a Dutch development bank, and Great Horn Investment Holdings, aims to support Djibouti in meeting its expanding energy needs through this first wind farm for the region. The wind project is hoped to foster industrialization by reducing the reliance on expensive or unstable sources of power generation. Djibouti is dependent on domestic thermal power production and power imports from Ethiopia, and is in need of further domestic production. The country is moving towards 100 percent renewable- energy-based electricity production and a 40 percent reduction in emissions by 2030. The project is owned and operated by Djibouti-based Red Sea Power Ltd SAS, and is expected to start commercial operations in 2022.

Cambodia’s government has approved twonewcoal-firedpower projects, capable of generating up to 1GW. The country’s Council of Ministers has given permission for the construction of the power plants and of a 230kW transmission line, said to cost $1.7 billion. Han Seng Coal Mine (HSCMC) will invest in a 265MW power plant in Oddar Meanchey province’s Trapaing Prasat district, while Royal Group will develop a 700MW plant in Koh Kong province. Royal Group will import the necessary coal, but HSCMC will use domestic coal. The projects are in line with Cambodia’s plan for the development of additional power sources between 2020 and 2030, helping to ensure the security of electricity supplies for the country particularly during the dry season, when hydropower generation falls. HSCMC’s coal-fired power plant will be operational by early 2022, the council said, with Royal Group’s power plant coming online in 2023 or 2024.

wiredInUSA - March 2020

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