Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company – Masdar, a leader in clean energy, has unveiled a monumental plan to accelerate its clean energy initiatives across Sub-Saharan Africa. This strategic move aims to support the clean energy transition in the region and aligns with the recently launched Africa Green Industrialization Initiative, focusing on scaling up green industries.
Masdar’s chief executive, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, emphasized that the expansion plan seeks to unlock Africa’s immense clean energy potential, reflecting the company’s commitment to mobilize substantial resources — $10 billion in finance and 10GW of clean energy capacity — by 2030. This ambitious endeavor positions Masdar as the largest pure-play renewable energy company dedicated to the African continent.
The company’s partnership agreements with governments and private entities in six African nations signify a significant milestone:
Angola: Masdar inked a Concession Agreement with the Republic of Angola’s Ministry of Energy and Water for a pioneering 150MWac solar PV project in Quipungo, marking the initial phase of a 2GW renewable energy collaboration between the UAE and Angola.
Uganda: Collaborating with Uganda’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, Masdar is set to implement a 150MW Solar PV project, as part of a larger 1GW collaboration between the two nations, a partnership announced by Prime Minister Her Excellency Robinah Nabbanja at COP28.
Republic of Congo: Masdar subsidiary, MW Energy, along with Africa50 and the Ministry of Energy & Hydraulics of the Republic of Congo, signed an MoU to develop 500MW of renewable energy capacity in the country.
Kenya: Masdar supports the expansion of geothermal energy capacity in Kenya through its investment in Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE), collaborating with Geothermal Development Company of Kenya.
Mozambique: Infinity Power, a Masdar Infinity company, signed an MoU with Mozambique’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, exploring potential opportunities for up to 1GW of renewable projects. These projects aim to power 400,000 households and offset 3.8 million tonnes of carbon emissions over 20 years. Additionally, Masdar and Infinity are exploring floating solar PV projects in Mozambique with Africa50.
Zambia: Masdar, in collaboration with ZESCO and International Resource Holdings, is working on decarbonizing mining operations in Zambia by supplying green electricity from renewable energy projects.
Masdar’s commitment to deploying $2 billion in equity by 2030, as part of the UAE-led Africa Green Investment Finance Initiative, intends to mobilize a total of $10 billion in investments, facilitating the delivery of 10GW of clean energy capacity across Africa by the end of the decade. This initiative aligns with the broader global push towards sustainable and renewable energy sources, offering significant strides in Africa’s energy security and sustainability.