The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a $10 million reimbursable grant from the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) to support a geothermal drilling program that will add 50 megawatts of renewable energy to Ethiopia’s power system.
The Tulu Moye Geothermal Operations PLC (TMGO) project entails developing and operating a 50-megawatt power plant in Ethiopia under a build-own-operate transfer structure. The program provides for the second phase of an additional 100 megawatts. On completion, it will be the first large-scale private sector-driven geothermal development and the first Independent Power Producer in Ethiopia.
TMGO is owned by Meridiam, a Paris-based multinational corporation, and Reykjavik Geothermal of Iceland.
The SEFA grant complements existing facilities to mitigate the high risk associated with drilling activities and help attract commercial debt capital to finance the project. This funding is expected to inspire other private sector-driven geothermal projects in Eastern Africa that have struggled to mobilize capital for drilling.
Maxence Mirabeau, CEO of TMGO, commented: “It is essential to be financially supported during the risky drilling period by a key institution. SEFA is a unique solution to unlock geothermal potential in Africa. Not so many can do it! Thank you to the SEFA/African Development Bank team.”
João Duarte Cunha, SEFA’s Manager, said: “SEFA will play a critical role in supporting geothermal resource assessment and development, which is the riskiest phase of the project, and catalyze investments in the first private power plant in Ethiopia, paving the way for more public-private partnerships in the country’s energy sector.”
SEFA is a multi-donor special fund working to unlock private sector investments that contribute to providing universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services for all Africans.
• Global coffee consumption projected to hit a record 169.4 million 60-kg bags in 2025/2026, up from...
• Investors seem to keep focusing on yields, which are high for the moment• New Leadership might see...
• Algeria grants commercial 5G licenses to top three telecom operators: Mobilis, Djezzy, and Ooredoo...
• ECOWAS Bank funds 47.7-km stretch of strategic 700-km road project• Lagos-Calabar highway seen boo...
• IFC teams up with AfDB and Nigeria’s EbonyLife to assess a new fund for African cinema• Sector cou...
As work on the first phase of the Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport expansion continues, Guinean authorities have announced their intention to move...
• Loulo-Gounkoto mine remains shut as Mali’s administrator seeks to restart it by selling stored gold• Barrick halted operations in January over export...
Hive Coega has officially entered its construction phase, with tenders now out for its core infrastructure. This milestone comes four years after the...
Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s leading cocoa producer, has set an ambitious target: to process 100% of its cocoa crop at the first stage by 2030. While the...
Located about 40 kilometers from Cape Town’s city center, Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town is one of the Cape Peninsula’s most iconic destinations. This...
The Gerewol tradition is a fascinating ritual celebrated by the Bororo Fulani, a nomadic community primarily located in Chad and Niger. This annual...