Public Management

SEFA approves $5 million in grants to set up super energy service companies in three countries (AfDB)

SEFA approves $5 million in grants to set up super energy service companies in three countries (AfDB)
Wednesday, 08 March 2023 17:15

The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) of the African Development Bank has approved a technical assistance grant of $5.03 million to implement the Africa Super Energy Service Companies (ESCO) acceleration program in Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa.

SEFA is a bank-managed multi-donor special fund that works to unlock private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Super ESCOs are vehicles that channel funds into public sector energy efficiency investments such as hospitals, schools, and street lighting, paving the way for private investment. The acceleration program catalyzes private sector investments in energy efficiency by operationalizing Super ESCOs, thus stimulating the transition toward more sustainable and greener economies.

The grant will support the training of a team to operate Super ESCOs and support private ESCOs in the three countries to develop their Energy Performance Contract services. Private ESCOs provide services to energy users to design and implement energy efficiency options. The funding will also underwrite the development of harmonized regional certification schemes for ESCOs and energy service professionals, including energy auditors, managers, and energy savings measurement and verification professionals.

“This innovative program will enable Senegal to establish its Super ESCO and boost the energy efficiency market for increased energy performance in the public and private sectors,” said Mr. Saer Diop, Director-General of Senegal’s Agence pour l’Economie et la Maîtrise de l4Energie (AEME), which promotes energy efficiency.  

Mohamed Chérif, African Development Bank Senegal Country Manager, said: “Super ESCOs are an efficient tool that governments can draw on to leverage private sector resources to improve the energy efficiency of public facilities and other key energy-consuming sectors. I am pleased that Senegal will be one of the first countries to benefit from the Africa Super Energy Service Companies Acceleration Program.” 

The acceleration program is paving the way for a successful implementation of downstream energy efficiency investment programs in which the African Development Bank, the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa, and other stakeholders will invest.

ABOUT SEFA

SEFA is a multi-donor Special Fund that provides catalytic finance to unlock private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. SEFA offers technical assistance and concessional finance instruments to remove market barriers, build a more robust pipeline of projects and improve the risk-return profile of individual investments. The Fund’s overarching goal is to contribute to universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services for all in Africa, in line with the New Deal on Energy for Africa and Sustainable Development Goal 7.

bad

Additional Info

  • communiques: Non
  • couleur: N/A
On the same topic
Highlights: • New 1% US tax on outbound remittances to take effect January 1, 2026• Africa received $100 billion in remittances in 2023, outpacing...
23% of adults in Sub-Saharan Africa saved money using mobile accounts in 2024, well above the 9% average in low- and middle-income...
• Zambia launches the Growth Investment Partners Zambia (GIP) initiative to raise over $300 million for SMEs.• The program aims to support 150 SMEs...
• Treasury secures CFA364 billion in oversubscribed bond issuance• S&P cuts Senegal’s rating to B- after discovery of hidden debt• Over CFA1,260 billion...
Most Read
01

• Inflation within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) fell to a two-year low of 0....

UEMOA: Inflation Drops to 0.6% in May, Driven by Lower Food Prices
02

Flutterwave gained a BCEAO license to operate in Senegal, expanding to 35 African countries. ...

Flutterwave Gains Senegal License, Eyes Growth in $1.5T African Payments Market
03

In Africa, the private sector is widely seen as the main engine of industrialization and plays a cen...

West Africa has tools to build strong industry, says IFC’s Olivier Buyoya
04

 President Paul Biya, 92, to seek eighth term in October 2025 election In power since 19...

Cameroon: Paul Biya Officially Enters Presidential Race for Eighth Term
05

• Interbank volumes rose 18.7% in May, while rates declined across the market• The BCEAO cut its mai...

WAEMU Sees Easing Conditions on Regional Interbank Market
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

regie@agenceecofin.com 
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72


EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.