Upcoming Mega Projects Africa

NAMIBIA

Project: 80 MW Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant In Tses
Value: USD 284,000,000
Client: Groot Glass Limited
Website: www.grootgroup.com

Namibian glass producer Groot Glass Limited has contracted a German technical consultant for the development of an 80-MW DC solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Tses, Namibia’s Karas Region.

Suntrace GmbH will advise Groot Glass on this project, which has an expected cost of about USD 284 million (EUR 253.5m) and envisages installing some 250,000 crystalline silicon modules along with an energy storage system.

The company intends to build five glass factories, starting with two, to serve various sectors, including the solar power industry. The plan is to power those facilities with the electricity generated by the proposed PV park, while the surplus will be fed into the national electricity transmission network. The solar plant is expected to be completed by mid-2021, at which point it will be able to generate about 160 GWh of electricity per year.

GHANA

Project: Kumasi Central Market Reconstruction - Phase II
Value: USD 278,000,000
Client: Government Of Ghana
Website: www.ghana.gov.gh

The development, projected to be completed in two years, will cover a total construction area of over 172,197m2, total leasable area of 52,701m2 and 44,594m2 parking spots for cars and vans. The main structure of the building will be pre-manufactured steel structure and beams.

The market is set to feature 6,500 spaces to lease, 5,400 cold stores, 800 kiosks, 50 restaurants, 210 stalls for fishmongers and butchers and a 40 livestock stalls, a police station, fire station, post office, a hospital among others. Moreover, the project will create 900 direct and 2500 indirect jobs.

MALAWI

Project: Hydroelectric Project In Southern Malawi
Value: USD 150,000,000
Client: Government Of Malawi
Website: www.malawi.gov.mw

The dam will be built on the Shire River in Blantyre District, downstream of the Nkhula A HPP & Nkhula B hydroelectric dam (100 MW), the Tedzani hydroelectric dam (110.7 MW) and upstream of the Kapichira hydroelectric dam (128 MW). The water reservoir will have a large reservoir. Electricity Generation Company Malawi (Egenco), the parastatal company that transports and distributes electricity, is considering taking part of the water from the reservoir to boost the capacity of the Kapichira hydroelectric plant. 

An irrigation plan will also be developed from this future reservoir. The project is also being supported by SN Power, a company based in Norway, and Power Africa, a company that invests in numerous energy projects in Africa, as well as the International Finance Corporation (IFC). 

KENYA

Project: Kisian Port
Value: USD 140,000,000
Client: Kenya Ports Authority
Website: www.kpa.co.ke

The new port will be developed at Kisian, 16km from the city centre, with cement, coal and petroleum products destined for the region being used as justification for its construction. Two years ago, the government signed an agreement with China Exim Bank to finance its construction. Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the Kisian site was chosen for its potential for expansion, complete with a logistics and an industrial park.

The port will be linked by rail, with other auxiliary connections access roads, electricity connections and satellite buildings. Once complete, it will be leased out to sub-operators under an agreement with KPA. The new port will have two multipurpose berths of 3,000 tonnes and one work boat berth.

EGYPT

Project: Aeon Towers In Cairo
Value: USD 128,000,000
Client: Marakez
Website: www.marakez.net

Located within Marakez’s flagship residential project, Aeon, the 72-metre Aeon Towers comprises 20 floors and will span 6.7ha. The master planned residential project will house 401 units, comprising studios, one, two, three, and four bedroom apartments, ranging from 85 to 665m².

Egyptian contractor Hassan Allam Construction has won a construction contract to build Aeon Towers, a multi-building development in Cairo. Marakez, a property developer owned by Saudi Arabia’s Fawaz Al Hokair Group, awarded the pacakage. The first of the two Aeon Towers will be delivered in 2022. 

SOUTH AFRICA

Project: Capital Mall Development In Pretoria West
Value: USD 83,000,000
Client: Mccormick Property Development
Website: www.mccormick-property.com

The development will be a mixed-use project that will feature value retail centre, affordable housing, 150-bed private hospital, motor dealerships, schooling, student housing and community facilities. The development will be phased with 60,000 sqm Gross Leasable Area (GLA) planned to open towards the end of 2021. MCCORMICK PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT noted that that the development’s design allows for expansion of upto 100,00 sqm without the need for structured parking facilities.

KENYA

Project: 52MW Solar Project
Value: USD 66,000,000
Client: Malindi Solar Group
Website: www.globeleq.com

The project will be led by Malindi Solar Group, a company created ad hoc by Globeleq. The latter, 70% owned by Commonwealth Development Corporation and 30% by Nordfund, will build a 52MW solar park in Malindi, a coastal town in southeastern Kenya.

British Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs announced a series of investments and said that the British government’s development finance agency will contribute US $50m while its partner, Globeleq, an independent power producer (IPP) the remaining US $16m. The funds will be a loan refundable over 16 years.

The energy produced will be consumed by locals as the region is still facing load shedding. The sale of electricity from the solar park will be made by the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), which provides public electricity service in Kenya. The lighting company has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Globeleq.

SOUTH AFRICA

Project: Brick Factory Construction In Driefontein
Value: USD 55,054,858
Client: Corobrik
Website: www.corobrik.co.za 

Corobrik, South Africa’s brick maker, is making steady progress in the construction of its ZAR801-million new Driefontein factory. Corobrik would commission Africa’s largest and most environmentally friendly brick factory by September 2020. 

The new Driefontein facility, which is expected to produce 100 million bricks per year, will meet larger volume orders for major construction and infrastructure projects while the company’s existing 13 clay brick factories and 14 kilns which produce a mix of plaster and face bricks for the residential and commercial markets, will meet smaller orders.

GHANA

Project: Factory To Manufacture Solar Equipment 
Value: USD 16,000,000
Client: Government Of Ghana
Website: www.ghana.gov.gh

The solar factory is sited in Ashaiman in the Greater Accra region. Appiah and his company have been given a 3.4-acre land in Ashaiman by the Municipal Assembly for the construction of the factory. The solar factory aims at manufacturing solar panels for industrial and domestic uses. supported by JVG Thoma and Palmer Group Company, based in Germany and the United States, respectively. 

The factory is going to be a sub-company under his Appiah-Karim company. The Kwesi Appiah solar project is enjoying some sponsorship from the German government. The solar equipment manufacturing factory is said to provide over 500 direct jobs for the youth in the Ashaiman area. The solar factory will have a training facility on the side, which will be set up by Appiah’s partners Palmer Group and JVG Thoma. This centre is going to train the youth in solar panel fabrication. As part of the initiative, a marketing and service centre will be set up to provide a 24-hour service.