Eritrea to revive Hirgigo power plant

Eritrea has issued a tender for the supply of spare parts and equipment for the rehabilitation of gensets and associated substations at its Hirgigo thermal power plant

The country’s Ministry of Energy and Mines, which is behind the tender, has requested bids to be received by 9th September 2025, according to documents published on the African Development Bank (AfDB) website.

The Hirgigo plant, which dates back to the late nineties, has long been one of Eritrea’s most important energy assets, although it was once extensively damaged as a result of conflict in the region around that time.

The power station is located 10 km from the city of Massawa on the Red Sea coast.

The Ministry appears to be utilising funds from the African Development Fund (ADF) — the AfDB’s concessional finance arm — initially allocated for the establishment of the 30 MW Dekemhare Solar PV project.

The Dekemhare project, part of the AfDB's commitment to clean energy on the continent, comprises a solar power plant with a battery energy storage system (BESS), and is currently being built by Chinese contractors, with delivery anticipated as early as the end of the year.

The Eritrean government received financing from ADF toward the cost of Dekemhare “and intends to apply part of the proceeds toward payments under the contract for the procurement of equipment for rehabilitation of substations” the Ministry noted in the documents on the AfDB website.

“The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MoEM) now invites sealed bids from eligible bidders [for the] supply of spare parts for [the] rehabilitation of genset 1 and 2 of Hirgigo power plant and of substations,” it noted.

The AfDB originally approved US$50mn in funding via ADF for the Dekemhare solar project in 2023.

The solar project also includes a 33/66 kV substation and a 66 kV transmission line connected to the existing link between East Asmara and Dekemhare, about 1km from the project site.

Dekemhare itself is located about 40km southeast of the Eritrean capital, Asmara.

At the time of the announcement in 2023, the AfDB said it is expected to contribute to increasing the country’s generation capacity and grid energy to 185 MW and 365 gigawatt-hours/year, respectively.

The bank said the project aims to “guide the transition from over-reliance on fossil fuels for power generation to renewable energy such as solar, wind and geothermal.”

Earlier this year, the AfDB and Eritrea signed a separate agreement for US$19.5mn in grant funding for a Desert to Power Eritrea 12 MW Mini Grid Project.

This is designed to support the rollout of mini-grids that will generate 12 MW of electricity across the regions of Teseney (6MW), Kerekebet (3MW), and Barentu (3MW).

Read more:

Eritrea dam project highlights water sector priorities 

Grant funding approved for 12MW Eritrea mini-grid project

ADF approves US5.5mn grant for phase two of flagship Desert-to-Power project

NERSA approves Lyra Energy Trading’s licence, enabling renewable power access for South Africa’s commercial and industrial users. (Image source: Lyra Energy)

Lyra Energy Trading, the trading arm of South Africa-based integrated electricity aggregator Lyra Energy, has received its electricity trading licence from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA)

The licence was officially approved on 30 July 2025, following a thorough process that included public hearings and full regulatory compliance.

This development represents a key advancement in Lyra Energy's strategy to deliver clean, affordable power to South Africa’s commercial and industrial markets. With the trading licence in place and access to generation assets secured, Lyra Energy is now positioned as a competitive force in the country’s evolving Wholesale Energy Market. The company aims to offer pricing and contract flexibility to meet the shifting demands of commercial and industrial energy consumers.

Lyra Energy’s trading model includes short-term, standardised power purchase agreements that help mitigate tariff volatility. These agreements also contribute to customers' decarbonisation goals and facilitate the acquisition of green energy credentials.

“We’re proud to be awarded our electricity trading licensed by NERSA, whose role in the transition to the South African Wholesale Energy Market cannot be overstated,” remarked Eben de Vos, head of Lyra Energy. “This award enabling us to use the regulated wheeling framework to buy bulk electricity from Lyra Energy’s generation assets and sell portions thereof to commercial and industrial users.”

Supported by major industry partners

Established in 2024, Lyra Energy is supported by a strategic collaboration led by Scatec and STANLIB Asset Management. Scatec is a leading renewable energy solutions provider, while STANLIB is one of South Africa’s largest asset managers, known for its specialised infrastructure investment team.

Scatec brings to the partnership a broad pipeline of solar, wind, and hybrid projects under development across South Africa and neighbouring regions. The company’s strong track record in delivering and operating energy assets in liberalised markets adds significant operational strength to the initiative.

Meanwhile, the STANLIB Infrastructure Investment team contributes deep infrastructure knowledge and financial mobilisation capabilities, particularly from long-term capital sources such as retirement funds, to accelerate the energy transition.

“Having Lyra Energy as a licensed electricity trader enables the combination of Scatec’s proven development and generation capabilities with STANLIB’s investment leadership to offer a credible utility-scale solution that’s responsive to the energy demands of business.”

Lyra Energy is expected to unveil its first commercial power supply agreement before the end of 2025.

Two 60kVA Yuchai-powered generator sets exported to Tunisia for reliable, quiet backup power in urban locations

Dingbo Power has strengthened its footprint in North Africa with the recent export of two 60kVA silent diesel generator sets to Tunisia

The units, each rated at 48kW/60kVA, were ordered in December 2024 by a Tunisian client seeking reliable power backup solutions for critical applications.

Built for both standby and continuous use, the generators feature integrated base fuel tanks capable of delivering up to eight hours of uninterrupted power. Each unit is equipped with a fuel level sensor connected to a cloud-enabled SmartGen control platform, enabling real-time monitoring and preventing unexpected shutdowns due to fuel depletion.

Noise reduction has also been prioritised in these units, which are housed in soundproof enclosures designed to keep noise levels as low as 75 dB(A) at a distance of seven metres. This makes them well-suited for use in residential neighbourhoods, healthcare facilities, hospitality venues, and office environments—anywhere that demands quiet yet dependable performance.

To support long-term operational efficiency, the order also included essential maintenance accessories such as diesel and oil filters.

These generators combine a robust Yuchai engine with a Shanghai Stamford alternator and advanced control systems, offering a high-performance solution tailored to the needs of global clients. The deployment in Tunisia reflects a growing demand for intelligent, fuel-efficient and low-noise generator technology across Africa.

Dingbo Power continues to specialise in the manufacturing and export of diesel and gas generator sets, delivering customised energy solutions to international markets.

Rolls-Royce and INERATEC to integrate climate-neutral e-fuels into backup power systems for data centre sustainability

Rolls-Royce and INERATEC, a leading manufacturer of power-to-X systems and climate-friendly e-fuels, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at introducing INERATEC's climate-neutral e-fuels into emergency power systems for data centres

This initiative seeks to redefine the role of e-fuels in the digital era.

A new future for e-fuels in data centres

With the rapid expansion of data centres, especially driven by the surge in artificial intelligence, energy consumption in this sector is on the rise. Simultaneously, these centres, many part of critical infrastructure, require robust protection from power disruptions. This is where the collaboration between Rolls-Royce Power Systems and INERATEC comes into play. The companies intend to replace fossil diesel with INERATEC’s synthetic e-diesel, produced from green hydrogen and CO₂, in emergency generators. The first stage of the rollout will focus on data centres in Germany.

Rolls-Royce Power Systems is supporting the integration of sustainable fuels in its data centre emergency power solutions. This offers a reliable, cost-effective, and carbon-neutral approach to one of the key challenges in digital infrastructure.

“Rolls-Royce mtu emergency generators have already been approved for operation with sustainable fuels. Our critical infrastructure customers, such as data centers, who want to improve their carbon footprint, will soon also use e-fuels. Together with INERATEC, we are committed to the use of e-fuels in data centers," said Tobias Ostermaier, President Stationary Power Solutions at Rolls-Royce Power Systems.

“Secure power supply to AI data centers is one of the major challenges of our time. Our e-fuels can offer a climate-neutral solution - reliable, scalable and immediately applicable. Together with Rolls-Royce, we are taking them where they are already urgently needed today," added Maximilian Backhaus, chief commercial officer at INERATEC.

The initial phase of the partnership includes a targeted market introduction in Germany. With short delivery routes from INERATEC's production site "ERA ONE" in Frankfurt, rapid deployment is feasible. INERATEC's e-fuels are derived from renewable energy sources and CO₂, complying with internationally recognised environmental certifications such as ISCC. Over time, both companies plan to expand their collaboration globally.