Our investment
In 2014, CDC invested $20 million into AREF to provide long-term capital for greenfield renewable energy infrastructure projects. AREF aims to make investments between $10 million to $30 million into 10-50 megawatt (MW) power projects.
Expected impact
In sub-Saharan Africa two thirds of the population remain without access to electricity. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), average electricity consumption per person in the region is too low to keep a single 50-watt light bulb continuously lit.
Expanding electricity access is critical to reduce poverty and boost economic growth. This requires a major increase in power supply to the region and renewable energy has a vital role to play. Yet despite significant resources, sub-Saharan Africa continues to trail the rest of the world in obtaining funds for renewable energy projects.
Our investment will support the development of a series of projects that will generate up to 200-250 MW capacity across the continent. These include a geothermal project in Ethiopia, hydro projects in Uganda, Tanzania and Cameroon, solar and biomass in Ghana.
Environmental and social aspects
We work closely with the fund manager to help develop and implement an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) that has the capacity to manage the higher level of environmental and social risk associated with this sector. This includes regular site visits to investee companies.
Key facts
- Status:
- Active
- Region :
Since 2012, we’ve only invested in Africa and South Asia. Investments outside these regions are from our pre-2012 portfolio.
- Africa
- Sector :
We have seven priority sectors. However, we continue to invest outside these sectors, largely in the most challenging regions, as new investment supporting any sector helps to underpin the private sector, and create jobs and livelihoods for people. For funds, the sectors listed here are those the fund has invested in so far.
- Infrastructure
- Investment type :
We provide capital in three broad ways: direct equity, debt, and intermediated equity (principally through investment funds).
- Intermediated investment
- Fund manager:
- Berkeley Energy
- Start date :
For direct investments, this is the date CDC committed capital to the business or project.
For funds, this is the date that CDC committed capital to the fund.
For underlying fund investments, this is the date that the fund invested capital into the business.e
- October 2014
- Amount :
For direct investments, this is the total amount that CDC has committed to the business or project (it may be a combination of equity and debt).
For funds, this is the total amount that CDC has committed to the fund.
- $20m
- Domicile :
This is the investee company’s place of incorporation; or a fund’s jurisdiction.
- Mauritius
Investments made by this fund
- Active
- Exited
| Investment name | Country | Region | Sector | Start date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corbetti Geothermal Corbetti Geothermal is a geothermal energy development, construction and operation project in Ethiopia with a target capacity of 20 megawatts. | Ethiopia | Africa, East Africa | Infrastructure | June 2014 | Active |
| ARPE Limited ARPE is a project company which is developing, constructing and operating a series of hydro power projects in Gulu, Northern Uganda. | Uganda | Africa, East Africa | Infrastructure | October 2014 | Active |
| Achwa HPP3/4/5 Achwa HPP3,4,5 is a portfolio of three hydro plants in the early development stage in Northern Uganda. | Uganda | Africa, East Africa | Infrastructure | September 2015 | Active |
| Bugoye Hydro Limited Bugoye is a 13 megawatt operational hydro plant in Western Uganda developed and operated by Tronder Power, with Norfund as a minority shareholder. | Uganda | Africa, East Africa | Infrastructure | September 2015 | Active |
| Cameroon Hydro | August 2016 | Active | |||
| Kikagati Kikagati is a 16MW greenfield project in South Western Uganda; it is a landmark private cross border hydro project that has improved collaboration between Uganda and Tanzania. The project will supply and boost electrification in an under-served part of Tanzania and help meet projected supply shortfal in Uganda. | Uganda | Africa, East Africa | Infrastructure | September 2016 | Active |
| APSD This 60MW biomass project in central Ghana comprises a 21,500 hectare eucalyptus plantation, of which approximately 9,000 hectares have been established for fuel supply. | Ghana | Africa, West Africa | Infrastructure | October 2016 | Active |
| Maji Power Ltd Maji Power is an operational and development company established to provide construction and operational support in Ugandan hydro projects. | Uganda | Africa, East Africa | Infrastructure | December 2016 | Active |
| Azimuth Commercial and industrial solar player | Ghana | Africa, West Africa | Infrastructure | June 2017 | Active |
| BE Ghana | March 2018 | Active | |||
| Maraontsetra | December 2018 | Active | |||
| Sahanivotry | December 2018 | Active | |||
| Tsinjoarivo | December 2018 | Active | |||
| Mahitsy | December 2018 | Active | |||
| Konikablo Konikablo, located 60km south-east of Accra, between the towns of Dawa and Sege, is in the initial phase of a 50MW, with potential of up to 100-150MW, wind farm development | Ghana | Africa, West Africa | Infrastructure | Exited | |
| Makambako Makambako is a wind project in Tanzania developed by Sino Tan Renewable Energy Limited which is planned to deliver an initial 20-50MW phase, with possible expansion up to 100MW. | Tanzania | Africa, East Africa | Infrastructure | Exited |
