Nigeria: Ogun to Spend N7 Billion on Power Plants - TWENTY public servants made up of technicians, engineers and administrators will leave Ogun State for China to understudy the assembling of Mini power plants that will be installed in the State in the first quarter of 2010. [AA Urbanisation]

Mozambique: Natural Gas for Maputo Power Stations - The two diesel fired back-up power stations that can provide Maputo with electricity in the event of interruption to the normal power supply are being converted to run on natural gas, according to a report in Monday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias". [AA Urbanisation]

Nigeria: Lagos Residents Protest Epileptic Power Supply - AS doubts pervade the horizon over the Federal Government's dream of generating about 6,000 Megawatts of electricity by December, a frontline motivational speaker, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, yesterday led over 5,000 members and other Lagos residents to the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja to protest the epileptic power supply in Lagos and other parts of the country. [AA Urbanisation]

Johannesburg - Poor South Africans could receive 70 kilowatts worth of free electricity if Eskom is granted a 45 percent "smoothed" tariff increase, says it's Chief Executive Jacob Maroga.

"We recommend that it be increased to 70 kilowatts and that the cost be carried by industry," Maroga told reporters as the parastatal unveiled details of its Multi-Year Price Determination 2 (MYPD 2) for the three-year period, beginning in 2010 to 2013.

This, he said, would limit the impact of the increase on poor households that currently received 50 kilowatts free basic electricity from government.

"This is the beginning of consultation and it will take some time," said Maroga, adding that government has been consulted on the matter.

"We are still in a process for things to be endorsed," he said, adding that public hearings were still to be held.

The parastal said it was in favour of a 45 percent annual tariff increase from next year until 2013 as opposed to once off 146 percent tariff increase. The 45 percent will result in a 30 billion shortfall and will involve an increase of 22 cents/KWPW.

Johannesburg - South Africans could soon be paying an additional 45 percent on their electricity bill every year over the course of the next three years, power utility Eskom said on Tuesday.

"The option we are proposing is that let's do it over three years by 45 percent," the utility's Chief Executive Officer Jacob Maroga said.

Eskom submitted its Multi-Year Price Determination 2 (MYPD 2) for the three-year period beginning in 2010 to 2013 to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) at the end of last month.

Maroga said should the tariff not be imposed on a 45 percent basis for every year over the next three years this, would translate to a once off 146 percent tariff increase.

He added that the country had been using cheap electricity for far too long.

Should the 45 percent tariff increase increment be implemented, Eskom customers will start paying the new tariff by April 2010 while municipal customers will begin paying by July next year.

Kenya: Malindi to Spend Sh100 Million on Power Projects - The Malindi Constituency Development Fund will spend over Sh100 million on rural electrification. [AA Urbanisation]

Uganda: U.S.$6 Million Rural Power Project Starts in Iganga - THE construction of the second phase of the rural electrification project was recently commissioned by the State Minister for Minerals, Peter Lokeris at Nabitende sub-county in Iganga district, reports Ronnie Kijjambu. [AA Construction]

Nigeria: Firm Constructs LNG Prototype Plant - An indigenous Gas Company, Graceland Gas Nigeria Limited, has fabricated the prototype of a gas gathering and conversion plant in Lagos. [AA Construction]

Ethiopia: Govt Embarks On Power Generation Projects - The Ethiopian government has signed contracts with three Chinese companies for the development of hydro-electric and wind power projects, reports News24.com. [AA Construction]

South Africa: Electricity Restructure is Set to Start With New Law - The restructuring of the electricity-distribution industry through the creation of six regional electricity distributors (REDS) countrywide was ready to proceed as soon as the contentious 17th Constitutional Amendment Bill was promulgated, Electricity Distribution Industry Holdings CEO Phindile Nzimande said yesterday. [AA Urbanisation]

Mushiyane - Over 400 families living in Mushiyane, in the Greater Giyane Municipality will no longer be expected to travel long distances to fetch wood in order to cook, thanks to the electricity switched on in the village.

"The important turning point in the lives of the Mushiyane Village is that immediately, 417 households will have electricity for the first time, with government spending almost R4 million to make this possible," said President Jacob Zuma.

He was speaking at the official Electricity Switch-on Ceremony in the Mushiyane Village in Giyani on Sunday.

He said with the switch-on today, government is making a statement to the people of South Africa who are living in rural areas that "their government cares for them".

"We are saying that they do not need to be in the metropolitan areas to have access to electricity and other basic services.

"We have known for a long time as government that the biggest casualties of this lack of access to electricity in particular are women, children, people with disabilities as well as pensioners," the President said.

Nigeria: Epileptic Electricity, Bane of National Development - Sultan - Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Sa'ad III, has said that epileptic power supply has affected every aspect of Nigeria's economy. [AA Urbanisation]

South Africa: Recession Protects Country From Power Shortage - THE mining industry has saved about 250MW of electricity mainly because of improvements in pumping and compressed air systems, Eskom said yesterday. [AA Urbanisation]

Rwanda: Butare Downplays Sinelac Threats on Power Cut Off - Rwanda has denied reports that it could be disconnected from the regional power utility company Société International d'Electricite des Pays des Grands Lacs (SINELAC) for failure to clear its outstanding arrears. [AA Urbanisation]

Kenya: Green Power Rules Come Rain Or Shine - WHEN Kenya's cellphone company Safaricom launched its solar- powered cellphone last week, it brought smiles to millions of consumers facing electricity rationing two days a week. [AA Urbanisation]