Our vision for renewable energy
Savannah aims to deliver utility scale renewable energy projects across Africa and generate clean, competitively priced electricity for millions of households. We are involved across the entire project life cycle, taking projects from greenfield development through to long term ownership and operation.
We currently have up to 696 megawatts (“MW”) of hydroelectric, solar photovoltaic and wind projects in motion across three countries. Savannah’s existing presence in sub Saharan Africa through our hydrocarbon operations means we are able to leverage local teams to accelerate this development. We are focused on ensuring the highest environmental, social and governance standards to ensure a positive legacy from our projects.
Our technologies
Hydroelectric
95 MW
Solar photovoltaic
Up to 200 MW
Wind
Up to 401 MW
Local impact
Savannah believes that the market for African renewables is vast, potentially reaching 310 gigawatts (“GW”) by 2030. On average, only 56% of Africa’s entire population has access to electricity (falling to 41% if South Africa, Egypt and Algeria are excluded), with the electricity access rate in our countries of operation estimated at 65% for Cameroon, 19% for Niger and 55% for Nigeria. For much of Africa, the primary issue is around people being given access to reliable and affordable power. We believe that our projects will reduce the cost of power for local populations.
We expect to continue to acquire hydrocarbon businesses and to re-invest the cash flows we generate in both hydrocarbon AND renewable energy projects. We firmly believe Africa needs both if it is to be given the opportunity to grow and lift ever more of her citizens out of energy poverty. Developing our renewable resources speaks to the importance of diversity of energy supply.
Our projects
Agreement signed with the Government of Niger for the development of up to 200 MW of New Solar Projects
Savannah announced the signing of an agreement with the Government of Niger for the development of two proposed solar photovoltaic power plants, which are expected to be located within 20 km of the cities of Maradi and Zinder, respectively, in southern Niger. Each plant is expected to have an installed capacity of between 50 and 100 MW, for a total combined installed power generation capacity of up to 200 MW. The solar plants are expected to: generate reliable, affordable energy for Niger; increase overall grid connected power generation in the country by over 20%; and avoid an estimated up to 260,000 tonnes of annual CO2 emissions. The solar plants are expected to be connected to the South Central section of Niger’s electricity grid, which is forecast to be interconnected to the Western electricity grid zone (which serves Niamey) by 2026, as part of a World Bank funded project. Following the anticipated completion of the required project feasibility studies over the course of the next 12 months, the project is expected to receive project sanction in 2024, with first power targeted in the 2025 to 2026 window.
Bini a Warak Hydroelectric Project
Savannah announced the signing of an agreement for the development of the Bini a Warak Hydroelectric Project (the “Bini Project”) located in the northern Adamawa Region of Cameroon.
A signing ceremony was held on 20 April 2023 in Yaounde, attended by His Excellency Gaston Eloundou Essomba, Minister of Water and Energy for the Republic of Cameroon, His Excellency Dr Christian Dennys-McClure, British High Commissioner to the Republic of Cameroon and Andrew Knott, Chief Executive Officer of Savannah.
The 95 MW Bini Project is expected to provide clean, stable and affordable power to Cameroon’s northern region. This is anticipated to support both existing local electricity demand and enable a number of energy-intensive industrial projects, principally in the cement and metallurgy industries, within the region. The Bini Project is expected to increase current on-grid electricity generation capacity in northern Cameroon by over 50%. There is also the potential for power to be dispatched into Cameroon’s southern electricity grid, upon completion of the interconnection, financed by the World Bank, of the northern and southern electricity networks currently planned by the Government for 2026.
The Bini Project involves the construction of a dam on the Bini River, together with an 82km2 reservoir and associated tunnels, powerhouses, substations and a 225 Kilovolt transmission line connecting the Bini Project to Cameroon’s northern electricity grid. It is intended to be developed on an independent power project basis with project sanction expected in 2024 and first power targeted in the 2027 to 2028 window.
Update for Tarka
Savannah announces significant progress on our Parc Eolien de la Tarka wind farm project. All key studies required to achieve project sanction (including wind measurement, environmental and social impact, grid integration, security, cartography, road and aviation studies) are either completed or are in progress.
Niger – Parc Eolien de la Tarka
Savannah announced its inaugural renewable energy project, having signed an agreement on the 29th March 2022 (“the Agreement”) with the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Renewable Energies of the Republic of Niger for the construction and operation of the country’s first wind farm, with a proposed installed power generation capacity of up to 250 megawatts (“MW”) on an independent power producer (“IPP”) basis in the Tahoua Region of Southern Niger (the “Project”).
The signing ceremony was held at the House of Commons, London, UK, with H.E. Sani Mahamadou, Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Renewable Energies of the Republic of Niger, and in the presence of Vicky Ford MP, Minister for Africa. The Project, to be located in the Tahoua Region of Southern Niger, is expected to consist of up to 60 wind turbines with a total power generation capacity of up to 250 MW, producing up to 600 gigawatt hours per year of electricity. This would represent approximately 40% of Niger’s current annual electricity consumption. The construction phase of the wind farm is expected to create over 500 jobs, and it has the potential to reduce the cost of electricity for Nigeriens and avoid over an estimated 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
The project is expected to take advantage of the development of the West African Power Pool (“WAPP”), a high voltage interconnection network allowing power exchanges between countries in the region and increased grid stability. Niger is scheduled to be connected to the WAPP in 2023 via a 330 kV line financed by the World Bank1, the African Development Bank, the European Union and the Agence Française de Développement.
Savannah is carrying out an initial feasibility study, which will include an assessment to confirm the wind conditions and an assessment as to how the generated power would be incorporated into the national and regional electricity grids. Parc Eolien de la Tarka is also intended to be capable of exporting power to neighbouring countries at competitive tariffs and will significantly diversify Niger’s energy mix.
1 World Bank 2020