The Current Ep 9 | Powering progress: Financing Africa's electrification

Loading player...
Despite Africa having 60% of the best solar resources in the world, it only has 1% of installed solar PV capacity. And some 600 million people in Africa don't have access to energy- with detrimental developmental consequences.
The need is huge, and so too is the opportunity to finance Africa’s renewable energy transition. Revego's CIO says the total investment for renewable energy in Sub-Saharan Africa for the next eight years could reach about 193 billion US dollars.
In episode 9 of The Current, we discuss what needs to be done to mobilise the necessary capital to electrify Africa. Host, Iman Rappetti, is joined by Ana Hajduka Shields, CEO of Africa GreenCo, Ziyaad Sarang, Revego's CIO and Brian Irvine, Investec's global head of Export and Agency Finance.
00:00: Intro
02:25: Meet the guests
02:58: All the resources and so little power
05:25: What's the cause of Africa's energy deficit?
06:34: What's got in the way of investment in energy infrastructure?
07:44: Moving away from fossil fuels
08:26: Africa to leapfrog to green industrialisation
09:32: The "Beautiful convergence" of climate concerns, economics and energy efficiencies
11:19: Africa's riches need to be harnessed
12:19: Innovative financing: export finance credit agency
13:14: Acre Import Capital - A real-world example
16:24: Green bonds to build infrastructure
17:15: What about equity markets?
19:13: Education is a key factor to attract capital
22:30: Regional power pools and trading of energy
24:19: South Africa to benefit from cross-border trading
25:41: C&I project for commercial off-take
26:10: In crisis comes opportunity- 193bn dollars in opportunity
This podcast was brought to you by Investec's Export and Agency Finance team to find out more click here: https://www.investec.com/en_za/investec-for-corporates/finance/export-and-agency-finance.html
18 Jun 2024 English South Africa Business · Investing

Other recent episodes

Macro Monday Ep129: Warsh’s hawkish speech

New Fed chief Kevin Warsh delivered a hawkish speech at the Jackson Hole symposium of central bankers on Friday, leading to a stronger US dollar and increased expectations of rate hikes this year and next year. Investec Investment Management’s Investment Strategist Osagyefo Mazwai examines what this means for the US…
31 Aug 9 min

No Ordinary Wednesday | The economics of tourism in SA

South Africa’s growth challenge is shifting from reform to delivery. Tourism is part of that test. International arrivals rose 12.3% in the first half of 2026. And phase III of the government-business Partnership now puts the sector firmly on the growth agenda, with a focus on air access, visas, safety…
25 Aug 12 min

Everything Counts | Episode 54: Protecting property wealth

Property is often seen as one of the more reliable ways to build long-term wealth. It’s tangible, familiar and, for many South Africans, an important part of their financial plan. But investing in property comes with risks that can be easy to overlook, from hidden costs and changing rental yields…
25 Aug 28 min

Macro Monday Ep128: US bond market intervention fails to bring down yields

Moves by the US Treasury to intervene in the bond market failed to bring down yields meaningfully, and the continuing worsening of the US’s fiscal position may explain why. According to Chris Holdsworth, Global Chief Investment Officer, Investec Investment Management, the US’s debt-to-GDP ratio is above 100% and seems set…
24 Aug 4 min

Macro Monday Ep127: The Fed’s difficult position

The US Federal Reserve finds itself in a difficult position. The US economy has been shedding jobs, and wage growth is soft. At the same time, says Chris Holdsworth, Global Chief Investment Officer, Investec Investment Management, government debt continues to grind higher while inflation remains elevated, mainly the result of…
17 Aug 7 min