[img:Money1.thumbnail.JPG| ]18 November 2009 - Africa needs to spend $93 billion per annum over the next ten years to in order for Africa “catch up on infrastructure with other developing regions “ according to a report released this week by the United Nations.  The report, Africa’s infrastructure: A time for Transformation (http://www.infrastructureafrica.org/aicd/), provides a comparison between Africa and other developing regions in the world and provides insights into the outlook for the power, water, transport, ICT and telecoms industries in Africa.

[img:Meles%20Zenawi_0.jpg|Meles Zenawi,
Prime Minister
of Ethiopia]16 November 2009 - Tekeze Hydroelectric Power Dam, one of a number of mega-hydroelectric power projects in Ethiopia, has been inaugurated by Ethiopia's Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi on Saturday.

Construction of the over US$400 million hydro-power plant, fully funded by the Ethiopian government, was finalised more than a year ago but had been waiting for rain waters to start operations. The plant has now begun generating 75 MW electric power. When operating at full capacity the plant is expected to generate 300 MW of power.

[img:Hands.thumbnail.jpeg| ]16 November 2009 - Zimbabwe and Botswana are scheduled to sign an Inter-Governmental Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) before the end of the month for the refurbishment of the Bulawayo Power Station.

The two countries concluded a deal last month that would pave the way for the refurbishment of the plant by June 2010.

Energy ministers from the two countries met in October and agreed address transmission constraints in the Zimbabwe power grid to facilitate increased power transfers to Botswana.

[img:brazil.thumbnail.jpeg| ]16 November 2009 - It has been reported that Brazil has plans to invest $300 million to develop infrastructure in Mozambique, which includes the building of a 1,000-kilometre north-south power line, linking hydro-electric, coal- and gas-fired power stations in central and northern Mozambique with the main consuming areas in the south. At present, Mozambique imports most of its power from neighbouring South Africa.

[img:uganda_0.JPG| ]13 November 2009 - The West Nile Rural Electrification Company (WENRECO) has resumed work at the Nyagak mini hydro-power project in Nebbi.

Work at the power dam has been stalled for the past seven months but now the main sub-contractors are reporting that all financial issues have been resolved and construction was resumed last week.  The project had been halted due to financial difficulties but now that funding has been lined up from credible development finance institutions, the dam is expected to be completed in seven months. Funding commitments from the Agence Francaise de Developpement of France, KFW of Germany, and the IFC have been mentioned.

The organisers of African Utility Week are pleased to announce that Honourable Minister Barbara Hogan will be participating in the plenary panel discussion at African Utility Week and the Power Indaba on the 23 February 2010 in Durban, South Africa

Minister Hogan has had a long and distinguished career in politics and is currently the Minister of Public Enterprises which performs oversight management over nine of government’s State Owned Enterprises (SOE) such as Eskom, Denel, South African Airways, Transnet and Safcol.