30 October 2026 – Daily Review of Infrastructure Financing and Investment in Africa
30 octobre 2026
The selected reports cover energy infrastructure financing, climate project preparation, and the planning of water and digital connectivity networks. They include new details on signed loans in Egypt, Green Climate Fund approvals, and financing for decentralised electrification in Nigeria. A scientific study also provides evidence on Africa’s water demand and infrastructure gaps, based on estimates for 2020.
Egypt Scatec signs USD 217 million in loans for the first phase of Dandara solar and storage
Following the preliminary financing terms reported in the 27 October edition, Scatec announced on 28 October, in news reported on 29 October, that it had signed USD 217 million in loans with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the African Development Bank and the European Investment Bank (EIB), and was starting construction. The first phase comprises 569 MW of solar capacity and 100 MWh of storage, with investment estimated at USD 271 million; the EIB specified on 29 October that its contribution would be up to USD 90 million, guaranteed by the European Union. Electricity will be supplied to Egypt Aluminium under a twenty-five-year agreement, with commercial operation targeted for the first half of 2028.
Sources: Scatec · European Investment Bank · TSN · pv magazine Italia
Africa Green Climate Fund approves USD 140 million for industrial decarbonisation and a separate sovereign climate facility
The Green Climate Fund approved USD 140 million for Climate Investor Three to support industrial decarbonisation, including renewable hydrogen infrastructure and related derivatives in South Africa and Namibia, with the Development Bank of Southern Africa acting as the accredited entity. The funding is intended to help mobilise private capital towards the facility’s USD 1.2 billion fundraising target. In its Board outcomes published on 29 October, the Fund also approved the separate Africa Sovereign Climate Facility with Africa Finance Corporation; both programmes form part of USD 1.9 billion in new climate financing approved worldwide.
Sources: Development Bank of Southern Africa · Green Climate Fund
Nigeria USD 7 million loan facility to support equipment for Okra’s shared solar networks
Reports published on 28 and 29 October describe a USD 7 million loan facility from British International Investment, the UK’s development finance institution, for Okra Solar. It is intended to finance advance equipment purchases for approximately 150,000 new connections, potentially serving 750,000 people in rural communities. The technology combines solar generation, batteries and smart controls, enabling neighbouring households and businesses to share electricity; the announced connections are deployment targets.
Sources: Africa Private Equity News · African-Startups · TechPolyp
Eastern and Southern Africa COMESA examines financing models for least cost digital infrastructure
In a publication dated 29 October, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) outlined consultations held in Addis Ababa from 27 to 30 October with authorities, regulators, operators and financiers. A regional assignment led by Salience Consulting examines least-cost planning and financing models, including for rural areas and locations where commercial investment remains limited. The publication does not announce a financial commitment amount.
Sources: COMESA
Water Study estimates 717 million Africans lacked piped water access in 2020
A study published in Nature on 28 October and highlighted by the publisher on 29 October estimates Africa’s annual water demand at 347 cubic kilometres in 2020, approximately 26 per cent higher than in 2010, and the number of people without piped water access that year at 717 million. Covering six sectors, it finds that in some regions demand remains unmet despite available water resources because suitable infrastructure is lacking. The authors describe the figures as estimates, rather than absolute measurements or an assessment of conditions in 2026.
Sources: Nature · Nature Portfolio
Information notice
This press review is prepared for information purposes using publicly available sources. The information and opinions reported are those of the cited sources and do not necessarily reflect the views or position of the Secretariat of the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa (ICA) or its members. The selection of content and references to institutions, companies or projects do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. This review does not claim to be exhaustive; readers are encouraged to consult the original sources before making decisions or using the information.