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The recent Africa Investment Forum in Rabat, Morocco, was dominated by infrastructure financing projects, with Kenya and Tanzania seeking funding for the energy and transport sectors respectively.
The African Investment Forum has secured over $15.3 billion in investment interests in 39 bankable projects, Africa’s most significant public-private partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure projects, with a focus on the Lobito Corridor (Zambia), Bishoftu Airport (Ethiopia), and Mauritania’s main rail corridor.
Of the 41 projects presented this year, 38 were ‘investable’. Fifteen projects were related to the energy sector and renewable energy, with transportation projects accounting for the highest total value at $17 billion. “We are thrilled to announce that our platform, the African Investment Forum, has recorded $15.263 billion in investment interest for the 2025 edition of Market Days this year,” said Dr. Sidi Ould Tarr, President of the African Development Bank Group.
“Among the projects seeking funding from the AfDB are energy and affordable housing by Kenya, transport, especially roads and rail, by Tanzania, airport construction by Ethiopia, and part of the Lobito Corridor by Zambia.
Kenya is in talks with the African Development Bank (AfDB) for a $150 million project to expand its electricity grid and connect an additional 1.5 million people.
Kenya is seeking funding to increase power generation capacity as high demand strains its 3,082MW of available capacity.
A Kenyan company is seeking $80 million in financing for a 150MW power project during the AIF, which is being held in Rabat, Morocco. “There is a company that is acquiring energy assets in Kenya. It costs $80 million for 150 MW. We are involved in that,” said Jit Alfayo, head of project preparation finance at African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank).
According to the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (Epra), as of June 2025, Kenya’s installed power capacity is 3,840.8MW, of which 3,192.0MW is interconnected, 603.8MW is private, and 45.0MW is off-grid.
Geothermal power dominates with 25.9 percent of installed capacity, followed by hydropower (24.0 percent), thermal power (17.2 percent), solar power (14.1 percent), and wind power (12.0 percent).
The idea of raising more capital is part of the strategy, which includes deploying up to 2,000MW from geothermal and 1,000MW from hydropower to ensure a stable baseload power supply.
Governments are seeking funding to support these projects and recognize the need to improve the competitiveness of energy project financing through a variety of options and strategic partnerships.
However, the World Bank has not disclosed the loan the Kenyan government is seeking to cover affordable housing projects. Zanzibar is seeking funding for its transport system to support a major infrastructure plan, including new roads, airports and improved maritime services, as outlined in the ruling party’s manifesto.
The government is aiming to raise funds for projects such as the Tungwu-Makunduchi road and the Fumba-Kisauni road, and recent efforts include talks with investors in the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which supports climate-friendly urban transport solutions in Tanzania and Zanzibar. “From an East African perspective, there is a $260 million worth of Zanzibar passenger ferry transport project, which is still in its early stages,” Mpho Mokwele said. Group Executive: Trading Department of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), South Africa.
Last year, the AfDB signed a coordination letter with Deutsche Bank and Société Générale to establish a syndication strategy to mobilize up to $1.2 billion for the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project in Tanzania.
The $2.3 billion project will connect Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam port on the Indian Ocean to Mwanza port on Lake Victoria.
From there, it plans to expand to neighboring Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
This will create new mining and agricultural corridors in East and Central Africa, unlocking economic potential.
The other major project is by African Finance Corporation, which has returned to the market on the Zambian part of the Lobito Corridor.
The rail project will connect the Copperbelt in Zambia with the port of Lobito in Angola.
DBSA sponsored seven projects, including the cross-border Lauca-Kolwezi transmission line, a 1,150-kilometre high-voltage transmission line linking Angola’s Lauca hydroelectric power plant to the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kolwezi mining region.
A new credit guarantee initiative has also been introduced, with the South African government, DBSA and AfDB planning to raise $300 million for new energy transmission projects.
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