UKCI Commits to Endow Rs.250 crores for Renewable Projects in Africa

The U.K. Climate Investments (UKCI) has announced that it will endow 500 million Rand (Rs 250 crore) in Revego Africa Energy Limited, an investment vehicle committed to renewable energy projects in Africa.

The prime objective of the investment vehicle will be to purchase equity in operational renewable energy projects across sub-Saharan Africa. In a region where energy poverty is a key inhibitor of economic development, the investment vehicle aspires to speed up the installation of new clean generation capacity by helping developers to release and recycle capital in recognized green energy projects.

Richard Abel, Managing Director of UKCI supposed, “More than half of the world’s population currently living without access to electricity are in sub-Saharan Africa. By helping to facilitate the recycling of development capital into new renewable energy projects, this green finance initiative represents an exciting opportunity to accelerate the deployment of clean generation capacity for the region.”

Harriet Baldwin, UK Minister of State for Africa believed “The UK is a world leader in tackling threats to our natural environment. Since 2011, UK climate finance has helped over 47 million people to cope with the effects of climate change, and provided 17 million people with improved access to clean energy.”

“Africa is home to some of the fastest growing economies in the world. The partnership between UK Climate Investments and Investec, which will unlock capital in established green energy projects, is a great example of the UK private sector working to attract green finance investors to help realise the potential of African economies while tackling climate change,” he added.

With an aim to seek a listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in the first half of 2019, the investment vehicle intends to exhibit the investment latent of the region’s renewable energy sector.