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Africa's New Horizon: Energy Transition & Accelerated Growth

AfriEdge Newsletter

June 28, 2025

Connecting Worldwide Investors With Business Opportunities In Africa

AfriEdge | June 2025 Investor Digest: #InvestInAfricaNow

Africa's Growth Story Just Turned the Page

From billion-dollar solar plays to cocoa-powered energy, Africa’s investment momentum is picking up serious pace and smart capital is already leaning in.

At a Glance

Egypt Goes Solar: $184M Obelisk project approved, with battery storage included
Cocoa Powers Côte d'Ivoire: $3M biomass plant to turn waste into electricity
Agtech Gets a Boost: Nile.ag raises $11.2M to scale smart farming in Southern Africa
Green Industry Funding: $250M climate finance unlocked for Egypt & South Africa
Supply Chain Secured: Transnet's wage deal restores port and rail confidence

Energy Transition:
Solar + Biomass Take the Lead

Egypt's Obelisk Solar Project

US$184.1M approved by AfDB

1GW solar generation with 200MWh storage
Strategic for power-intensive industry zones and IPP investments

Ivory Coast Cocoa-to-Energy Plant

US$3M biomass facility in Divo

Converts cocoa waste into electricity
Circular-energy meets rural electrification
First-of-its-kind in West Africa

AfCFTA in Action: Continental Trade Momentum

AfCFTA x Afreximbank roll out tools in Accra

From digital customs to SME enablers, the partnership is simplifying how businesses move goods across borders.

Intra-African trade hits $208B

That's a 7.7% year-on-year jump, powered by smoother flows and fewer barriers.

Investor Insight

Digital customs aren't just upgrades, they're your fast-pass to first-mover advantage.

AgriTech on the Rise: Nile.ag Secures $11.2M

Who's backing it?

Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund, FMO and Platform Investment Partners.

What's the play?

A digital marketplace connecting horticulture + grain producers with buyers. Add in real-time pricing, logistics tools and precision farming support.

Where it's happening:

Rolling out across Southern Africa, including Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.

Investor Insight

This isn't just farmtech, it's the infrastructure layer for agriculture at scale.

Clean Industry Gets a Funding Lift: CIF Steps In

Climate Investment Funds (CIF) mobilize green capital

Egypt and South Africa are each in line for up to US$250 million in concessional finance.

What's it funding?

Industrial decarbonization, clean manufacturing and low-carbon tech upgrades.

Why it matters:

Blended finance structure is designed to attract private capital, especially from ESG-focused investors.

Investor Insight

With public money de-risking the field, green industry is now open for private play.

New Watch Zone: Domestic Capital

Africa isn't just chasing investment, it's sitting on US$4 trillion in untapped institutional capital. (Pensions, banks, sovereign funds, it's all there!)