Private investors in African energy projects

Private investors are not yet a major force in funding electricity transmission networks across Africa, but their involvement is growing. Companies like Gridworks, a British firm, are starting to take a bigger role in developing critical infrastructure.

Gridworks secures funding in Uganda

Gridworks recently secured initial funding for the Amari electricity transmission project in Uganda. This project involves modernizing four high-voltage substations and is expected to cost around 50 million USD, with construction starting in July.

Cross-border energy project in DRC and Zambia

Gridworks is also looking to take a leading role in the Kalumbila-Kolwezi Interconnection Project (KKIP) between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia. This 200 km high-voltage line aims to transmit up to 550 MW of electricity to the Congolese mining region.

Project details and financial backers

The KKIP project, estimated at 300 million USD, has been under development for nine years by EnPower. The Democratic Republic of Congo's Strategic Investment Fund (FIS-RDC) is involved, and Trafigura is expected to help with a significant part of the debt financing.

Other projects by Gridworks

In addition to the projects in Uganda and the DRC-Zambia border, Gridworks is also working on electricity transmission projects in Mozambique and Ethiopia. These efforts reflect a broader push to expand energy infrastructure across the continent.

IEA report highlights challenges

In its report Financing Electricity Access in Africa, published in October 2025, the International Energy Agency (IEA) notes that many African countries have not yet opened their electricity networks to private investment. However, some countries, like Uganda and Kenya, are beginning to explore this path.

IEA emphasizes multiple approaches

The IEA also states that achieving universal electricity access by 2035 will require both the expansion of public electricity networks and the use of decentralized solutions, such as solar power and microgrids, to meet the continent's growing energy needs.