10 African countries with recent power projects to fix grid challenges

Across Africa, governments and private investors are tackling chronic grid instability with $15B in large-scale power projects.

From Cameroon’s 300-MW Douala-Bonabéri gas plant to Ethiopia’s 5,150-MW Grand Renaissance Dam, investments in hydro, solar, gas, and transmission upgrades are boosting electricity reliability.

These projects reduce blackouts, lower diesel costs, and strengthen industrial growth. Strategic initiatives in Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, and Zambia are modernizing grids, integrating renewable energy, and attracting investor confidence. Public-private partnerships and multilateral financing underpin this continental energy transformation.

By combining renewables, gas, hydro and transmission reform, governments are not only fixing grid challenges but laying the foundation for industrial acceleration and sustainable growth.

Here are 10 African countries chronicled by Shore Africa deploying transformative power projects to tackle grid instability and position their economies for sustained growth.

1. Cameroon
Project: Douala-Bonabéri Power Plant & Kribi Gas Link (300 MW)
Brief: Cameroon is strengthening its industrial backbone with the 300-MW Douala-Bonabéri dedicated power plant, backed by an estimated 628 billion CFA francs (about $1.1 billion). Designed to ease grid congestion and support port operations in Douala, the project reduces costly outages affecting manufacturing and logistics. Complemented by the Kribi-Douala gas pipeline, it ensures stable fuel supply, cutting disruptions tied to inconsistent gas delivery.

2. Ghana
Project: Amandi Energy & Grid Stabilisation (about 250–300 MW)
Brief: Ghana’s Amandi Energy thermal plants, delivering roughly 250–300 MW, are central to stabilizing a grid previously strained by persistent load shedding. With investments exceeding $500 million, the facilities enhance dispatchable capacity, supporting peak demand and industrial growth. Grid reinforcement efforts are simultaneously reducing transmission bottlenecks, improving reliability for businesses and households nationwide.

3. Kenya
Project: High-Voltage Transmission Upgrades ($311 million)
Brief: Kenya is investing $311 million in high-voltage transmission upgrades to reduce system losses and integrate expanding geothermal, wind and solar generation. Though not generation-focused, the project is critical in improving grid reliability and efficiency. Strengthened transmission corridors allow renewable-rich regions to feed power into national demand centers, cutting outages and improving supply stability.

4. South Africa
Project:  Oya Hybrid Power Station (about 333 MW)
Brief: South Africa’s privately financed Oya Hybrid Power Station, estimated at 333 MW, combines renewable generation with battery storage to deliver dispatchable electricity. The hybrid model enhances grid stability by supplying power during peak demand and low-generation periods. As rolling blackouts strain the economy, projects like Oya represent a growing shift toward flexible, investor-backed energy solutions.

5. Zambia
Project: Chisamba Solar Phase II (about 150 MW)
Brief: Zambia’s 150-MW Chisamba Solar Phase II project, valued above $120 million, expands solar generation to reduce heavy dependence on hydropower. With droughts impacting water levels at major dams, solar diversification strengthens resilience. The plant adds clean capacity while supporting Zambia’s long-term energy transition strategy.

6. Ethiopia
Project: GERD Completion (5,150 MW)
Brief: The completion phases of the 5,150-MW Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), valued at roughly $5 billion, significantly expand Ethiopia’s baseload generation. Beyond domestic stabilization, surplus electricity exports to neighboring countries strengthen regional integration. GERD positions Ethiopia as a continental hydro powerhouse while easing chronic supply constraints.

7. Ivory Coast
Project: Singrobo Hydropower Expansion (44 MW)
Brief: Ivory Coast’s 44-MW Singrobo hydropower expansion, a $214 million investment, enhances clean energy output and reduces reliance on thermal plants. The project diversifies the country’s generation mix, lowering fuel costs and strengthening supply reliability amid rising demand.

8. Uganda
Project:  Karuma & Isimba Hydro (about 600 MW)
Brief: Uganda’s recently commisioned $1.7 billion Karuma and Isimba hydropower projects, delivering a combined 600 MW, form the backbone of its electricity expansion strategy. With multi-billion-dollar investments, the dams significantly boost baseload capacity, stabilize voltage fluctuations and position Uganda as a regional exporter.

9. Sudan
Project:  Merowe Dam Rehabilitation (about 1,250 MW)
Brief: Sudan’s rehabilitation of the 1,250-MW Merowe Dam focuses on restoring degraded capacity after years of grid deterioration. The multi-billion-dollar recovery effort aims to revive critical generation assets, strengthening national supply and reducing prolonged blackouts.

10. Liberia
Project: Mount Coffee Hydropower Rehabilitation (about 88 MW)
Brief: Liberia is revitalizing its Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant to restore 88 MW of generation, following extensive damage from past conflicts and flooding. This project strengthens the national grid, reduces reliance on costly diesel generators, and expands electricity access in Monrovia and surrounding regions. Small-scale solar and mini-grid initiatives complement the effort, improving resilience for rural communities.