Egypt’s Ras Ghareb: Renewables at Scale

In Egypt, Infinity Power – supported by the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) – achieved financial close last week for the 200 MW Ras Ghareb Wind Farm, securing $153 million in senior debt from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Proparco and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Construction has now begun at the site in the Gulf of Suez. Once operational in 2027, Ras Ghareb will produce approximately 810,000 MWh of electricity per year, powering more than 300,000 homes and offsetting nearly 390,000 tons of CO₂ annually.

Beyond the immediate environmental impact, Ras Ghareb reflects a growing ecosystem of renewable energy supply chains in North Africa. Egypt’s established infrastructure, strategic location and industrial base give it the capacity to support local manufacturing of components and logistics for regional deployment. The project exemplifies how wind energy can catalyze industrial growth while advancing national decarbonization targets.

South Africa’s Ummbila Emoyeni: A Just Transition in Action

In South Africa’s coal heartland of Mpumalanga, the Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Farm marked a major milestone earlier this month with the financial close on its third phase, bringing the total investment in the project to over R15 billion and completing three successive financial closes in just two years. Developed by Seriti Green, a subsidiary of Seriti Resources, the 900 MW hybrid facility – comprising 750 MW of wind, 150 MW of solar PV and battery storage – is one of the country’s most ambitious private renewables projects to date.

By supplying clean energy directly to mining operations and surrounding communities, Ummbila Emoyeni is helping to transform coal-dependent regions into hubs of low-carbon industrial activity. The project is expected to generate 2,000 local jobs, while new substations and transmission lines are being constructed to reinforce Mpumalanga’s grid and integrate renewable power at scale.

Capital Confidence and Industrial Impact

The financial close of projects like Ras Ghareb and Ummbila Emoyeni demonstrates a decisive shift in investor sentiment. African renewables are proving they can deliver bankable returns, attract blended finance and meet rigorous environmental and governance standards. Institutions such as the AFC are playing a central role in structuring and de-risking these transactions, backed by expanding pools of capital – including a recent $100 million facility from FinDev Canada, AFC’s first transaction in the Canadian market, which will help support a growing pipeline of renewable and low-carbon projects across sub-Saharan Africa.

As more large-scale wind and solar projects advance to construction, demand for turbines, components, logistics and skilled labor is stimulating local manufacturing and services. Egypt’s Ras Ghareb could anchor regional turbine assembly, while South Africa’s renewables drive in Mpumalanga opens prospects for fabrication yards, maintenance hubs and supply chain localization. Together, these developments are laying the groundwork for Africa’s clean energy industrial base that can generate jobs and value beyond the project sites themselves.

Toward IAE 2026: Financing the Next Phase

The scale of Africa’s latest wind deals marks a turning point for the continent’s energy transition. What once relied heavily on donor or concessional funding is now drawing structured finance and private equity at commercial terms. As the continent prepares for IAE 2026, the focus will turn to building on these bankable projects and linking renewables with manufacturing, infrastructure and trade. Africa’s path to a sustainable energy future will hinge on sustaining this momentum and ensuring the transition remains practical, investable and economically transformative.

IAE 2026 is an exclusive forum designed to connect African energy markets with global investors, serving as a key platform for deal-making in the lead-up to African Energy Week. Scheduled for April 22–23, 2026, in Paris, the event will provide delegates with two days of in-depth engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, visit www.invest-africa-energy.com. To sponsor or register as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com