British International Investment

The Africa Power Platform PCC

East AfricaInfrastructure

The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) is the for-profit agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). It works to stimulate the private sectors of developing economies, providing capital for investment into long-lasting and sustainable development initiatives. All profits are reinvested in further development.

Its industrials and infrastructure arm, Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), works on infrastructure, agribusiness, packaging and telecommunications projects in Africa and Asia.

This investment was made when British International Investment was named CDC Group.

Our investment

Description of the investment.

CDC partnered with AKFED IPS to invest up to $140 million in a new power platform that will boost power generation in sub-Saharan Africa.

The platform houses IPS’s existing power projects in Uganda and Kenya - the 250 megawatt (MW) Bujagali hydropower project and the 75MW Tsavo project – and will focus on developing new power projects.

The platform aims to mobilise $1 billion worth of project funding, including in the tripartite 147MW Ruzizi III project in the Great Lakes region (Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC).

Expected impact

Expected impact of investments made between 2012 and 2018. From 2019 onwards, we have published a fuller set of impact information, assessing each investment against six dimensions of impact.

Power infrastructure is vital for Africa’s economic growth and job creation, particularly in more challenging regions.

The Ruzizi project is expected to double Burundi’s current capacity; increase Rwanda’s capacity by 30 per cent; and provide much-needed baseload power in Eastern DRC, a region that is otherwise isolated from DRC’s interconnected grid.

It will also reduce reliance on thermal (fossil fuel-based) generation in these countries.

Impact information

Applies to investments made from 2019 onwards. The tabs in this section define what we expect to achieve through the investment, assessing the potential impact of the investment against six dimensions of impact. You can find more details on our methodology of assessing impact here.

What?

Impact

Reporting and Complaints Mechanism

The Reporting and Complaints Mechanism allows anyone outside BII to report alleged breaches of the business integrity or environmental and social provisions of BII’s Policy on Responsible Investing. This includes breaches made by BII, a BII investee, or a portfolio company of a fund in which BII has invested. The Reporting and Complaints Mechanism Rules are available here. Reports and complaints can be submitted by email to reportsandcomplaints@bii.co.uk or by mail. See more details on our Reporting and Complaints Mechanism here.

For any other general enquiries contact us at enquiries@bii.co.uk

  • Key facts

    Last updated

    When the last quarterly update of the website database occurred.

    :
    June 2024
    Project number

    An identifier number shared by investments in the same project.

    :
    D104
    Status

    The current status of the investment (green flag for active and red flag for exited).

    :
    Active
    Region

    The geographical region where the country is located. We currently invest in Africa, South Asia, South East Asia and the Caribbean. In 2023, BII’s investment mandate was extended allowing it to invest in regional funds linked to Ukraine, with the majority of activity expected to begin post-war. Investments outside these regions were made prior to 2012 under previous investment mandates.

    :
    East Africa
    Country

    The countries where the investment delivers impact. Where impact is delivered in multiple countries, this is indicated.

    :
    Uganda
    Sector

    We prioritise those sectors that facilitate development and need our capital the most. Our priority sectors contribute towards many of the Sustainable Development Goals. They range from investing in the power infrastructure that will provide people with better access to electricity, to investing in financial institutions that direct capital to the individuals and businesses that need it the most.

    :
    Infrastructure

    We provide capital in the following ways: directly – through direct equity, direct debt, guarantees and other non-intermediated financial instruments; and indirectly – principally through investment funds.

    For direct investments and fund investments, this is the date BII committed capital to the investments. This is typically the date on which legal agreements are signed by all parties.

    For the portfolio companies of our fund investments, this is the date (either the month or the quarter) on which the fund committed capital to the portfolio company.

    For direct equity investments, this is the date at which British International Investment exited the investment.

    For debt investments, this is the date at which the final debt repayment was made.

    For funds, this is the date at which the fund was terminated.

    For underlying fund investments, this is the date at which the fund manager exited the investment.

    The total amount committed, per financial instrument, per investment, on the date BII becomes subject to a binding legal obligation to provide funding or assume a contingent liability. This information is provided in US dollars.

    For direct investments, this is the amount that BII has committed to the business or project. For fund investments, this is the amount BII has committed to the fund.

    The currency in which the investment was made.

    Investment type :
    Equity
    Start date :
    June 2016
    Amount :
    $68.5m
    Currency of investment :
    USD
    Domicile

    The company or investment fund’s place of incorporation.

    :
    Mauritius

Related investments made by BII into this company:

Investment name Commitment Region Sector Start date Status
Investment 02 $3.62m East Africa Infrastructure May 2019 Active

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