Economy
UK-Kenya Renewable Energy Conference
Kenya’s renewable energy sector is on the cusp of big things. With a Government committed to a 5000Mw plan by 2017; an established feed-in-tariff; and an increasing demand for electricity as industrialisation continues at pace, the conditions are set for geothermal, wind and solar power to take off in a big way.
Two main forces are driving this change.
First is the enviable economic growth that Kenya has enjoyed in recent years, and is forecast to maintain in the future.
Rapid economic growth will drive greater demand for power: from businesses, to produce goods and services; and from consumers as they buy more TVs, fridges, freezers and other goods.
Kenya already has a renewable-rich energy mix, and is looking to continue this.
The second driver is that global climate change policy is stimulating increased take up of renewable energy around the world. This is leading to extraordinary and enormous economies of scale and efficiencies.
Last year the Paris climate negotiations sent a clear message to the world – to governments, to businesses, investors and citizens – that the future is low carbon. It created a surge in market demand for renewable energy.
You would expect rising demand to drive prices up. But technology and innovation are doing the opposite, so increasing demand further. In the world of computers we’re familiar with Moore’s law: namely that processing speeds for computers will double every two years, with prices falling. We’re seeing something similar in renewables. 30 years ago, wind turbines were generally rated around 50kw. 15 years ago we were getting used to 2000kw (2Mw) turbines. Now, in the North Sea, we’re expecting 8Mw monsters offshore.
Prices are falling similarly: solar panels now make up less than half the cost of the average PV installation. My Deputy High Commissioner is still fuming at the £13,000 he paid to put 4kw on his roof in 2011 – something that might now cost only £5,000. Offshore wind costs are another example of this. The UK agreed a strike price of £140 per Mw/hour for offshore wind as recently as 2014. In the Netherlands the most recent auction saw suppliers coming forward to supply offshore wind for just £70 per Mw/hour.
As a result of these changes, the UK now has three times more offshore wind – over 5000 Mw – than the entire generating capacity of the Kenyan grid. UK installed solar capacity – and let’s face it, the UK isn’t a sunny country – is over 10Gw – a 1400% increase on as recent as 2011.
As innovation pushes costs down, the implications for Kenya are clear. Renewables will not simply be environmentally beneficial, but economically advantageous. In time, they will push out hydrocarbons.
The UK and Kenya are together at the vanguard of this renewable energy, clean technology and innovation revolution. Kenya has one of the most active renewable energy sectors in Africa – second only to South Africa in terms of investment. The UK is a global leader in many of the sectors for which Kenya has greatest demand, as well as leading the way in innovative new technology such as wave power, tidal stream, pump storage and grid-scale flow batteries.
Kenya has set ambitious targets to boost its energy mix as part of the Energy Pillar in Vision 2030. As it continues to strive with regional competitors like Ethiopia, it wants to keep energy costs down. Renewables will enable this. And UK companies should be at the heart of this. From project development to design, finance and investment, legal and security, R&D and consulting; to grid development, transmission and distribution – UK companies have the expertise to help Kenya achieve success.
The energy market of tomorrow will – and must – look fundamentally different to yesterday. Out goes an industry dominated by giant utilities; a monopoly of centralised energy models. In comes a new, diverse market; driven by innovation, with an entrepreneurial, dynamic set of market participants. Put simply, new actors, new investors, new technology.
Let me say something about how all this connects to Kenya’s development agenda, of which the UK is such a strong supporter. A reliable electricity supply is one of the most powerful tools for helping people lift themselves out of poverty. Yet two out of three people in Sub-Saharan Africa are currently living without electricity access.
Twenty years ago, there was a nine month wait in Kenya for a monopoly provided land telephone line. Then Safaricom arrived on the scene. In just ten years we have seen a total transformation of the way in which Kenyans communicate – the mobile revolution. Now we need – and I am convinced that we will see – a similar revolution in access to affordable clean energy over the next ten years.
This will require governments, investors and aid agencies to tear down regulatory barriers and attract new finance. It will require us to develop markets where lower costs for renewable energy filter through to consumers because of genuine competition between suppliers.
The private sector has an opportunity to show the way in turning development challenges into business opportunities. A few years ago, seed funding from UK Aid working with Vodaphone and Safaricom helped create a mobile payment platform called M-PESA. Today that platform processes nearly half of Kenyan GDP, and means three in four Kenyans have access to the financial system.
This is the kind of country where those transformational things can be done. Let’s work together to make them happen.
In the competitive world of online trading, finding a trading brokerage partner that balances reliability, technological innovation, and accessible conditions is essential. Headway broker has emerged as a significant player, currently serving over 4 million users globally.
In this article, we take a detailed look at what makes this broker for trading a notable option for both novice and experienced traders.
Headway Regulatory Foundation and Safety
Safety is the cornerstone of any trading relationship. Headway broker operates under the regulation and licensing of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA). This regulatory oversight ensures that the broker adheres to strictly defined standards for transparency and operational conduct, providing traders with an added layer of security and confidence when managing their portfolios.
Trading Platforms and Instruments
Efficiency in trading Forex and other markets is driven by the tools at your disposal. Headway provides a robust technological trading ecosystem:
Industry-Standard Platforms: The broker fully supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), the most widely used platforms for technical analysis and automated trading.
Proprietary Mobile App: For traders who prioritize mobility, Headway offers its own custom-built trading app. It is readily available for download on both Google Play and the App Store, allowing for seamless account management and trading on the go.
Diverse Market Access: Traders have a wide range of opportunities with access to over 300 trading instruments, ensuring plenty of choice for different strategies and asset classes.
Trading Account Types Offered by Headway
Headway broker understands that every trader enters the market with a different level of experience:
Three Account Tiers: To ensure inclusivity, the broker offers three distinct types of accounts (Cent, Standard and Pro), tailored to suit different levels of expertise and capital requirements.
Demo Account: For those looking to refine their skills without financial risk, Headway provides a comprehensive demo trading account. This is the perfect environment to practice strategies, understand how the platform works, and gain confidence before transitioning to live trading.
Customer Support and Incentives
Headway supports its user base with comprehensive resources and financial incentives:
24/7 Technical Support: Market fluctuations happen at any time. Headway provides round-the-clock technical support for the traders, ensuring that help is always available whenever a question or issue arises.
150$ No Deposit Bonus: To help new traders get started, Headway offers a $150 no deposit bonus. This is an excellent way to test the broker’s execution speed and trading environment with zero initial risk.
IB Partnership Program: Beyond individual trading, Headway fosters growth through its Introducing Broker (IB) partnership program. This allows partners to build their business and earn commissions by referring new traders to the platform.
Conclusion
With its combination of FSCA regulation, a vast range of instruments, and modern platforms like MT4, MT5, and its own proprietary app, Headway FX broker provides a comprehensive environment for modern traders. Whether you are using the demo account to hone your skills or taking advantage of the 150 no deposit welcome bonus, this broker offers the stability and tools needed for your trading journey.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange rose by 0.40 per cent on Monday, July 13, buoyed by buying interest in 11 Plc, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc and UBN Property Plc, which offset the profit-taking in Food Concepts Plc, the parent company of Chicken Republic.
11 Plc gained N20.69 to end at N227.64 per share compared with last Friday’s price of N206.95 per share, CSCS Plc grew by N1.83 to N91.48 per unit from N89.65 per unit, and UBN Property Plc added 1 Kobo to sell at N1.81 per share versus N1.80 per share.
On the flip side, Food Concepts Plc depreciated by 24 Kobo to close at N2.45 per unit, in contrast to the preceding session’s N2.69 per unit.
As a result, the market capitalisation increased by N9.2 billion to N2.587 trillion from N2.578 trillion, and the NASD Security Index (NSI) improved by 15.33 points to 4,311.67 points from 4,296.34 points.
Yesterday, the volume of securities traded by investors surged by 615.9 per cent to 9.1 million units from the previous 1.3 million units, and the value of securities rose by 997.1 per cent to N320.4 million from the preceding session’s N29.2 million, while the number of deals decreased by 12.5 per cent to 28 deals from last Friday’s 32 deals.
At the close of trades, Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc remained the most active stock by value on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units worth N6.5 billion, and CSCS Plc with 73.9 million units exchanged for N5.2 billion.
GNI Plc also closed the session as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis, with 3.4 billion units sold for N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units traded for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units transacted for N415.7 million.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Naira maintained stability against the US Dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEX) on Monday, July 13, at N1,379.65/$1.
However, it appreciated against the Pound Sterling in the official market by N2.44 to exchange at N1,848.18/£1 compared with the previous rate of N1,850.62/£1, and lost 73 Kobo against the Euro to sell at N1,576.39/€1 versus last Friday’s N1,575.66/€1.
At the GTBank fore counter, the Naira declined by N2 to settle at N1,388/$1, in contrast to the previous session’s rate of N1,386/$1, and at the black market, it traded flat at N1,400/$1.
Market analysts expect the Naira to trade within a relatively stable range, supported by sustained FX inflows and a continued market intervention by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), although persistent underlying FX demand is likely to keep depreciation pressures elevated.
According to Monday’s trading data, interbank FX turnover surged by 21.14 per cent to $86.136 million from $71.044 million at the previous trading session on Friday.
However, interbank deal counts declined to 85 from 87 on Monday, reflecting the absence of pressure from US Dollar payments against local units. Last week, total foreign exchange inflows amounted to $0.97 billion, according to a Coronation Merchant Bank research report.
Analysts reported that foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) remained the largest source of inflows, contributing 30.29% or $0.29 billion, closely followed by Exporters and Importers at 30.14 per cent.
Non-bank corporates accounted for 26.49 per cent or $0.26 billion, while the CBN contributed 6.93 per cent or $0.07 billion. Other sources made up the remaining 5.4 per cent of total inflows.
In the cryptocurrency market, major coins came under pressure following heightened expectations for a Federal Reserve interest-rate increase as soon as July, just ahead of key US inflation data and congressional testimony from Chairman Kevin Warsh came into focus.
Bitcoin (BTC) fell by 0.2 per cent to $62,627.03, Solana (SOL) dipped by 1.5 per cent to $75.18, TRON (TRX) depreciated by 0.2 per cent to $0.3248, Ripple (XRP) slumped by 0.6 per cent to $1.06, and Cardano (ADA) lost 0.6 per cent to close at $0.1589.
On the flip side, Ethereum (ETH) appreciated by 0.5 per cent to $1,784.26, Dogecoin (DOGE) grew by 0.2 per cent to $0.073, and Binance Coin (BNB) jumped by 0.2 per cent to $569.23, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) traded flat at $1.00 apiece.
