Anzana Secures $20m BII Investment for African Hydropower Projects Across Africa

British development finance institution British International Investment (BII) has committed US$20 million to Anzana Electric Group in a move aimed at accelerating distributed renewable power deployment across Africa, with an initial focus on run-of-river hydropower.

The financing package is intended to unlock a segment of the African power market that has historically struggled to attract long-term capital. While run-of-river hydropower remains an established source of dependable renewable electricity, projects below 10MW have often faced difficulty securing debt due to extended development cycles and high transaction costs. BII’s financing seeks to bridge that gap by providing a more flexible capital structure capable of supporting early-stage project execution.

The investment will enable Anzana to expand its pipeline of small and medium-scale hydropower developments across East, Central and Southern Africa. Zambia is expected to host the platform’s first project under the facility.

Anzana estimates the financing will support the delivery of around 10MW of new distributed baseload generation capacity by 2030. Once operational, the portfolio is projected to supply more than 50GWh of renewable electricity annually into national and regional grids, helping meet rising demand in commercial and industrial centres while strengthening network reliability.

Beyond generation capacity, the programme is expected to deliver wider economic benefits. More than 500 jobs are forecast during construction and operations, while improved access to reliable electricity is expected to support local enterprise development and broader economic activity in the target markets.

British International Investment Managing Director and Head of Africa Chris Chijiutomi said the investment aligns with efforts to close the continent’s energy access deficit and expand electrification through commercially viable clean energy infrastructure.

“Africa continues to face a major electricity access challenge, with close to 600 million people still without power,” Chijiutomi said. “Partnerships such as this are critical to advancing large-scale electrification ambitions while strengthening energy systems through reliable renewable generation.”

Anzana Electric Group Chief Executive Brian Kelly described the agreement as a strategic step in scaling the company’s regional footprint.

He said Anzana’s integrated model—covering power generation, distribution infrastructure and end-user connections—positions the company to deliver dependable electricity where supply remains constrained, while supporting national development plans and long-term industrial growth.

The investment also reflects growing momentum behind decentralised renewable energy solutions in Africa, particularly technologies capable of delivering firm power in markets where grid expansion alone has struggled to keep pace with demand. For investors and developers alike, the Anzana-BII partnership signals increasing confidence in distributed hydropower as part of Africa’s evolving energy mix.

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