Page 17 - Energize October 2021

NEWS

Kipeto wind farm enters into innovative “We are proud for our portfolio company,
Lisa Pinsley, Head of Africa at Actis, says,

loan agreement to fund biodiversity BTE Renewables, and the landmark Kipeto
project to be entering into this engagement
with TNC, utilizing the creativity and
expertise at both organisations to
TE Renewables (BTE), which is an Actis company, alongside Craftskills Limited and The come together and support sustainable
Nature Conservancy (TNC) have arranged a pioneering loan agreement for the Kipeto Wind infrastructure development.”
BPower Project (Kipeto), in Kenya. Nikhath Zigmund, Business Development
Sourced from TNC and private impact investors, the US$10-million loan will facilitate funding, Director at BTE said, “This collaboration
over the life of the project, towards implementing local human-wildlife initiatives in the areas between BTE and TNC demonstrates
surrounding the wind project. The loan helps bring together multiple parties in the interest of the opportunities for private capital to
advancing conservation and demonstrating new models of funding. be deployed in novel ways to address
Kipeto reached full commercial operations in July 2021 and supplies 100 MW of additional conservation challenges. We look forward
power to Kenya’s national grid, making this project the second largest wind power project in the to working closely with TNC on the Kipeto
country and providing clean power to approximately 250 000 households. biodiversity committee to support the needs
Located in Kajiado county, 45 km from Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, Kipeto is implementing of the local community and also honour
an ambitious biodiversity action plan (BAP), which comprises close collaboration with the our commitment to the net gain of critically
local community to protect the surrounding flora and fauna. The BAP was developed in endangered vultures.”
consultation with various nature and wildlife conservation experts and includes a number of Charlotte Kaiser, Managing Director of
projects to improve the livelihoods of the community, through local job creation and building The Nature Conservancy’s NatureVest impact
improved predator-proof animal enclosures for local farmers. Simultaneously, the BAP aims investing team commented: “With the twin
to ensure the preservation of endangered species of vultures by undertaking activities such crises of climate change and biodiversity loss,
as enhanced monitoring and carcass clearance while implementing shutdown on demand and we must find every available opportunity to
raptor rescue protocols. invest in ways that benefit nature and people
BTE and TNC designed the investment via a fixed-rate mezzanine loan to the project, together. Thanks to the commitment of all of
alongside a commitment by the project to provide annual funding for critical conservation Kipeto’s partners and the investors funding
initiatives throughout the life of the wind power project. The use of this funding is governed by this loan, we are able to support biodiversity
the biodiversity subcommittee of Kipeto’s board, which comprises leading independent local and communities while also investing in the
and international avifauna organisations. In connection with the loan, TNC has joined Kipeto’s renewable energy infrastructure that is a
biodiversity committee and will provide technical assistance for the committee’s implementation critical part of the fight against climate change.”
of the BAP.
It is significant to note that the BAP includes both on-site mitigation measures and off-site Contact BTE Renewables,
vulture conservation interventions, including radio tracking and awareness programmes within Phone +27 (11) 367 4600,
communities, to decrease human-wildlife conflict, such as poisoning. The shutdown-on-demand info@bterenewables.com ,
and carcass removal activities relate to on-site avoidance interventions. https://bterenewables.com

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