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Mr. Daoudi, President of Sonatrach (Algeria’s national oil company), recently presided over the launch of construction for a new seawater desalination plant in El Marsa, Chlef Province.As the province’s second coastal desalination facility following the one in Ténès, it has a designed daily production capacity of approximately 300,000 cubic meters and will supply drinking water to residents in Chlef, Ain Defla, Tissemsilt, and Medea provinces.The first phase of the project is expected to be completed in 22 months, with a daily output of 150,000 cubic meters. Once fully operational, it will ensure a stable water supply for more than 3 million people.By 2030, the company plans to build new desalination plants in multiple locations to achieve an annual water production capacity of around 5.6 million cubic meters.  

On March 17, 2026, the EPC consortium led by China Electric Power Engineering Co., Ltd. Kunming Branch received the NTP (Official Commencement Order) issued by the Lao Benbang Power Co., Ltd. This landmark instruction marks the entry of the highly anticipated Lao Benbang Hydropower Station project into the substantive construction phase. The Lao Benbang Hydropower Station is located in the upper reaches of the Mekong River in Pak Beng County, Udomsu Province, northern Laos. The project is of Class II Large (2) type, with an installed capacity of 912 megawatts, an average annual power generation of 4.775 billion kilowatt-hours, and an annual utilization hour of approximately 5,236 hours. As the first cascade development task on the Mekong River main stream, it is mainly for power generation, with a secondary consideration for shipping. After the completion of the project, it can promote the social and economic development of Laos and develop tourism, etc. As the design entity of the EPC consortium for Project E, Kunming Institute began its work in 2008. Over the past 18 years, from topographic mapping to geological exploration, from scheme comparison to technical optimization, several generations of Kunming Institute designers have passed on the torch. Facing complex technical challenges and a long project duration, they have always adhered to the spirit of being responsible for the project and the client, continuously improving the design plans, and patiently awaiting the success. For Kunming Institute, this is not just an ordinary start-up instruction, but also the best reward for my institute’s 18-year consistent and unwavering technical cultivation and heartfelt dedication. In the future, the Kunming Bureau will leverage its rich experience gained from large-scale hydropower projects both at home and abroad, combine digital design and intelligent construction technologies, and work closely with all parties of the consortium. It will strictly adhere to the safety and quality bottom line, and efficiently advance the construction project. It will contribute “Electric Power Construction wisdom” to turn the Beiben Hydropower Station into a high-quality and exemplary project.  

Kenya’s national electricity demand reached a record 2,439 megawatts (MW) on 3 December 2025, the highest figure in the country’s history. Peak power demand rose steadily from 2,362 MW in July to 2,392 MW in August, surpassed 2,412 MW in October, and hit 2,439 MW in December. Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC), the country’s main electricity distributor, stated that the rise in power demand is linked to increased industrial activity, new household connections, and the emergence of electric vehicles. Kenya’s power company is implementing short-term measures to address the surge in electricity use.It will import up to 120 MW of power from Uganda, where infrastructure is currently being upgraded. Negotiations are also underway to secure an additional 150 MW from Ethiopia. Locally, by December 2026, two geothermal power plants in Menengai will add 70 MW of installed capacity.Rehabilitation of Unit 1 at Olkaria will restore 60.5 MW, and turbine maintenance at Sondu II Unit (30 MW) is also ongoing.Transmission upgrades are also improving power delivery in western, coastal, and central Kenya. Kenya currently has a stable installed generation capacity of about 2,495 MW, an effective contracted capacity of 3,108 MW, and a total installed power capacity of 3,236 MW. According to statistics, as of 2023, about 76.2% of Kenya’s population had access to electricity, up from 37% in 2013.Data from the World Bank and the International Energy Agency shows that grid expansion continues to progress.However, this rate remains below the global average of around 87%, highlighting a gap in energy access even as demand grows. Kenya Power added over 400,000 new customers in the year ending June 2025, which has expanded electricity connectivity while also driving higher energy consumption.