Category: AFRICA

Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) Finance Series Togo: African Development Bank and African Guarantee Fund unite to strengthen female entrepreneurs’ access to finance

LOMÉ, Togo, April 8, 2024/ — The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and the African Guarantee Fund (AGF) (https://apo-opa.co/4apZNya) have brought the curtain down on the AFAWA Finance Series Togo conference, a key note event aimed at  promoting a better understanding of the financing needs of Togolese women entrepreneurs and debunking the myth that women-run companies are risky ventures. The three-day event, which ended on Thursday 28 March 2024, brought together some 180 leading figures responsible for policy and regulation in favour of women’s financial inclusion, and representatives of financial institutions,…

Africa Data Centres and DPA Southern Africa (SA) breaks ground on solar farm in Free State

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, April 8, 2024/ — Africa Data Centres (www.AfricaDataCentres.com/) and DPA SA have broken ground on their solar farm in the Free State; The first phase will see power getting wheeled to its CPT1 facility; The second phase will see power being supplied to JHB1 and JHB2 once wheeling agreements with relevant municipalities conclude. Africa Data Centres, a business of the Cassava Technologies group, is pleased to announce that it has broken ground on the construction of a solar farm in the Free State in collaboration with DPA Southern Africa. This…

Africa Finance Corporation’s year of impact sees major expansion of projects and investment

LAGOS, Nigeria, April 8, 2024/ — Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), Africa’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, has announced its most impactful year to date, with unprecedented expansion of projects and investments spanning energy, transportation, mining, food, textiles and climate resilience. Underpinning robust growth in earnings and total assets, AFC successfully navigating the global geopolitical, inflationary and debt distress challenges of 2023 to implement critical infrastructure projects across multiple sectors that are central to Africa’s structural transformation and sustainable development. Landmark initiatives include Djibouti’s first wind farm, with AFC as lead…

Former Nigerian Local Content Head to Share Best Practices at Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) 2024

WINDHOEK, Namibia, April 2, 2024/ — Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), will speak at the upcoming Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) 2024, unlocking newfound collaboration between the two countries on local content policy development and implementation. Since his appointment in 2016, Wabote has been a fierce advocate of local beneficiation for both Nigerians and Africans across the sector, steering strategic national programs to build local capacity, calling for enhanced transparency in contracting processes and boosting local manufacturing capabilities. The…

Namibia Energy Sector Needs Local Content Guidelines (By NJ Ayuk)

WINDHOEK, Namibia, March 29, 2024/ — By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber (https://EnergyChamber.org). Namibia’s oil and gas sector is still looking forward to reaching the production phase — S&P Global analysts don’t anticipate Namibia’s first oil to come until 2029, and the country’s first gas-to-power project is scheduled to begin in 2027. Before Namibia achieves these hotly anticipated milestones, Namibian lawmakers have the opportunity to implement thoughtful, effective policy to benefit their people. Specifically, I’m talking about local content laws that will help spread future wealth among Namibians, develop…

The Mega US$5 Billion Batoka Hydropower Construction Contract to be Retendered

In a recent turn of events, the Batoka Hydropower construction contract will be retendered and new bidders selected. The Zambian and Zimbabwean governments are retendering the US$5 billion hydropower plant contract after having previously awarded it. The construction contract had been awarded to General Electric and Power Construction Corp of China earlier. The officials involved are expected to select new bidders by the end of September, next year. The Zambezi River Authority, a joint venture of the two countries that maintains the Kariba Dam complex is mandated with the selection. They…

Koa Academy Wins Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) Africa Challenge 2023, Securing $50,000 Investment

ACCRA, Ghana, March 25, 2024/ — MEST Africa (www.Meltwater.org), a leading Pan-African tech entrepreneurship training program, seed fund, and incubator, proudly announces Koa Academy (www.KoaAcademy.com) as the grand prize winner of the 2023 MEST Africa Challenge (MAC), securing a $50,000 equity investment after a competitive pitch battle among Africa’s brightest tech innovators. In a thrilling showcase of ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit, Koa Academy from South Africa stood out at the MEST Africa Challenge finale in Accra, Ghana, surpassing contenders from across the continent. This coveted startup competition, known for identifying and…

If oil disappeared tomorrow, petroleum based-products would vanish with it(By HE Haitham Al Ghais)

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 24, 2024/ — By HE Haitham Al Ghais, OPEC Secretary General. If oil disappeared tomorrow, there would be no more jet fuel, gasoline or diesel. Internal combustion engine automobiles, buses, trucks, lorries and coaches would be stranded. Airplanes powered by jet fuel would be grounded. Freight and passenger rail powered by diesel would halt. People could not get to work; children could not get to school. The shipping industry, transporting both freight and passengers, would be devastated. There would be no point calling emergency services. The majority…

About Undersea Cable disruptions adverse Impact on Data Services

…….As They Meet NCA in Accra for Further Updates Story: Mohammed Abu The subsea cable landing service providers have remotely identified the approximate locations of the damage and have made preparations to dispatch repair vessels to the location for physical assessment and restoration. Based on that, the subsea cable landing service providers have indicated an estimated time frame of a minimum of five (5) weeks for full service restoration from the time the vessels are dispatched to the various locations. This was disclosed in a Press Release issued in Accra,Saturday,by…

12 Infrastructure Priorities Launched at Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) 2024

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 19, 2024/ — Twelve major infrastructure projects have been launched with the aim of driving public and private sector-led development in South Africa. The projects span transport, storage and communication; electricity, gas and water; community, social and personal services; mining and quarrying; and agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors, and fall under South Africa’s 2024/2025 infrastructure pipeline. The launch of the projects – which will receive support from Infrastructure South Africa – was announced during the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium South Africa (SIDSSA) 2024 in Cape Town…