Investments in fledgling seed companies could drive East African food output

 Locally-owned African seed companies participating in a programme to offer high-yield crop varieties to smallholder farmers across the continent have collectively become the largest seed producers in South & East Africa.    “The rapid growth of local seed companies over a very short time period is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit percolating in communities across Africa and to the pent-up demand among Africa’s smallholder farmers for.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 20th August 2014

Tanzania : Agro Investment Opportunities

 Tanzania’s economy depends signi ficantly on the growth of its agricultural sector that accounts for half of the national income and three quarters of the merchandise exports in the country. Approximately 80% of Tanzanians are employed in the agriculture sector. In line with the Government’s Kilimo Kwanza (Agriculture First) Policy, MeTL is a major player in the country’s commercial agricultural sector, contributing further to national development. MeTL has.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 20th August 2014

Kwale Sugar products to hit shelves

KWALE COUNTY: Kenya’s newest and modern sugarcane milling plant, Kwale International Sugar Company ( Kiscol) based in Kwale County is due for commissioning on October 1. The sugar miller’s management told Weekend Business that the plant currently nearing completion will have an installed capacity to crush 3,500 tonnes of cane per day (TCD). This will eventually be increased to 5,000 TCD. The Sh17.4 billion Kiscol sugar processing facility being built from the ground up.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 20th August 2014

Sidel international eyes Kenya's packaging industry

Kenya’s beverage packaging industry has a new player: Sidel international, which is seeking local partnerships as it plans to launch its products in the country.   The firm’s zone vice president for the Greater Middle East and Africa, Mr Clive Smith, says the planned move is in line with Sidel’s activities in the past few years where it has installed its machinery in various companies.   The move is a clear onslaught on Tetra-Pak’s turf, among.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 20th August 2014

Over 400,000 linked to power grid

A total of 443,254 new customers were connected to the national electricity grid in the 2013/2014 financial year, the Energy ministry has told a parliamentary committee.   At the same time, the Rural Electrification Authority plans to have 6,065 primary schools supplied with electricity by the end of this financial year.   REA acting managing director Ng’ang’a Munyu told the committee that the plan was to have 5,000 primary schools connected to the power grid.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 20th August 2014

2D seismic in Ethiopia s Rift basin Area set for Q4

 Africa Oil is set to commence with a 2D seismic program in the Rift Basin Area, located north of the South Omo block in Ethiopia, next quarter.   This is part of the planned work program by the block operator Africa Oil which is expected to range between 400 and 1200 kilometer for the initial exploration period which expires in February 2016.   “In Ethiopia, the Company, as operator, and its partner are making preparations to acquire a minimum 400 kilometer.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 20th August 2014

Dubai WoodShow renews 5-year partnership with European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers (EUMABOIS)

Agreement with federation that produces more than 56% of the world's output of woodworking machinery will strengthen European presence in the show Dubai, UAE, February 2016: The Dubai WoodShow, the largest trade fair for wood products in the Middle East, has renewed its agreement with European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers (EUMABOIS), a nonprofit Federation grouping 14 national Associations and 2 single members representing major European Manufacturers of.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 15th February 2016

Competition for oil and gas production in Africa steps up

 Many countries in Africa remain a beacon for investment in theoil and gas industry, with around 8% of the world’s untapped proven oil reserves on the continent,  The continent’s share of global production dropped from 12% in 2013 to 10% in 2014, but competition remained “extremely tight”. In addition to multinationals, a rising number of national oilcompanies were moving in to also compete. “There’s more competition when you look at.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014

Tanzania Gas Gains at U.S.$3 Billion

 Dar es Salaam — Tanzania value of export of gas which is a net of repatriate earnings is set to be $3 billion per annum over the period 2023 - 2050.     This means in 27 years the value of gas exports will be $81 billion once the international oil companies start the actual extract of the natural resources.     Tanzania estimates of gas reserves are frequently being updated. The reserves of natural gas in the offshore are about 30 trillion cubic.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014

Kenya: Lake Turkana Wind Power signs financing agreements

 After eight years in the pipeline, the 300MW Lake Turkana wind power project finally signed financing agreements worth €498m ($687m) on 24 March. The much-publicised project, described as the largest private investment in Kenyan history, has the support of a wide range of financiers, led by a revitalised African Development Bank (AfDB), but the time taken to reach financial close highlights the difficulty, even in private sector friendly Kenya, of developing a renewables.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014

Tanzania lines up new private power projects

 Irish-registered Kibo Mining is in the early stages of planning a 300-350MW mine-mouth plant at the Rukwa coal field in the Mbeya region. Chief executive Louis Coetzee told African Energy the proposed open-cast mine method and on-site development should keep generation costs low, with power then fed into the national grid to help tackle Tanzania’s growing power supply deficit. “It is impossible to deny the business opportunity when power demand is rising by 10-15% a.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014

Tanzania: Green power for rural south

 A new investor consortium plans to develop a series of small-scale distributed renewable energy projects in the southern Morogoro region. Kastan Mining announced on 26 May that it had entered into a consortium with Indonesia-based Continental Energy Corporation, Pan African Management and Development Company (Panafra), a US-based infrastructure fund and asset manager, and local energy group, Kitonga Power Electric Company (Kepoco), to form Ruaha River Power Company. Kastan.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014