China eyes Tanzania for Mining Investment

 Mwanza — Chinese resource companies are looking at making Tanzania an investment stronghold. Mining and infrastructure projects are attracting more Chinese companies and individuals in the Tanzanian economy. There are 6,000 Chinese interested in exploiting minerals in South Tanzania. The Njombe Regional Commissioner, Rehema Nchimbi was quoted recently as saying, "There are more than 6,000 Chinese individuals who have shown interest to invest in Liganga iron ore.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th January 2015

Solar Tops Clean Energy in Kenya

 Nairobi — Kenya is moving to boost its solar energy capacity, with a new plant now under construction aiming to start producing electricity for the national grid by January 2016. This heralds a shift in the balance of the country's efforts to embrace renewable energy, which have so far focused on hydropower, geothermal and a small amount of wind. Independent power producer Greenmillenia Energy Limited (GEL) has said it will begin generation at its 40 megawatt (MW) solar.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th January 2015

Kenya small business flourish using efficient methodology

 Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya have increased their productivity and are delivering goods to customers more quickly after introducing the Lean methodology into their processes. Through a series of three workshops, most recently held on 20-21 January in Nairobi, the chief executive officers and managers of Greenforest Foods, Mace Foods, and Stawi Foods and Fruits learned to analyse their production and delivery processes and eliminate inefficiencies - such as.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th January 2015

Rwanda Coffee Farmers to boost crop output

 Huye District residents are expecting bumper harvests of coffee following a coffee extension programme in the district. The move, which seeks to increase areas covered by coffee in the district, is expected to help generate more revenue for farmers, increase productivity, raise household income as well as quality of local coffee, among others Huye is one of the major producers of coffee in the country and is mainly known for the Maraba coffee brand which recently penetrated.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th January 2015

Africa's new breed of solar energy entrepreneurs

African economies may be booming, but continued growth and quality of life are being jeopardised by lack of power. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates 585 million people in sub-Saharan Africa lack access to electricity, with the electrification rate as low as 14.2% in rural areas.   The problem is most acute in East Africa, where only 23% of Kenyans; 10.8% of Rwandans; and 14.8% of Tanzanians have access to an electricity supply, according to the World.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 28th January 2015

Africa's quiet solar revolution

RUSHA, TANZANIA — By Tanzanian standards, Nosim Noah is not poor. A tall, handsome woman with the angular features of her fellow Masai tribe members, Ms. Noah makes a good living selling women’s and children’s clothes in the markets of this northern Tanzanian city. The four-bedroom brick house she shares with her parents and three children outside town has many modern comforts: mosquito screens on the windows and doors, a gas cookstove, and, most important, a faucet.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 28th January 2015

Tanzania: Maasai Bomas to Get Solar Power, Computer Connections

Monduli — THE mud-sealed, straw thatched, traditional Maasai Bomas may not be exactly something you would look at with any interest, except that soon these domestic structures will be exuding electricity light and also will be having computers installed inside. The International Collaborative for Science Education and Environment (ICSEE) Tanzania in association with the Adventists Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is executing the 'Maasai Stoves and Solar Project' which is.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 28th January 2015

Government plans to provide electricity to at least to 70 percent of Kenyans

DAVOS: The Government plans to provide electricity to at least to 70 percent of Kenyans in the next three years, Deputy President William Ruto has said. Speaking in Davos, Switzerland, Mr Ruto said the Government had engaged in the ambitious project including infrastructural development so as to spur economic growth. He said Kenya wanted to create an environment that will attract investment to the country and create employment. "Kenya is looking forward to generate clean energy..... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 28th January 2015

Kenya’s soft diplomatic power in sizzling geothermal energy

The formation of the scenic Rift Valley may have inadvertently handed Kenya a wild card. You can imagine the era when volcanoes erupted with pleasure and in abandon from Longonot to Menengai, from Paka to Silali. The chain is endless especially along the fault-lines of the rift. Yet, today, that phenomena that must have looked like an extract from hell, gives Kenya not only scenic landscapes; the very act of volcanism is supporting Kenya’s bid in soft diplomatic power..... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 28th January 2015

Kenya Power mulls outsourcing meter reading to increase revenue

Kenya Power plans to outsource the entire metering process as part of its strategy to enhance service delivery to customers and increase revenue. The national electricity distributor opines that by sub-contracting the exercise, it will be easier to get accurate power usage by customers and increase revenue. Managing Director Ben Chumo confirmed that the initiative is also aimed at eliminating corruption which for a long time has denied the company huge sums in revenue. Our focus as a.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 28th January 2015

Caterpillar expects tough 2015, restructuring anticipated

    World’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment Caterpillar has said it expects a tough 2015 as a result of the modest improvement anticipated globally as well as the continued weakness in commodity prices—particularly oil, copper, coal and iron ore as to which the company depends on for its sales.   The company adds to undertake restructuring actions  that will cost the company about $150 million above the restructuring it has.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 28th January 2015

East African markets top in sub-Sahara Africa

 The sub-Saharan Africa market performance report, however, shows sub-Saharan Africa equity market performance was mixed, with Rwanda Securities Exchange declining by 4.5 per cent over the reporting period. The worst performers in local currency terms were Zimbabwe where the market lost 19.5 per cent and Nigeria which lost 16.1 per cent of its value in the year. In dollar terms, however, most markets had negative returns. Performers with positive returns were only Kenya,.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 27th January 2015