African chemicals industry has growth potential

 Despite South Africa having the largest and most sophisticated chemicals industry in Africa, estimated at $30-billion, it only contributes about 1% to the global market, says global growth consulting firm Frost & Sullivan chemicals, materials and food industry analyst Dilshaad Booley.  However, Booley notes that the South African chemicals industry is expected to have moderate growth of between 3% and 4% over the next five years, through innovation and increased.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 6th October 2014

3000 km of roads to be constructed in Kenya

The government of Kenya will construct 3,000 Km of roads during the initial phase of planned construction of 10,000 Km of road networks launched earlier this August. An updated report from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure indicates that the 3000km is an upgrade from the initial 2000km earlier planned for the Phase I construction. The 3000 kilometers of roads will either be built or rehabilitated in 45 lots during the first phase of the project. The roads will be.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 6th October 2014

Asian Geely Car Brand Eyes Tanzania Market

China’s top auto dealer and a listed member of Fortune 500 Company, Geely holding Group has indicated an interest in penetrating the Tanzanian automobile market with the overall intention of deepening its African footprint. “Africa is the best market that our company have interest in introducing our ranges of cars,” said Ash Sutcliffe, Geely’s Global Public Relations officer. The Chinese company – which started as motorcycle manufacturer in 1986 and.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 4th October 2014

Safcol aims at exports to China, India to counter rising costs

 THE state-run South African Forestry Company (Safcol) aims to start exporting to high-growth countries such as India and China to counteract rising costs and the renewed land claims threat in South Africa. Despite an 11% rise in timber sales in the year to March, Safcol reported a R24.5m operating loss before fair value adjustments and tax. Net profit was R511m, from R74m previously, though the difference was largely due to re-evaluations of its forests. The company.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 4th October 2014

Over 1 450 houses in South Africa to get electricity connection

More than 1 450 houses will be provided with permanent and reliable access to electricity, as part of the R20-million Mogalakwena Electrification Project that is currently taking place in Limpopo.   The Mogalakwena Municipality is currently facing a backlog of electricity infrastructure to several of the villages within the municipal area, and has appointed global engineering consultancy firm SMEC to handle the design and implementation of the project, which aims to electrify.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 4th October 2014

A mini-hydropower plant proposed in Chimanimani, Zimbabwe

A new 1.7 MW hydropower plant is set to be built in Zimbabwe at Chimanimani rural district of Zimbabwe.   The plant will boost electricity output in the country and see reduced price of electricity which have constantly growing up in the county.   According to Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA, through a statement, the Chimanimani-based power plant will be called Nyahode hydropower plant and will use water from the Nyahode river.   Immaculate Technologies.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 4th October 2014

Power Africa Off-Grid Energy Challenge to implement renewable energy projects

22 winners of the second round of Power Africa Off-Grid Energy Challenge have been announced by General Electric Africa, the United States African Development Foundation (USADF) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).   The winners, who include 4 from Nigeria – Topstep Nigeria Ltd, Ginphed Nigeria, Quintas Renewable Energy, Sky Resources – will now undertake renewable energy generation projects all over Africa. USADF, USAID and GE Africa, the.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 4th October 2014

Eni Finds 300M Barrels Offshore Angola

Italy's Eni reported Wednesday that it has made a new oil discovery at the Ochigufu exploration prospect, located in deep water off Angola. Ochigufu is the 10th commercial oil discovery in the country's Block 15/06 and is estimated to contain 300 million barrels in place. Eni also reported that the Ochigufu 1 NFW well, which led to the discovery, will be brought into production "in record time". The well, located approximately 90 miles off the coast of Angola, was drilled by.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 3rd October 2014

Swala Concludes 2D Seismic Acquisition in Tanzania's Pangani License

 East Africa-focused Swala Energy Limited (Swala or the Company) announced Thursday the successful completion of the 124 mile (200 kilometer) 2D seismic acquisition program carried out by its subsidiary company, Swala Oil and Gas (Tanzania) Plc (SOGTP), over the Moshi Basin in the Pangani license in northern Tanzania. This program will satisfy the work obligation for the Third Contract Year. The preliminary interpretation of these new data has allowed SOGTP to identify a number.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 3rd October 2014

Liberia: LPRC, Commerce Drop Petroleum Prices Again

 Monrovia — The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in close consultation with the management of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company, (LPRC) has announced that there will be reductions in the pump prices of gasoline (PMS) and fuel oil (AGO) by twelve (12) cents and fifteen (15) cents respectively, according to an LPRC release.   This means, the wholesale price for gasoline is US$3. 88 cents and fuel oil are US$3. 93 cents, while the pump price for gasoline is.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 2nd October 2014

Porsche returns to Kenya to tap expanding economy

NAIROBI, Kenya (Bloomberg) -- Porsche has opened a franchise in Kenya as it seeks to take advantage of the expanding economy in the region. Porsche is returning to the market after seven years, Steffen Fleck, network development director for Porsche Middle East and Africa, told reporters in the capital, Nairobi. The automaker did an "analysis and, based on Kenya's strong micro-finance indices, which indicate the economy will register a 5 percent annual growth this year, we.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 2nd October 2014

Nigeria: Gas Marketers Decry Hike in LPG Price

    The Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM) has decried the hike in price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) just as it urged the federal government to stop Algasco LPG Services from increasing the price of cooking gas.   Mr Basil Ogbuanu, the President of NALPGAM, who made the appeal while speaking with Daily Trust on telephone yesterday, said Algasco LPG Services, the nation's biggest gas supplier, had used its position to create a.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 1st October 2014