South Africa’s solar PV and wind industry associations have welcomed the appointment of Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as Minister for Electricity and Energy. “The Minister has a solid appreciation of the contribution that solar PV can and has made to the country’s electricity supply. “We look forward to again working alongside his Ministry to contribute to energy security by tapping into the abundant solar resources that the country can access. “This will also help unlock job opportunities and the many other opportunities that exist within the solar PV value chain,” said Melamu. Of interestSouth Africa and Morocco have greatest offshore wind energy potential in Africa“The new Ministry should prioritise overseeing the maintenance and expansion of the country’s electricity infrastructure, inter-departmental energy policy alignment, and stabilising the grid.

UNICEF: Central African Republic’s children are world’s most deprived Published on:Read < 1 minuteThe Central African Republic’s three million children are the world’s most deprived, with widespread malnutrition, inadequate healthcare access, and instability putting the country at high risk of a humanitarian crisis, UNICEF said on Tuesday. Half of the country’s children do not have access to health services, and almost 40 percent suffer from chronic malnutrition, the U.N. Children’s Agency said. With global attention focused on the war in Gaza and other conflicts, the plight of the African nation’s children has become “painfully invisible”, Meritxell Relano Arana, UNICEF representative in the Central African Republic, told reporters in Geneva. “The three million girls and boys of the Central Africa Republic face the highest registered level of overlapping and interconnected crises and deprivation in the world,” she said. The Central African Republic is now ranked as the country most at risk for sliding into a humanitarian crisis, she added.

News Maersk North America Market Update - June 2024 Share LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Email Copy link WeChat Aiming to provide relevant and up-to-date information to help you navigate your supply chain. For the time being, Maersk ships are continuing to divert around the Africa via the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. Moller - MaerskPlanning for demand peaks around Lunar New Year helped soften the impacts of the Red Sea situation in the first quarter of 2024. Maersk has taken on these costs knowing that many of them will remain beyond the Red Sea situation. Air Freight Update In the global air cargo market, data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) continues to support profitability outlook improvement for 2024.

The Nigerian military imposed a curfew in Borno state after suspected female suicide bombers targeted a wedding, a funeral and a hospital in the restive Borno region, killing at least 18 and injured 30 others. Coordinated suicide attacks reportedly orchestrated by Boko Haram claimed the lives of at least 18 people, injuring 42, targeting selected communities in northeastern Nigeria between Friday evening and Saturday afternoon (28-29 June). The Islamist jihadist group, which has not officially claimed responsibility for the bombings, has been waging violence in the region for more than ten years. “We all have to be on alert now, as we don’t know where many of these girls that have been released are headed now. Our local intelligence was able to ascertain that there are 30 of them,” one local source said.

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At the EU-Egypt Investment Conference in Cairo the European Investment Bank today confirmed support for a new USD 350 million regional private sector investment fund managed by SPE Capital. The new business investment is expected to help create over 10,000 new skilled jobs, contributing to sustainable economic development across Egypt and the broader North African region. The fund will provide critical risk capital and managerial expertise to support the growth and internationalisation of local companies. “The EIB’s support for this fund underscores our dedication to fostering economic growth and job creation in Egypt and the region. The European Investment Bank is committed to fostering sustainable economic growth and job creation in North Africa.

A top US general has denied recent claims by Zimbabwean government officials that Washington is establishing a military base in neighboring Zambia and is supporting the country economically in a bid to isolate Zimbabwe within the region. General Michael Langley, head of US Africa Command, or AFRICOM, described as “absolutely false” Zimbabwe’s claims that the United States is setting up a military base in Zambia and wants to move AFRICOM operations there from Germany. We have no plans to put one there,” Langley said during an African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Botswana last week. However, Mnangagwa later said he did not call Zambia a security or a client state of the US in a conversation with Putin. “In other words, they want to pursue their foreign goals through a situation of misunderstanding and even conflict between two neighboring African states.”

Mamiki Matlawa, Group Business Development Executive at Actom spoke to ESI Africa about their cradle to grave services in the power and energy sector. Actom provides for the total lifecycle of electro-mechanical equipment. This interview took place at Enlit Africa 2024.

Nigerian startup Blueroomcare, an insurance-covered digital therapy service, has raised an undisclosed round of pre-seed funding to support its mission to provide affordable and accessible therapy for all Africans. Launched in late-2021, Blueroomcare allows clients to communicate with therapists via in-app messaging, videos, and voice messages. Its platform integrates advanced algorithms with personalised support from licensed mental health professionals, offering users a comprehensive and tailored mental health experience. The startup’s pre-seed funding round was led by EHA Impact Ventures, with additional participation from TVC Labs and Innovest Africa, and will be utilised to enhance the Blueroomcare platform’s capabilities, introduce new features, and reach a broader audience. “This funding will allow us to develop our technology further and expand our services, bringing us closer to our goal of making high-quality mental health care available to everyone, everywhere.”

A series of suicide bombing left 18 people dead in Bono state in north-east Nigeria, an area where Boko Haram operates, according to an official tally. The attacks were perpetrated by three women, hitting a wedding, a funeral service, and a hospital in the town of Gwoza in Borno state, a region long plagued by insurgent activity, local media reported. Some Nigerian outlets said at least 30 were killed including women and children, as the country battles a series of jihadist groups operating in its north. Despite concerted efforts by the government and security forces, the terrorist threat persists. Factors contributing to the surge of violent extremism in the country include poor governance, corruption, and religious extremism.

EQS-News: HB Holding N.V. / Key word(s): Expansion/Real EstateHB Holding N.V. and Marchica Med Establish a Groundbreaking Strategic Partnership with the Signing of a Memorandum of UnderstandingThe issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Real Estate Project Atalayoun (Nador), MoroccoThe Marchica Lagoon ProjectThe strategic partnership between Marchica Med and HB Holding N.V. aims to transform Atalayoun, part of the development program for the Marchica Lagoon in the Nador province, into a premier tourist destination. New Dynamics“This memorandum of understanding marks a crucial turning point in the implementation strategy for the Marchica Lagoon project,” said Loubna Boutaleb, Director General of the Agency for the Development of the Marchica Lagoon and CEO of Marchica Med. This new partnership aligns with the mid-term action plan of Marchica Med, approved at the last board meeting. Company Profile HB Holding N.V.:HB Holding N.V. is a Dutch holding company listed on the German stock exchange (ISIN: NL0015000NA2), specializing in real estate investments and new technologies.

“We welcome the addition of bp to the consortium, building on the well-established existing relationship between our companies and supporting Masdar’s ambition to drive the development of green hydrogen around the world. We already have plans to develop green hydrogen projects in Egypt and this agreement reinforces Masdar and the UAE’s commitment to Egypt to realise its massive clean energy and green hydrogen potential, alongside our Africa renewable energy champion IPH,” said Mohammad Abdelqader El Ramahi, Masdar’s chief green hydrogen officer. bp has eyes on Egypt's hydrogen potential since 2022, when it signed a memorandum of understanding with the government to conduct feasibility studies, and considered the region home to 'world-class renewable energy resources'. That year witnessed multiple hydrogen research initiatives, one being Petrofac's first new energies project in Egypt. The diverse experiences of partners in energy projects present a great opportunity for regional cooperation and accessing global markets, fundamentally supporting Egypt's energy transition plans," said Zaki.

Oil traded near a two-month high after breaking out of its recent trading range on an escalation in tensions in the Middle East and concerns over the rapid start to the Atlantic hurricane season. Brent crude traded near $87 a barrel after rising Monday, while West Texas Intermediate was above $83. “The breakout of the recent range to a new higher high reinforces the near-term upward trend,” said Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist for IG Asia Pte. Increased trading in crude futures has lifted implied volatility, with a gauge for Brent moving to near the highest in a month. Money managers have been piling back into oil and refined products including diesel, and timespreads remain in a bullish backwardation structure.

Traditional investment paradigms shift in a lower interest rate environment, compelling investors to reassess their asset allocation and trading strategies. Traditional investment paradigms shift in a lower interest rate environment, compelling investors to reassess their asset allocation and trading strategies. Traditional investment paradigms shift in a lower interest rate environment, compelling investors to reassess their asset allocation and trading strategies. Traditional investment paradigms shift in a lower interest rate environment, compelling investors to reassess their asset allocation and trading strategies. Traditional investment paradigms shift in a lower interest rate environment, compelling investors to reassess their asset allocation and trading strategies.

Hapag Lloyd will be increasing ocean freight rates from the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Gulf to South Europe and North Africa. The rate increase will be applicable from Mid July 2024 till the month end.