Botswana
Botswana Telecommunications Corporation relaunches mobile money service SMEGA
Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTC) has revamped and launched its mobile money service, SMEGA. SMEGA has been revamped to work on Comviva’s mobiquity Money platform. The mobiquity Money platform is regarded as one of the world’s largest white-labelled mobile money platform. It allows users to carry out financial transactions such as purchasing airtime and data, paying the water bill, buying pre-paid electricity, paying salaries and so much more from anywhere. Customers will be able to use SMEGA to send money to other SMEGA users, as well as non-registered consumers who will receive a passcode that can be used to withdraw money at any BTC outlet.
Source: Africa Business Community
Central Africa
Flexenclosure to provide telecom site power system in Central Africa
Global ICT company Flexenclosure has secured a deal to provide Alma IT with 100 eSite x10 site power systems for a mobile telecommunications provider in Central Africa. eSite x10 is the world’s first power system purpose-built for outdoor telecom sites and to outdoor telecom standards. The eSites will be used to provide stable and dependable power at mobile telecom tower sites where the grid supply is not reliable. In order to optimise the performance of each and every site, Alma IT will be using eSite’s built-in remote management system – eSite Tools – with its powerful and extensive capabilities to monitor, control and accurately report back to the network operations centre on each site power system’s performance.
Source: Africa Business Community
Democratic Republic of Congo
AVZ to increase equity stake in Manono project
ASX-listed AVZ Minerals has executed a Share Sale Purchase Agreement with Dathomir Mining Resources to increase AVZ’s equity in the Manono Lithium and Tin project. Following ongoing discussions over the last few months, Dathomir has agreed to sell a 5% equity share in Dathcom Mining SAS to AVZ for a total consideration of USD5,5-million. Dathcom holds 100% of the Manono Lithium and Tin project concession. Nigel Ferguson, AVZ’s MD comments, “AVZ is pleased to be able to secure further equity interest in the Manono Lithium and Tin Project, given its Tier 1 status. "We are still in discussion with our main partner, La Congolaise D’Exploitation Miniere (Cominiere) to secure additional equity from them on similar terms.
Source: Mining Review Africa
Democratic Republic of Congo
Red Rock Resources strengthens licences and assets
Red Rock Resources, the natural resource development company with interests in gold, manganese and minerals, announces an update on its Central and Eastern Africa interests. Red Rock Resources has carried out work identifying and assessing the old drill core from previous exploration activity at its Musonoi joint venture asset adjacent to Glencore's Katanga Mining assets. This work was the first part of a process of validating the results from historic drilling in order to bring the historic non-compliant resource to the modern disclosure standard so that the company can announce a JORC Resource. These works are expected to continue in the coming quarter.
Source: Mining Review Africa
East Africa
SEACOM to explore fibre opportunity in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has awarded a grant to Pan-African service provider, SEACOM for a feasibility study to evaluate the market for fibre telecommunications services in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda. The grant will provide SEACOM with analysis to determine where to expand infrastructure in the target countries and recommend related investments, such as fibre optic cabling and network equipment to increase and improve access to services across East Africa. The project will provide affordable, reliable high-speed connections across East Africa, enhancing business growth and spurring innovation and productivity in the region.
Source: Africa Business Community
Gabon
Gabon selects Attijariwafa Bank to arrange a XAF100-billion fungible bond
The government of Gabon has chosen Attijari Securities Central Africa (ASCA), subsidiary of Moroccan Attijariwafa Bank, to arrange its public offering on the capital market in the second half of 2019, sources revealed. The country seeks XAF100-billion with an interest rate of 6.25% for a 5-year period of maturity to interested investors. ASCA's involvement comes within the framework of a mandate to structure, centralise and place the public securities to be issued. Gabon is also considering requesting a derogation from the Central African Banking Commission so that the advances to be granted by commercial banks are weighed at zero per cent.
Source: Ecofin Agency
Ghana
African Development Fund loans USD81.7-million for Eastern Corridor Development Programme
The African Development Fund (ADF) has approved an USD81.67-million loan to co-finance sections of the 695-km Eastern Corridor road in Ghana, linking the capital, Accra with the northern hinterland and across the borders to the Sahel region. The decision was taken by the African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors at a meeting. Other lenders for the project are the Opec Fund for International Development, the Ghanaian Government and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which is financing a connecting bridge across the Volta River. The USD113.27-million project covers 60-km of roads, two interchanges and related civil works incorporating community support initiatives to help improve livelihoods in the catchment area.
Source: ESI Africa
Ghana
AirtelTigo partners with Huawei on a USD30-million network modernisation project
Telecom operator AirtelTigo is partnering with Huawei Technologies on a USD30-million network modernisation project aimed to provide faster internet experience to customers. Through this partnership, AirtelTigo is living up to its brand promise of making life simple with continued network investments for its customers to enjoy enhanced internet connectivity. The project, which has been designed in phases will commence in the Greater Accra region this month and is expected to end in October 2019. Once the first phase in Accra is completed, the company will announce the project details for other regions.
Source: Africa Business Community
Mali
World Bank supports governance of Mali’s mining sector
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a USD40-million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) to strengthen the capacity and governance of the mining sector in Mali. This financing, together with other World Bank initiatives and donor-funded programs will support the Malian Government to leverage the mining sector to stimulate local economic and social development. The Governance of the Mining Sector Project will create growth and diversification of the mineral sector, strengthen revenue transparency and governance and maximise the local development impact of mining.
Source: Africa Business Community
Mozambique
Mozambique secures USD420-million grants for transmission upgrades
The World Bank Group has approved USD420-million in grants to strengthen Mozambique’s energy transmission system. The grants will be issued through private sector investments to modernise the country’s energy transmission capacity for domestic and regional markets. The grants will also help expand the country’s energy generation capacity. Furthermore, the project is to be co-funded by a USD24-million grant from a Norwegian Trust Fund. Mozambique will use the grants to finance its Temane Regional Electricity Project (TREP), which includes the construction of a 563km high-voltage line between Maputo and Vilanculos/Temane. A 400MW combined cycle gas-to-power generation plant at Temane will also be constructed.
Source: ESI Africa
Mozambique
Mozambique signs a Trade Promotion Agreement with the US
Mozambique has entered into an agreement with the United States (US) to boost trade relations with the country and “remove investment barriers,” Macauhub reports. The document was signed on the sidelines of the U.S-Africa Business Summit held in Maputo, Mozambique. It covers several key sectors of the Mozambican economy, namely agriculture, fisheries, tourism, energy and infrastructure. According to the US authorities, the MoU will mainly serve to identify priority projects in these sectors and stimulate trade between the two parties, through future free trade agreements.
Source: Ecofin Agency
Namibia
TeraSun Energy set to invest NAD900-million on 50MW solar park in Namibia
Independent power producer TeraSun Energy is set to invest NAD900-million for the construction of a 50-megawatt solar photovoltaic power park. TeraSun, a subsidiary of Natura Energy, will construct the project under the modified single buyer (MSB) model introduced by the Electricity Control Board (ECB), and approved by Cabinet in April. According to the ECB, the main change to the current single buyer model is that the MSB will allow transmission electricity consumers and independent power producers (IPPs) to transact with each other directly for the supply of electricity. Transmission customers will now also be able to buy a portion (up to 30%) of their energy requirements directly from a private generator.
Source: Energy Mix Report
Nigeria/Zambia/Ivory Coast
Vodacom sells its enterprise focused operations in Nigeria, Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire to Synergy Communications
Vodacom Group has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Synergy Communications, who will acquire 100% of Vodacom Business Africa’s (VBA) operations in Nigeria, Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire. The two entities are in the process of concluding the acquisitions, which are subject to the approval of the regulatory authorities within these markets. The transaction supports Vodacom Group’s enterprise strategy in Africa, which has been refocused to grow and strengthen its core business. This acquisition represents a significant milestone to Synergy Communication’s vision to be a leading provider of cloud and digitally based services in key markets across sub-Saharan Africa.
Source: Africa Business Communities
Somalia
Shell, Exxon Mobil mull re-entry into Somalia’s upstream oil sector
Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil are looking to re-enter the market in Somalia ahead of an oil block bid round taking place later this year, the country’s oil ministry said in a statement. Shell and Exxon Mobil had a joint venture there prior to the toppling of Dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in the early 1990s. Somalia has been mired in insecurity since Barre left and is battling Islamist group al Shabaab that frequently carries out bombings in the capital Mogadishu and elsewhere in the country. The country currently does not produce any oil, but production could transform the economy as early stage seismic data has shown there could be significant oil reserves offshore.
Source: Energy Mix Report
Tanzania
Volt Resources secures more funding for Bunyu Project
ASX-listed Volt Resources has secured USD1-million in corporate funding to further its Bunyu Graphite Project in Tanzania. Volt Resources continues to simultaneously advance several funding strategies to secure the USD40-million required to complete the Stage 1 development of the Bunyu project. Current strategies being pursued include a Note issue on the Dar es Salaam (DSE) in Tanzania and a similar Bond issue on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius (SEM). Head of Natural Resources at Exotix Capital, Andrew Moorfield: noted: “As one of the leading global graphite development juniors, Volt accessing sophisticated global investors reinforces its long-term growth potential.”
Source: Mining Review Africa
West Africa
West Africa will begin cross-border sale of electricity in 2020
From 2020, West Africa will commence cross-border sale and distribution of electricity among member states of ECOWAS. This is according to Chairman of Regulatory Council of the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA), Honoré Bogler, who confirmed the development to Premium Times. Bogler revealed this while he was in Abuja, Nigeria after the swearing in of the three-man regional regulatory council. The chairman assured that his council would reposition the power sector of the West Africa region. Bogler further reiterated the mandate of ERERA, which he said it to provide the link between all the interest groups, supervise the effective functioning of the electricity market, by arbitrating on any dispute arising from the arrangement between the operators.
Source: ESI Africa
Zambia
GreenTec Capital Partners acquires stakes in Zambia’s WidEnergy Africa Ltd
German investment firm GreenTec Capital Partners announced it has acquired stakes in WidEnergy Africa Ltd, a women-led Zambian company that distributes solar-powered equipment (lamps, phone chargers). This operation is GreenTec’s 7th investment in Africa and the 2nd this year. The company targets African companies with growth potential and strong social and environmental impact. Solar energy is, according to a note by French group Institut Montaigne, a promising and quick deployable solution that can help connect the 645 million Africans with no access to energy.
Source: Ecofin Agency
Zambia
PayGo Solar Satellite TV in Zambia, launched
A provider of pay-as-you-go solar home solutions to off-grid households across Africa, officially launched its 24-inch solar satellite television and home lighting system in Zambia at the British High Commission in Lusaka. Solutions provider Azuri Technologies, said that the TV launch in Zambia comes on the heels of its strategic USD26-million equity investment, accelerating the company’s expansion plans across sub-Saharan Africa. The investment will help more off-grid customers across Zambia benefit from affordable, clean and reliable energy, as well as having access to modern energy-efficient appliances. AzuriTV was the first complete solar TV and satellite package designed and developed for off-grid consumers in Africa.
Source: ESI Africa
Zimbabwe
Tsingshan Holding Group starts work on USD1-billion steel project in Zimbabwe
Tsingshan Holding Group, China-based company has begun working on its USD1-billion steel plant in Zimbabwe, noted Winston Chitando, Zimbabwe minister of mines and mining development. The deal was signed in June 2018 and the plant is expected to produce 2 million tonnes of steel annually. "Tsingshan personnel are on site and they have started geological surveys. Government is working closely with them to ensure that the project takes off smoothly," he stated. The initial target is set to produce 1 million tonnes per annum by 2022 before growing to 2 million by 2026. According to Chitando, the project will have an economic ripple effect. "It will certainly create employment, good for import substitution, foreign currency generation and should benefit the downstream industry."
Source: Africa Business Communities
