Leadings experts of British ingenuity will soon use their knowledge to solve the low levels of electricity access throughout Africa by campaigning for further progress in the household solar market. According to Grant Shapps, International Development Minister, the Energy Africa campaign will create a fundamental change in sub-Saharan Africa’s household solar market. As of today, approximately 2 out of 3 people who live in sub-Saharan Africa are denied access to electricity. Read More »

Britain's Minister of State for Africa Grant Shapps said some of the continent's poorest residents can be helped by reliable solar power systems to cope with chronic power shortages. The United Nation's new Global Goals aim to provide universal energy access in Africa by 2030. On the current trajectory, however, Shapps pointed out that the goal won't be met until 2080. Read More »

The U.S. Agency for International Development's U.S. Global Development Lab awarded $14.1 million in new grants to 32 organizations from around the globe as part of its Development Innovation Ventures program. A year-round open competition, the DIV program is aimed at finding breakthrough development solutions with strong potential to change millions of peoples' lives. Read More »

Oil and gas company ERHC Energy Inc. entered into an agreement Tuesday with Kosmos Energy to transfer ERHC's rights to Block 11 of the São Tomé and Principe Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to Kosmos. ERHC keeps 100 percent of the rights to EEZ Block 4 and will also retain the option to take up to a 15 percent working interest in each of two other unlicensed EEZ blocks of its choice. Read More »

During the Seatrade and Investment Convention 2015, Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Mallam Habib Abdulahi stressed the need for government to invest in port infrastructure for increased exports. Abdulahi also underscored that 80 percent of trade and commerce around the globe is done through seaports and a robust infrastructure is essential to become competitive. Read More »

Mondelez International opened a new production facility in Lagos, Nigeria, Tuesday. The new plant represents a $50 million investment and is part of Modelez's plan to expand regional brands, such as Cadbury Bournvita, in key markets while developing a more efficient supply chain. Supplanting the older facility, which failed to keep up with demand, the new plant is fully automated. Read More »

The Ocean Rig Athena drill ship left Luanda, Angola, Monday and is now on its way to being a part of the drilling program in FAR Limited's highly prospective blocks in offshore Senegal. Discovered in 2014 and recognized as the world's largest oil discovery for the year, the prospective Senegal drilling site's first two wells in the three-drill program will be appraised this month. Read More »

Avnel Gold Mining Limited of Guernsey recently released its updated Mineral Resource estimate (MRE) for the Kalana Main Project in southwestern Mali. The president credits the finding of a new resource to the drilling program Avnel finished last quarter. Now its Definitive Feasibility Study and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment are anticipated next year. Read More »

Guaranty Trust Bank of Africa recently partnered with AFD for the development of the N3 Billion ($15,070,080) Ariz Portfolio Guarantee Scheme. The initiative will finance small and medium business enterprises (SMEs) and development projects throughout Nigeria by providing a risk-sharing program on loan advances. The Ariz Portfolio Guarantee Scheme will provide a safety net to investors. Read More »

SGK Global has implemented a tracking system to give its clients who are shipping items to West Africa reliable service. Customers who need to ship a car or other cargo to West Africa can now make their orders online. Once they have put in the order, SGK's tracking system goes into effect, with the required payment being made after the delivered item has reached its destination.  Read More »

The additional USAID funding will go toward surveillance, epidemiological studies, prevention and control activities in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. A big chunk of the funds -- approximately  $50 million -- will allow FAO to identify potential reservoirs of carriers of Ebola, and Ebola-like diseases, including any role that livestock may play in transmitting the disease. Read More »

Research by Control Risk, a global consulting firm, indicated that 84 percent of Nigerian companies have policies in place forbidding bribes -- slightly below the global average of 87 percent -- yet, bigger gaps exist in other areas. For instance, only 25 percent of Nigerian companies have a board director or a compliance committee with accountability for anti-corruption. Read More »

Oil and gas explorer FAR Limited and its Senegal joint venture partners signed contracts for the use of the Ocean Rig Athena drill ship Wednesday for a drilling program in FAR's offshore Senegal Blocks. With Ocean Rig Athena being under a long-term contract with ConocoPhillips, ConocoPhillips will be a manager on the new drilling program, which will be operational in Senegal soon. Read More »

DHL Express was recently certified as Top Employer in 12 African markets for the second time at the Top Employer 2016 ceremony held in Johannesburg. The event aims to recognize companies that are investing in good working conditions. DHL Express received the Top Employers distinction for its offices in Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius and more. Read More »

Islamic Development Bank signed two developments financing agreements worth $91 million (USD) with Tajikistan and Togo during the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meetings in Lima, Peru. The first agreement, totaling $70 million (USD), established between Tajikistan Minister of Finance Abdusalom K. Kurboniyon and IDB Group President Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali. Read More »

In Nigeria, they will build Four Points by Sheraton Abuja and Residences and the Westin Abuja and Residences; in Kenya, they will build Four Points by Sheraton Nairobi Airport; in Senegal, they will build Aloft Dakar; in Tanzania, they will build Element Oyster Bay Dar es Salaam; in Mali, they will build Sheraton Bamako; and in Egypt, W Sharm El Sheikh and W Sharm El Sheikh.  Read More »

The Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Guinea will make unprecedented investments in infrastructure for their respective countries.For the Ivory Coast, its government is expected to invest $25 billion (USD) in infrastructure by 2020. Finance Minister Niale Kaba recently announced that 94 projects, including highways, would be invested in from 2016 to 2020 with public-private partnerships. Read More »

Teranga Gold Corporation completed a non-brokered $17,471,088 private placement with David Mimran, CEO of Grands Moulins d'Abidjan and Grands Moulins de Dakar, one of the largest producers of flour and agri-food in West Africa Wednesday. In addition to the Mimran family having a legacy of operating effectively in Africa, Teranga is looking to foster long-term growth of its company. Read More »

Kinross Gold Corporation officials responded to media inquiries Oct. 5 about the regulatory review occurring on its West Africa mining operations. Kinross says it is fully cooperating with the SEC and DOJ and continues to diligently pursue its own internal investigation, which, over the course of the past 25 months, is yet to identify any issues that would have an adverse effect. Read More »

The Organization for Cooperation and Economic Development (OECD) and the West African country of Mali will hold an international conference Thursday to discuss the peace and reconciliation agreement that was signed in June. The event will be held at the OECD Conference Centre in Paris and attended by government and private sector representatives and international partners. Read More »