Mike Sangster, Senior Vice President Africa at TotalEnergies E&P, will showcase the company’s strategic investments and its pivotal role in advancing the Republic of Congo’s hydrocarbon sector

BRAZZAVILLE, Congo (Republic of the), December 18, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Mike Sangster, Senior Vice President Africa at TotalEnergies E&P, has been confirmed as a speaker at the inaugural Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF), set to take place on March 25-26, 2025 in Brazzaville. Representing one of the world’s largest integrated energy companies, Sangster will highlight TotalEnergies’ ongoing efforts to drive sustainable energy growth in the Republic of Congo and across the continent.

Sangster is expected to delve into TotalEnergies’ strategic investments, the application of innovative technologies and the critical role of international oil companies in unlocking Congo’s hydrocarbon potential. In May, the French major announced a $600 million investment aimed at boosting exploration and maintaining production at the deep offshore Moho Nord field. The field, which contributes nearly 50% of Congo’s daily oil production at approximately 140,000 barrels per day (bpd), is set to add an additional 40,000 bpd, further enhancing the nation’s output.

TotalEnergies is not only driving exploration and production, but also contributing to the broader goals of sustainable growth and regional energy integration

The inaugural Congo Economic and Investment Forum, set for March 25-26, 2025 in Brazzaville, will bring together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities. The event will explore the latest gas-to-power projects and provide updates on ongoing expansions across the country.

Additionally, TotalEnergies operates the Marine XX permit, a vast deep offshore block currently undergoing exploration. With two drilling rigs mobilized and appraisal activities ongoing, the company is positioned to make significant discoveries that will bolster Congo’s energy production and economic growth. In August, TotalEnergies extended its contract with Northern Ocean for the Deepsea Mira semi-submersible rig, with plans to drill one firm well and an option for an additional well, highlighting the country’s strategic importance to its operations.

“Mike Sangster’s participation at CEIF 2025 underscores the crucial role that international oil companies like TotalEnergies play in advancing energy security and economic development in Congo and beyond,” said James Chester, CEO of Energy Capital & Power. “Through its strategic investments, TotalEnergies is not only driving exploration and production, but also contributing to the broader goals of sustainable growth and regional energy integration.”

For more information about the Congo Energy & Investment Forum and to secure your participation, visit https://CongoEnergyInvestment.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

This milestone stems from the companies’ collaboration to expand access to affordable insulin to one million people living with diabetes in low-to middle-income countries annually by 2030

CAIRO, Egypt, December 17, 2024/APO Group/ — 

The Egyptian Drug Authority approved the insulin glargine injection manufactured by EVA Pharma (www.EVAPharma.com) through a collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY). Launched in 2022, the collaboration aims to deliver a sustainable supply of high-quality, affordable human and analog insulin to at least one million people annually living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs), most of which are in Africa. 

This marks the first regulatory approval of EVA Pharma’s insulin drug products, following Lilly and EVA Pharma’s collaboration (https://apo-opa.co/41xlg6K) announcement in December 2022. Under this agreement, Lilly has been supplying its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for insulin to EVA Pharma at a significantly reduced price and providing pro-bono technology transfer to enable EVA Pharma to formulate, fill and finish insulin vials and cartridges.

Less than two years after the initial announcement, EVA Pharma has completed a new biologics manufacturing facility, finalized insulin formulations and stability testing processes, engaged with the local regulatory authorities to obtain approval of the insulin glargine injection, and released the first batch of the locally manufactured insulin drug product.

We will continue to work with global health systems and industry stakeholders to address systemic barriers to healthcare and expand equitable, affordable access to our medicines

Additionally, EVA Pharma’s human insulin injection was also submitted for local regulatory approval. Lilly and EVA Pharma continue working with the World Health Organization (WHO) to secure WHO pre-qualification for the locally manufactured human insulin injection. The WHO pre-qualification will further ensure that medicines manufactured by EVA Pharma meet the high-quality standards set by WHO.

“For more than a century, Lilly has been at the forefront of diabetes care, offering innovative solutions that make life better for people around the world,” said Ilya Yuffa, executive vice president and president of Lilly International. “Our collaboration with EVA Pharma furthers our commitment to providing sustainable and accessible medicines worldwide. We will continue to work with global health systems and industry stakeholders to address systemic barriers to healthcare and expand equitable, affordable access to our medicines to transform more people’s lives.”

“Localizing essential medicines is the key to driving equitable access to healthcare,” said Riad Armanious, CEO of EVA Pharma. “It takes bold collaboration, cutting-edge innovation, and tech-driven manufacturing to turn this vision into reality. Our collaboration with Lilly shows what’s possible when we push boundaries together. This is just the beginning—we’re on track to impact over a million lives annually across 56 countries, making a real difference for people living with diabetes.”

This collaboration is part of the Lilly 30×30 initiative, which aims to improve access to quality health care for 30 million people living in resource-limited settings annually by 2030.

Most recently, Lilly and EVA Pharma expanded their collaboration, announcing (https://apo-opa.co/3ZCUhUJ) that Lilly will license certain baricitinib manufacturing know-how to enable EVA Pharma to manufacture and supply treatment for various immunological diseases across 56 low- to middle-income countries in Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of EVA Pharma.

This funding is a key part of Cassava’s plan to strengthen its balance sheet, drive sustainable profitable growth, and cement its position as a global technology company of African heritage

LONDON, United Kingdom, December 17, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Cassava Technologies (Cassava) (www.CassavaTechnologies.com), a global technology leader of African heritage, proudly announces three significant milestones: a substantial equity injection, the successful completion of its South African Rand (ZAR) debt refinancing, and the finalization of its legal reorganization. These strategic initiatives position Cassava for robust growth underpinned by a strong balance sheet.

Cassava has closed an equity investment round of $90 million with participation from U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation (Finnfund), and Google LLC. This funding is a key part of Cassava’s plan to strengthen its balance sheet, drive sustainable profitable growth, and cement its position as a global technology company of African heritage.

The conclusion of this equity round coincides with the successful reorganization of Cassava’s business to create an integrated digital solutions platform. This platform provides Broadband Connectivity, Co-location (data centres), Cloud, Cybersecurity, Compute (AI), and Payment services across more than 30 markets in Africa, the Middle East, India, and Latin America.

We are excited to announce these significant achievements, which collectively strengthen our financial position

Additionally, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a business of Cassava Technologies, has successfully signed new facilities to refinance its South African Rand term loan on a multi-tenor basis. The new facilities, equivalent to USD 220 million in South African Rands, are being provided by Standard Bank of South Africa, Rand Merchant Bank, Nedbank of South Africa, and International Finance Corporation (IFC).

“We are excited to announce these significant achievements, which collectively strengthen our financial position and are a powerful testament to the vision of our founder and Group Chairman, Strive Masiyiwa, and the dedication and commitment of our teams across the Group,” said Hardy Pemhiwa, President and Group CEO of Cassava. “The closing of this equity round, completion of our ZAR debt refinancing, and reorganization represent more than just capital – it’s a pivotal milestone that we expect to unlock immense value and catalyze the further expansion of our digital infrastructure and services to bridge the digital divide on the continent”.

With the addition of DFC, Google LLC, and Finnfund, Cassava’s impressive roster of shareholders includes Econet Group, British International Investment (BII), Public Investment Corporation (PIC), Royal Bafokeng Holdings (RBH), Africa-Export Import Bank (Afreximbank/FEDA), and Gateway Capital.

Cassava Technologies has built a strong portfolio of business units comprising Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Africa Data Centres, Liquid C2, Cassava.ai, and Sasai Fintech, all of which are leaders in their respective sectors. This integrated platform of business units enables the Group to fulfill its vision of a digitally connected future that leaves no African behind.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Cassava Technologies.