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Africa’s renewable energy resources offer huge investment opportunities for Japanese business – Dr Akinwumi Adesina

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Adesina commended the Japanese government and private sector for their strong support to Africa’s development

TUNIS, Tunisia, August 29, 2022/APO Group/ — 

Japanese businesses should invest more in Africa, where investment opportunities and returns on investment are among the highest in the world, African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina urged participants at the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD8).

Adesina commended the Japanese government and private sector for their strong support to Africa’s development.

He told Japanese businesses to assess Africa’s investment opportunities based on facts and evidence, and not on perceptions.

The Bank group head said: “In 2020, Moody’s Analytics performed a 10-year cumulative assessment of global infrastructure debt default rates, by region. It found that Africa was the region with the second lowest cumulative default rate, after the Middle East. That is proof once again that infrastructure as an asset class in Africa is solid, secure, and profitable.”

Twenty African heads of state are attending the conference in the Tunisian capital of Tunis from the 27th to 28th of August.

Japanese officials and business leaders, and heads of international organizations are also taking part in the conference.

Speaking by video link, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Japan had achieved its goal of contributing $20 billion to Africa within the private sector, a goal it had set at TICAD7 in 2019. Kishida also announced new commitments. He said Japan “will provide co-financing of up to $5 billion, together with the African Development Bank, in order to improve the lives of African people.”

Senegal’s President Macky Sall said Japanese corporations have the “technological and financial capacity needed to set up partnerships in Africa in sectors such as infrastructure, transportation and housing.”

Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Amina J. Mohammed commended the foresight of Japan’s leadership in establishing TICAD in 1993. She warned about the scale of the challenges currently facing Africa, adding “Thanks to platforms such as TICAD, we already have the partnerships in place to respond to these challenges in solidarity.”

The African Union Commission’s Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat lauded Japan for its efforts to build African capacity through education and training. He praised a Japanese initiative that has trained over 1000 young Africans in nutrition.

Japan had achieved its goal of contributing $20 billion to Africa within the private sector, a goal it had set at TICAD7 in 2019

The African Development Bank chief said African countries would require significant financial resources to cope with the impacts of Covid-19, accelerating climate change and Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“This is the time to strongly support the African Adaptation Acceleration Program to mobilize $25 billion for climate adaptation for Africa, especially as we look forward to Cop-27 in Egypt,” Adesina said. 

He said the Bank’s African Emergency Food Production Facility, launched in May 2022, was providing $1.13 billion for 24 countries in financing an expected $1.5 billion for emergency food production. The African Development Bank fast-tracked approval of the facility earlier in 2022 to avert a potential food and fertilizer crisis arising from the war in Ukraine.

Adesina thanked Japan for its contribution to the facility. “I am delighted that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has provided additional co-financing of $518 million to support the facility.”

During a forum for the business community, Adesina named two spheres where he hoped to see increased Japanese engagement with Africa, namely bilateral trade and investment. He said that Africa accounted for just 0.003% of Japan’s $2 trillion in global foreign direct investment.

Adesina stressed that Japanese firms which were bold in their investments in Africa were those that were prospering. He gave the example of Toyota Tsusho’s investment in automobile factories in South Africa, which had generated $8.5 billion in revenues in March of 2022. Others, he said, included Komatsu and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Citing Africa’s youth, entrepreneurism and innovativeness, Adesina said: “Africa is home to a vibrant fintech ecosystem that is leading the continent’s digital revolution with the highest potential to lead the world. The continent is home to 576 fintech start-ups and they are run by young people.”

Adesina named other vital investment sectors including the production of lithium batteries that power electric vehicles, agribusiness and renewable energy, including from hydropower, wind and geothermal sources.

TICAD8 also included the signing ceremony for 91 memoranda of understanding that Japan’s government and businesses have agreed on with African corporations or governments.

The pacts included projects across all five regions of Africa to develop human resource technical skills and green hydrogen, water desalination and geothermal solutions.

Adesina had a bilateral meeting with the President of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Tanaka Akihito and the Governor of Japan Bank for International Cooperation Nobumitsu Hayashi. He also attended a bilateral meeting with the leaders of the Keidanren, a Japanese economic organization representing businesses and industrial and regional associations. The meetings centered on the need for closer cooperation on investment, including co-financing for key projects, trade and opportunities for Japan’s private sector. Discussions also covered the upcoming 16th replenishment of the African Development Fund, the African Development Bank Group’s concessional lending window.

TICAD, which takes place every three years, is organized by the government of Japan, the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme, the African Union Commission, and the World Bank.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Business

Telecoming Strengthens Its Presence in Africa with the Launch of DCB Software South Africa

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The company advances its regional strategy with a model built on AI, monetisation and direct connectivity with local operators

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 11, 2026/APO Group/ –Telecoming (www.Telecoming.com), a global technology company specialising in the monetisation of digital services, announces the launch of DCB Software South Africa (www.DCBSoftwareZA.com), its new local subsidiary. The move reinforces the company’s growth strategy in Africa, one of the most promising markets in the mobile economy.

The new entity will be led by Javier de Corral, who will lead business development, establish partnerships with telecom operators and build a local team based in Johannesburg.

The South African launch builds on Telecoming’s existing footprint in the continent, where it already operates through its Algerian subsidiary, DCB Software Dzayer, further strengthening its regional position.

We are very excited about the opportunities in South Africa and committed to investing in its digital future

DCB Software South Africa will operate as a local hub focused on AI-driven digital services, supported by a team entirely based in the country. Its scope includes the development of digital products, mobile and web services, as well as solutions in digital entertainment and marketplaces, all built on scalable, multi-device platforms designed to ensure a seamless user experience.

The subsidiary combines in-depth knowledge of the South African and Sub-Saharan markets with direct access to telecom operators, digital platforms and local payment solutions. It will deploy multiple monetisation models, including Direct Carrier Billing (DCB), to optimise conversion rates and overall performance.

The launch of DCB Software South Africa marks a key milestone in our global expansion strategy”, said Cyrille Thivat, CEO of Telecoming. “We are very excited about the opportunities in South Africa and committed to investing in its digital future. With Javier de Corral at the helm, we are confident that this new subsidiary will not only drive our local growth but also contribute to the broader digital and AI ecosystem.”

Telecoming develops technology designed to enhance user acquisition, streamline payment processes and improve the performance of digital services. Its platforms integrate monetisation, advertising and user experience, leveraging artificial intelligence to deliver secure, scalable and efficient solutions.

This expansion reinforces Telecoming’s commitment to delivering innovative digital and AI services and strengthens its position as a key player in the African market. With this launch, the company takes another step in its international expansion, enhancing its ability to support the development of Africa’s digital ecosystem through advanced technology, local expertise and strategic partnerships.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Telecoming.

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Enlit Africa 2026 makes 20 May the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) delivery day across power, water and clean energy hubs

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Enlit Africa 2026

Taking place 19–21 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Enlit Africa, created by VUKA Group, convenes utilities, municipalities, large energy users, financiers, developers and technology providers to focus on what shifts outcomes in African infrastructure

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 11, 2026/APO Group/ –Enlit Africa 2026 will put commercial and industrial delivery front and center on Wednesday 20 May with a dedicated line-up across the Power HubWater Hub and Renewable Energy & Storage Hub. The day is built for decision-makers who must keep operations running, secure reliable supply, manage risk and move projects from concept to implementation.

 

Taking place 19–21 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Enlit Africa, created by VUKA Group, convenes utilities, municipalities, large energy users, financiers, developers and technology providers to focus on what shifts outcomes in African infrastructure.

On 20 May, the programme is anchored by the keynote, “How a coordinated energy/water plan could change African resilience” (09:30–11:45), positioning water and energy as interlinked operational risks that can no longer be managed in silos. From there, the day breaks into practical tracks tailored for large users and the solution partners that support them.

In the Renewable Energy & Storage Hub, sessions focus on the realities of C&I adoption and delivery at scale, including “Project implementation for multi-megawatt C&I projects” (11:45–13:00) and “Clean energy adoption in the C&I market” (14:30–15:45), before turning to fleet electrification and operations with “Mobility: Management of electric vehicle fleets for C&I” (16:00–17:30).

In the Water Hub, the agenda targets the technologies and operating models that matter most to industrial continuity and compliance. Sessions include “Next-generation water treatment technologies” (11:45–13:00), “Advanced water treatment & smart water systems” (14:30–15:45) and “Accelerating water technology deployment for C&I operations” (16:30–17:30).

Together, the three stages create a single day of high-signal, implementation-led content for C&I leaders, utilities, municipalities and suppliers focused on operational performance, investment readiness and delivery discipline.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

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Nigeria’s Upstream Reform Program Captures 40% of Africa’s Final Investment Decision (FID) Activity After a Decade on the Margins

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African Energy Chamber

A government three-year review documents how executive action under President Tinubu reversed a decade of upstream decline

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 8, 2026/APO Group/ –Nigeria has gone from capturing 4% of Africa’s upstream final investment decisions (FIDs) to commanding 40% in two years, according to Nigeria’s Energy Sector Reforms 2023-2026: A Three-Year Review, published by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy and spearheaded by Special Adviser Olu Verheijen. The $50 billion project pipeline now in development beyond 2026 points to sustained capital commitment at a scale not seen in the Nigerian upstream for at least a decade.

 

Between 2014 and 2023, Nigeria was among the continent’s weakest performers for upstream FIDs despite holding 37.5 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, the second-largest endowment in Africa. Algeria captured 44% of African upstream FIDs during that period, Angola held 26%, while Nigeria trailed Mozambique, Ghana, Senegal and Namibia. In the third quarter of 2022, crude production briefly dropped below one million barrels per day, as years of underinvestment, pipeline vandalism and regulatory ambiguity compounded each other. However, reforms instituted by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu have dramatically turned this trend around. Through deliberate and coordinated steps, the government has reset the trajectory.

Addressing Fiscal Terms, Regulatory Scope and Contracting Speed

President Bola Tinubu’s administration moved simultaneously on fiscal terms and regulatory architecture. Policy directives in 2023 clarified the boundary of jurisdiction between the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), resolving an ambiguity that had complicated project sanctioning. Presidential Directive 40 introduced targeted tax incentives, and a separate Notice of Tax Incentives for Deep Offshore Production in 2024 was designed to draw international oil companies (IOCs) back into capital-intensive, long-cycle deepwater projects. The VAT Modification Order 2024 and Upstream Cost Efficiency Order 2025 addressed the cost structures that had rendered marginal projects uneconomic. NNPCL contracting timelines were compressed from 36 months to a maximum of six months.

Four Divestments Transferred Onshore Control to Indigenous Operators

In parallel, the administration deployed targeted security directives and accelerated ministerial consents for four IOC asset transfers. Renaissance acquired Shell’s onshore portfolio. Seplat Energy completed its acquisition of ExxonMobil’s Nigerian upstream interests. Oando took over from Agip, and Chappal acquired Equinor’s local assets. The four transactions totaled approximately $4 billion. The transfer of onshore and shallow-water blocks to indigenous operators contributed directly to production recovery. Output rose by approximately 400,000 barrels per day between 2023 and 2025 to reach 1.6 million barrels per day, the highest onshore production level in 20 years.

When a government rebuilds fiscal competitiveness and regulatory predictability at the same time, capital responds

Signed Projects Total $10 Billion, With a $50 Billion Pipeline Beyond

The reforms produced a concrete FID response from Shell and TotalEnergies. Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) sanctioned the $5 billion Bonga North deepwater development in December 2024 and committed a further $2 billion to the HI Non-Associated Gas (NAG) project. TotalEnergies and NNPCL took a joint FID on the $550 million Ubeta gas field development in June 2024.

Together those three commitments account for more than $10 billion in signed investment after a decade of near-zero sanctioning activity. The pipeline beyond 2026 spans a further $50 billion across 11 projects including Bonga South West, Owowo, Usan and Erha. Nigeria approved 28 field development plans valued at $18.2 billion in 2025 alone, targeting an estimated 1.4 billion barrels of reserves.

“When a government rebuilds fiscal competitiveness and regulatory predictability at the same time, capital responds,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Nigeria has done both, and the FID numbers are concrete proof.”

The Counterfactual Illustrates How Much Was at Stake

The presentation includes a no-reform projection that puts the gains in context. Without intervention, total crude and condensate production was on track to fall from 1.371 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2022 to 579,000 by 2030. Under the reform trajectory, output reached 1.77 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2026, with a stated government target of 3 million barrels per day. Export gas utilization rose 39% over the same period, while domestic utilization grew by 7%.

The durability of these gains will be tested by two factors: whether the institutional architecture put in place under the Tinubu administration holds over the long term, and whether the deepwater commitments signed in 2024 and 2025 advance to execution on schedule. The project pipeline is large enough that partial delivery would still represent a generational shift in Nigeria’s upstream output profile.

 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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