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Grundfos SafeWater partners with World Vision to retrofit hand pumps with faster solar-powered water systems in rural Zambia

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World Vision

The new solar pumps are providing water to 20,000 Zambians and World Vision is planning to serve several thousands more by 2030

LUSAKA, Zambia, March 15, 2023/APO Group/ — 

SafeWater, a strategic business unit within Grundfos (www.Grundfos.com), has announced that it is partnering with World Vision’s Zambia WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) programme to provide cost-effective SQFlex solar water pumps as an easy-to-use and sustainable alternative to traditional hand pumps in rural Zambia.

World Vision’s Zambia WASH programme has already retrofitted 80 new solar pumps, designed by Grundfos, reaching more than 20,000 people, and is planning to reach several thousands more by 2030. The SQFlex pumps make use of renewable energy to efficiently provide clean water by reducing queues and time needed for water collection, as well as providing reliable access to water.

Commenting on their partnership and latest rollout of new pumps, Pia Yasuko Rask, SafeWater’s Senior Director, said: “We are extremely proud to partner with World Vision to support their mission in Zambia. Our solar pump technology is based on years of research and is tailored to the specific local need. Grundfos has an overarching ambition to reach 300 million people with access to clean drinking water by 2030. Through strategic partnerships with world class partners like World Vision, we want to provide water that is both clean and easily accessible, and from a reliable source that is sustainable and efficiently run.

Operating hand pumps is physically difficult, and they produce only a limited flow of water, making pumping water both a time-consuming and a labour-intensive task for many women and children, who must walk long distances to collect water.

Grundfos has an overarching ambition to reach 300 million people with access to clean drinking water by 2030

The World Vision system (SQFlex 1-30 and SQFlex 1-70) is typically designed with six taps and a 5,000 litre storage tank, designed to make water available throughout each day, and easy for people, including women and children, to draw and carry home. Each pump serves on average 300 people.

“This really is a game changer for people living in rural areas when we want to retrofit hand pumps with SQFlex”, said Maybin Ngambi, Technical Programme Manager for World Vision Zambia. “Most communities could never have imagined a time when they would see water being pumped using solar energy. Having clean water readily available for people to use is something unimaginable in these traditionally underserved communities.”

World Vision is committed to ensuring that the pumping systems continue to run efficiently, working closely with each community and with local government to establish collaborative management approaches and building knowledge and skills transfer through local training programmes.

“We work with the communities and local officials to identify the most appropriate maintenance solutions to make sure we can deliver long-term reliable water access. The Grundfos solar-powered systems have proven to be very reliable, providing sufficient levels of clean water for the first time to many of these families”, said Maybin Ngambi.

What makes the water clean to drink?

Before the water system is commissioned, the water quality is tested by an approved laboratory by the Zambian government to analyse chemical, bacterial, and other physical characteristics. In addition, World Vision typically installs an online chlorinator in each tank to promote sufficient residual chlorine to deal with recontamination while water is transported, in use or during storage. These measures and the use of materials that meet international drinking water standards ensure access to clean water for the local communities, and also improve hygiene and sanitation levels related to water collection.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Grundfos.

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Ministers among hundreds of energy-sector leaders to attend AOW event

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The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

AOW: Investing in African Energy (https://AOWEnergy.com) – Africa’s leading oil, gas and energy event – has confirmed attendance for more than 80 ministers and senior officials, representing African governments, energy departments and regulators at next month’s event.

These influential stakeholders will be among the more than 1 600 senior delegates and industry leaders who will be attending the event to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa’s energy future.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.”

Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention

Among the officials and government ministers attending will be energy leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda, CAR, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Zanzibar, Liberia, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.

In addition, the event will feature high-level delegations from numerous national oil companies, as well as multilateral bodies including the African Union, (AU), African Energy Commission (AFREC), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

AOW will see these energy leaders networking with C-suite executives and decision-makers from more than 760 top energy companies at daily networking events, to discuss insights, forge new relationships, and negotiate major energy deals.

“We are so excited to see the calibre of delegates at this year’s AOW event,” says Chief Executive Officer of Sankofa Events, Paul Sinclair. “Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention. The high-powered attendance proves AOW is a key platform to enable this intervention.”

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s AOW will be sustainable upstream development; expanding gas value chains; renewables and new energies; adoption of best-in-class technologies; and access to finance.

AOW: Investing in African Energy will culminate in a special anniversary party at Groot Constantia Vineyard to celebrate 30 years of the AOW event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

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Afreximbank approves US$20.8 million for Starlink Global’s cashew factory project in Lagos

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The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs

CAIRO, Egypt, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$20.8 million financing facility for Nigeria-based Starlink Global & Ideal Limited to enable the company construct and operate a 30,000-metric tonne per annum cashew processing factory in Lagos.

We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria

According to the facility agreement signed in on July 22, 2024, Afreximbank will provide the funds in two tranches with the first tranche of US$7.48M going toward capital expenditure for the construction of the factory and the second, totalling US$13.25M to be deployed as working capital for the operations of the factory.

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs once the factory becomes operational. It is also expected to support about 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that by supporting Starlink Global to establish a modern processing facility, Afreximbank is making it possible for Africa to add value to its agro-commodities, thereby facilitating exports and subsequent inflow of much-needed foreign exchange into the continent.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria. It will contribute to value creation and to the development of the local community while also improving the lots of smallholder farmers and small business suppliers that will work with Starlink across the value chain,” Mrs. Awani added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Sonangol to Lead Decarbonized Oil & Gas (O&G) Development, Says Angolan National Oil Company (NOC) Head

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Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

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

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