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Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) sign a partnership agreement

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KOICA

KOICA is going to promote sustainable development through strengthening the capacity to manage societal, political, economic, and environmental risks

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso, March 14, 2023/APO Group/ — 

The Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) (www.GGGI.org) signed a financing agreement on 9th March 2023 in Ouagadougou, to jointly strengthen the resilience and sustainable development of the Kaya-Dori axis in the Centre-Nord region of Burkina Faso.

According to the Korean government’s the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus Implementation Strategy to contribute to international efforts to address the root causes of fragility, KOICA is going to promote sustainable development through strengthening the capacity to manage societal, political, economic, and environmental risks.

The project will last for three years with a budget of 3 million US dollars, or about 2 billion XOF. It will be implemented by GGGI in collaboration with the Government of Burkina Faso, the Technical Alliance for Development Assistance (ATAD) and Action for the Promotion of Local Initiatives (APIL).

It will offer solutions for sustainable livelihoods of 750 direct beneficiary households, and reach more than 18,750 indirect beneficiaries, 60% of whom are women

The project will address issues relating to environmental preservation, access to water, food security, the promotion of women, income-generating activities, sustainable agriculture, and natural resource management. It will complement existing initiatives that support the government in managing the internal displacement crisis resulting from terrorism in the Sahel. However, it goes beyond humanitarian support to build community resilience and sustainable development focused on local green growth strategies.

For the Minister of Environment, Water and Sanitation (MEEA), this project will contribute to its objectives to increase the recovery and sustainable management of degraded agricultural land, greening of local development plans, promotion of solar pumping systems for agricultural production, access to environmentally friendly cooking systems, and the creation of nutritious community gardens.

GGGI will capitalize the project results to design a replicable intervention model for promoting green growth in situations of conflict and fragility.

According to the Governor of the Center-North Region, Colonel Major Zoewendmanego Blaise Ouédraogo: “This project will bring relief to the population of the region by providing considerable support to internally displaced persons (IDPs). It will offer solutions for sustainable livelihoods of 750 direct beneficiary households, and reach more than 18,750 indirect beneficiaries, 60% of whom are women.”

The Country Director of the KOICA office in Côte d’Ivoire covering several African countries, Mr. Dong-wan Woo, stressed the importance for KOICA to strengthen and boost cooperation between Korea and Burkina Faso. He said: “Strengthening resilience and consolidating peace on the Kaya-Dori axis through this project demonstrates that Korea is a friendly country concerned about the future of Burkina Faso’s population.”

Over the past five years, GGGI and KOICA have delivered several joint projects around the world. They include the promotion of renewable energy in Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea; wastewater and solid waste treatment in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic; the management of the Aral Sea ecological crisis faced by the Republic of Karakalpakstan; the promotion of climate-smart agriculture in Nepal, the Strengthening of Solid Waste and Faecal Sludge Management Capacity for the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area in Uganda and a project in Ethiopia called climate resilient forest and landscape restoration.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GGGI Burkina Faso Country office.

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

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Sinclair

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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Sonangol

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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