Mining Indaba is investing significantly in ensuring the presence of a larger mining government contingency in 2025

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 1, 2024/APO Group/ — 

As the African mining industry continues to grow, the role government must fulfil in ensuring sustainable investment and development is becoming increasingly important. In acknowledgement of this, Mining Indaba (www.MiningIndaba.com) is investing significantly in ensuring the presence of a larger mining government contingency in 2025.

Enhanced government proposition

In support of this objective, ensuring the voice of government mining and supporting ministries will be heard across the event – not only in the government-dedicated Intergovernmental Summit, but across all key programmes including Disruptive Discussions, Sustainability Series and Technology and Innovation.

“Our government activity will also take place in a new home for 2025 – the CTICC 2 building – which will provide a larger space for ministers to engage collaboratively, greater attendance opportunities at the Ministerial Symposium and more effective engagement and time in our Intergovernmental Summit, new country investment forums, and traditional country showcases. As the government hub – we will offer ministers a single point of contact from which they can navigate the full Mining Indaba event comfortably and frequently,” says Zeinab El-Sayed, Head of Government Partnerships.

Future-proofing government focus

The 2025 theme, “Future-proofing African Mining, Today!” is anchored on six key content pillars, emphasising equality for all, to guide Mining Indaba’s future objectives. Future-proofing from a government perspective involves implementing policies and regulations that ensure sustainable development, environmental protection, and social responsibility in the mining industry. It also involves fostering innovation and technology adoption to enhance efficiency and competitiveness in the sector.

“Cross-border cooperation is essential for governments to address the challenges facing their countries in an increasingly interconnected world. In order to future-proof their economies, governments ought to collaborate with each other and engage with the private sector to implement effective and sustainable policies. The success of these partnerships will be crucial in ensuring that the continent remains competitive and resilient in the face of evolving global challenges,” continues El-Sayed.

As the government hub – we will offer ministers a single point of contact from which they can navigate the full Mining Indaba event comfortably and frequently

“A future-proof mining ministry is one that looks at how to encourage investment with the ultimate objective of creating sustainable and economic wealth for every African country. This requires collaboration – between governments, as well as industry, to ensure an aligned approach that responds to challenges around regulatory environments, infrastructure needs and community support. Mining Indaba will remain the platform to provide solutions and facilitate conversations that lead to positive outcomes in this regard,” highlights Laura Cornish, Head of Content & Strategic Partnerships.

What can attendees expect in 2025?

NEW FOR 2025

• Country Investment Forums

Closed door discussion that will bring together ministries, community representatives, mining companies, investors, and chambers of mines to discuss ideas and address concerns, aiming to enhance each country’s investment profile with actionable outcomes.

• Investment guides

These guides will provide detailed information on investment opportunities, regulatory frameworks, and potential risks for interested parties. Additionally, attendees can look forward to interactive workshops and networking opportunities to foster collaboration and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders.

IMPROVED FOR 2025

• Ministerial Symposium

Attendees can expect engaging discussions on innovative solutions for sustainable development, networking opportunities with industry leaders, and the chance to contribute to shaping the future of African value chains. The symposium will provide a platform for sharing best practices, fostering partnerships, and driving actionable outcomes to advance socio-economic growth in the region.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Investing in African Mining Indaba.

Sahl has introduced B2B product offerings to support utility services and payment acceptance for other companies, expanding its audience and impact

CAIRO, Egypt, July 1, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Sahl, Egypt’s premier mobile bill payment app, recently attended Gitex Africa 2024 (www.GITEXAfrica.com), Africa’s largest and most renowned technology event. This milestone underscores Sahl’s commitment to showcasing its innovative solutions on a global stage and its role in transforming the financial landscape in Egypt and beyond.

At Gitex Africa 2024, Sahl connected with potential partners, investors, and customers, demonstrating its comprehensive range of services and cutting-edge technology. Sahl offers users unparalleled convenience, allowing them to pay bills for over 50 services, including electricity, gas, water, and mobile, through a single, easy-to-use platform. The app uses NFC technology, enabling users to recharge prepaid cards anytime and anywhere. Additionally, Sahl has introduced B2B product offerings to support utility services and payment acceptance for other companies, expanding its audience and impact.

Sahl is one of the few companies in Egypt directly integrated with several governmental entities, providing users seamless access to services from Egyptian Electricity Holding Co (EEHC), New Urban Communities Authority (NUCA) for water services, telecom operators (Vodafone, WE, Orange, and Etisalat), Petrotrade for gas services, Cable Network Egypt, and others. Furthermore, Sahl is the exclusive provider of NFC prepaid electricity meters in Egypt, serving 15 million households with prepaid electricity meters. Through the app, users can charge their meters and pay online, saving around 30 minutes per transaction by eliminating the need to visit a charging station.

We are thrilled to have the support of esteemed investors as we continue our journey to revolutionize bill payments in Egypt

In another significant development, Sahl has been selected to join the prestigious Visa Accelerator program. This program is designed to help innovative fintech startups scale their operations and enhance their technological capabilities. Through the Visa Accelerator program, Sahl will gain access to Visa’s vast network, resources, and expertise, accelerating its growth and expanding its service offerings.

Sahl has also successfully raised $6 million in Series A and seed funding, positioning itself as a one-stop shop for household bills in collaboration with government entities. The funding round was led by Ayady for Investment and Development, a prominent Egyptian investment firm known for supporting innovative startups. Joining Ayady in this investment are existing investors Egypt Pay, Delta Electronics, and E-Finance Investment Group, all of whom bring significant expertise and resources to the table.

“We are thrilled to have the support of esteemed investors as we continue our journey to revolutionize bill payments in Egypt,” said Abdullah Assal, Sahl CEO. “These developments will enable us to enhance our technology, expand our services, and reach more users, ultimately contributing to financial inclusion and digital transformation in the region.”

Sahl’s dynamic team of founders brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the company. CEO Abdullah Assal, with an MBA from Stanford and a background in leading Globaltronics, drives the company’s vision. CPO Ahmed Othman, known as Kika, leverages his product management and finance experience at CI Capital, to foster innovation. CTO Ibrahim Assal, with a rich background in software engineering from companies like Palantir, Careem, and Microsoft, ensures robust technological development.

Sahl is dedicated to digitizing utility payments in Egypt, driving the adoption of digital channels over traditional cash transactions. With a vision to build a comprehensive Super-app for financial management, Sahl is committed to delivering world-class financial services to its customers.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GITEX Africa.

AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 will unpack the continent’s ongoing green hydrogen projects and future investment opportunities during a dedicated hydrogen summit

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, June 27, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Africa’s estimated green hydrogen production capacity is expected to grow to 50 million tons per year by 2035. The continent’s abundant renewable energy resources, attractive fiscal policies and development potential make it a highly attractive market, and with African energy demand projected to grow two-fold by 2040, investment is projected to increase significantly across the continent.

This year’s African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy 2024 conference – taking place in Cape Town from November 4-8 – will feature a dedicated hydrogen summit, with panel discussions unpacking the continent’s ongoing projects and future investment opportunities. The summit builds on the rising demand for hydrogen globally to connect partners, address challenges and advance project development in Africa.

AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

Africa stands to become a global green hydrogen hub given the continent’s strategic proximity to high-demand international markets and abundant resources

As global demand for alternative fuels grows – driven by the energy transition -, Africa has emerged as the investment market of choice for many countries worldwide. The EU market, for example, serves as the largest commercial opportunity for hydrogen projects in Africa given the blocs target of importing 10 million tons of green hydrogen from international partners by 2030. Partners from the Middle East and the Americas have shown similar interest in Africa’s green hydrogen potential, and as a result, a slate of projects has kicked off in recent years.

This month, renewable energy company ACWA Power signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government of Tunisia to advance green hydrogen production in the country. The partnership aims to produce 600,000 tons of green hydrogen annually through a three-phase approach for export to Europe. The initial phase aims to generate 200,000 tons per year to be exported via the SoutH2 Corridor – a planned hydrogen pipeline connecting Tunisia to Italy, Austria and Germany.

Additionally, Mauritania unveiled ambitious plans to produce 12.5 million tons of green hydrogen annually by 2035. In May, transitional energy group Chariot finalized the feasibility study for a 10 GW green hydrogen project in Mauritania – Project Nour. Plans are currently underway to implement a phased development approach for the project, where the initial phase aims to establish 3 GW of renewable capacity, generating up to 1.6 GW of electrolysis capacity to yield 150,000 tons of green hydrogen annually. Green hydrogen from the project will be used to meet domestic needs as well as international demand, leveraging Mauritania’s proximity to European markets. Other projects in Mauritania include Danish developer GreenCo Energy’s 35 GW Megaton Moon, renewable energy developer CWP Global’s 16-20 GW Aman project and a 10 GW project spearheaded by Egyptian utility company Infinity and energy company Conjuncta.

Meanwhile, poised to become Africa’s first 100% net-zero green community, the Daures Green Hydrogen Village project in Namibia will comprise solar, wind, hydrogen and ammonia production systems and transportation networks. Set to be developed through 2032, the project will provide a pilot proof of concept while eventually targeting large-scale green hydrogen production, exploration and export to regional and global markets.

“Africa stands to become a global green hydrogen hub given the continent’s strategic proximity to high-demand international markets and abundant resources. While several countries across the continent have made great strides towards developing large-scale projects, significant investment opportunities remain. Africa should leverage rising global demand to build green hydrogen projects and related infrastructure, therefore bringing a new energy source to the market,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

Stepping into this picture, the summit aims to explore how green hydrogen can achieve climate goals and foster global partnerships while showcasing the significant role that hydrogen will play in the future of African energy. Panel discussions, such as Unleashing the African Hydrogen Revolution and Creating a Sustainable African Hydrogen Value Chain explore the potential of hydrogen as a clean, sustainable energy source and its implications for Africa’s energy landscape. Panelists will discuss scalability, cost effectiveness and hydrogen’s potential as a catalyst for economic growth.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.