By Omar Ali Adib, Rolls-Royce Senior Vice President, Africa.

African airlines play a vital role in unlocking trade, providing employment, increasing GDP, and demonstrating national and continental pride. However, they face formidable challenges, foremost among them being the cost of aircraft fuel, which exceeds global averages by up to 30%, which can be attributed to the lack of local refining capability, unique market dynamics, taxation and duties, and foreign exchange challenges from weakening local currencies.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Africa’s aviation sector has displayed remarkable resilience by returning to pre-pandemic levels. However, if African airlines are to continue to sustain their growth and competitiveness on the global stage, then they will need to fulfil some strategic objectives.

The industry needs the best technologies to maximize operational efficiencies, defend and innovate fuel security, and develop our human resources.

In terms of operational efficiency, Rolls-Royce has a role to play in supporting African airlines.

Our engines power half of the world’s wide-body (twin-aisled) aircraft, connecting passengers, transporting food and goods, and delivering healthcare and humanitarian aid. The most technologically advanced members of the Rolls-Royce engine family are the Trent 7000, which powers the Airbus A330neo, the Trent XWB, which serves the Airbus A350, and, of course, the Trent 1000, which was designed for Boeing’s 787.  

This engine family has continually evolved over the last 30 years. Since the first Trent engine took flight, Rolls-Royce has focused on improving engine performance and reliability, introducing advanced new manufacturing methods, materials, aerodynamics and digital technologies. Just recently, Rolls-Royce committed £1bn to a program that will enhance and advance not only new engines entering the market but also engines already in service. With this new billion-pound investment in new technologies, our existing customers will benefit from improved availability, reliability and fuel efficiency. 

Today, a Rolls-Royce Trent XWB aero engine consumes 15% less fuel than the first generation of Trent engines, contributing to savings of about $6.4 million per aircraft per year.

These savings can be even greater in Africa due to the higher cost of jet fuel.

Turning to fuel innovation and security, there are opportunities for Africa in the global transition to cleaner, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which will need to be indigenously produced to be truly sustainable. This alternative African fuel would bring immediate benefits to emissions and longer-term fuel security. But the challenge is to produce SAF at scale.

In addition to the well-documented benefits of SAF as a key enabler to reduce aviation carbon emissions by up to 80%.

The subject of SAF will become increasingly important as, from 2025, all airlines flying into the European Union must use a 2% blend of SAF, which will gradually increase to 6% in 2030, 20% by 2035, 34% by 2040, and 70% by 2050. This move has prompted the recently established EU Global Gateway African Euro320bn Investment Package, half of which will be directed towards developing Africa’s SAF capabilities.

Rolls-Royce has actively supported work to support 100% SAF adoption and our role has been to prove there are no technology impediments to its use at engine level. That is why we have recently completed our commitment to ensure all of our in-production civil aero engines are compatible with 100% SAF – a commitment underpinned by a series of tests on the ground and in the air. We were also pleased to support Virgin Atlantic, which operated the first-ever 100% SAF flight across the Atlantic from London to New York late last year, powered by Trent 1000 engines

SAF can be made from waste cooking oils and biofuels produced from agricultural waste or the growing of feedstock plants on marginal lands unsuitable for food crops—a whole new sector of agriculture. The benefits of a regional SAF supply chain include increased energy security, reduced volatility of jet fuel supply and pricing, less forex exposure and economic development opportunities through local investments and job creation.

Choosing the right aerospace technology that continues to advance and evolve while in service simultaneously reduces operating costs, bolsters our growing economy and strengthens our transition to indigenous and better-performing fuel.

Africa has over 24% of the world’s agricultural land and 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land. Thanks to partnerships forged between the government and private sector in East Africa, we are delighted to see the seeds are already being sown to develop a world-leading biofuel sector.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of LCH Consultancy&Associates.

About the Author:
Omar Ali Adib is the Senior Vice President – Middle East, Africa and Central Asia for the Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace division and is accountable for all aspects of customer relationship in the region.

The AEW Town Hall – a central stage dedicated to high-level discussions on industry issues and country-specific investment opportunities – will be a key component of the upcoming African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy 2024 conference.

The platform uniquely unites government, private sector and civil society to tackle the key challenges and opportunities shaping Africa’s energy sector, from revamping African refining capacity and fast-tracking investment in downstream supply chains. Projects under discussion include Nigeria’s 650,000-bpd Dangote Refinery – Africa’s largest oil refinery to date – and LNG Train 7 expansion project; Angola’s 200,000-bpd Lobito Refinery set to reduce reliance on petroleum product imports; and Ghana’s recently-operational 120,000-bpd Sentuo refinery. The Town Hall will address the role of clean fuels in Africa’s energy transition, including LPG and biofuels, as well as downstream diversification in meeting primary energy demand. 

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.

A historic OPEC-Africa Roundtable will explore growing collaboration between OPEC and African oil producers, focusing on production strategies, market stability and investment in upstream projects, with a focus on sustainability. A look into the Republic of Congo’s oil and gas sector will explore the country’s latest alignment with OPEC’s decision to extend oil production cuts until 2025, with a view to stabilizing barrel prices and encouraging long-term investments.

The Town Hall will feature a series of spotlight sessions on dynamic African energy markets. In West Africa, attention is on the MSGBC Basin with the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project set to produce 2.5 million tons of LNG annually in its first phase, complemented by Mauritania’s BirAllah gas project and Senegal’s Yakaar-Teranga gas development. Equatorial Guinea is also spearheading gas monetization through its flagship Gas Mega Hub initiative, while Algeria and Libya are scaling up gas production and export infrastructure in North Africa. Southern Africa is home to large-scale oil and gas discoveries offshore Namibia – along with the country’s $10-billion green hydrogen project – and an upstream renaissance and substantial refining capacity expansion in Angola.   

The Town Hall will also organize a Saudi-Africa Partnership Roundtable to enhance energy collaboration between Saudi Arabia and African nations, focusing on investment, technology and knowledge partnerships. Last month, Mauritania and Saudi Arabia inked an MOU to promote knowledge exchange and collaboration on clean energy initiatives, including renewables, green hydrogen, power and carbon capture technologies.

Town Hall discussions on local content will underscore the importance of developing diversified local industries and creating jobs from Africa’s extractive sectors. A dedicated session will unite African and global energy industry leaders to discuss strategies, incentives and regulatory frameworks to bolster the competitiveness of the African workforce, as well as enforce existing local content policies. Within this agenda, a Youth Energy Roundtable will focus on engaging Africa’s youth in the energy sector and discuss future opportunities for education, training and employment. The AEW Town Hall will also highlight the transformative impact of women in energy through an exclusive session, showcasing African female leaders who are driving innovative projects and energy transformation across the continent.

“The Town Hall at AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 serves as a crucial stage within the broader event, spotlighting key topics such as expanding Africa’s downstream capacity, defining its priorities in the just energy transition ahead of COP29 and engaging Africa’s youth in the energy sector,” states NJ Ayuk Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

AEW 2024’s Town Hall promises to be a valuable forum for addressing Africa’s energy challenges and unlocking its vast investment potential.

For more information, visit www.AECWeek.com or contact register@aecweek.com. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Ma Lei, Managing Director of Dongfeng Motor Corporation International Business Department and China Dongfeng Motor Industry Imp.&Exp. Co., Ltd. (www.Dongfeng-global.com), and Omar, general manager of Cevitale Group, attended the opening ceremony of Dongfeng Algeria Head Office, which marked the new stage of cooperation between Dongfeng and Cevitale Group of Algeria. In this campaign, Dongfeng Motor highlighted a variety of star products, attracting many local people and media to visit and consult. Hennop, a user from Africa, left a message under the Dongfeng social media account: “I have used Dongfeng products in Africa for more than 15 years. Dongfeng products have excellent configuration and experience, and Dongfeng Motor is trustworthy!”

At the event site, Dongfeng passenger vehicle SHINE and Dongfeng commercial vehicle KX gained a lot of attention from the guests. SHINE is fashionable in appearance, has the only 13-inch super-large central control in its class, and is equipped with 1.5T Mach power + Gertrak DCT gold power combination. The maximum power is 145kW, the maximum torque is 300N·m, the power output is smooth and powerful, and the shifting is soft. The commercial vehicle DONGFENG KX matches the Dongfeng Cummins Z14 engine, with a maximum power of 560 HP and a maximum torque of 2640 N·m. It has powerful power and intelligent configuration and comes standard with safety-assisted driving systems such as lane departure warning, front collision warning and lane keeping, which brings users an unprecedented efficient transportation experience. At present, CEVITAL Group has introduced many models of Dongfeng passenger vehicles, heavy trucks, light trucks, and pickups in Algeria, and plans to further introduce high-end electric vehicles such as VOYAH and MHERO in the future.

The opening of Dongfeng Algeria Head Office is not only the embodiment of Dongfeng internationalization strategy, but also the actual action of Dongfeng Motor to actively respond to the “Belt and Road Initiative”. In the future, Dongfeng Motor will continue to strengthen its cooperation with global partners, promote more high-quality and high-performance automobile products to the world stage, and bring consumers a better travel experience.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of China Dongfeng Motor Industry Imp.&Exp. Co. Ltd.

Company: China Dongfeng Motor Industry Imp.&Exp. Co. Ltd
Contact: Zhou Hui
Email: gjb-zhouhui@dfmc.com.cn
Tel: +8627-8430-1292
Website:
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Partners in the first phase of Senegal’s five-year National Integrated Livestock Development Program (French acronym PNDIES-P1) met on 28 May. Workshop participants included Senegal’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock, the African Development Bank (AfDB) (www.AfDB.org), the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The project three project components — animal productivity, products and product processing, animal product marketing and skill enhancement, and project coordination and management — will help make the country’s livestock sector more competitive and sustainably increase employment opportunities for young people and women in livestock value chains. It will do so by sustainably increasing livestock productivity and production. improving the processing and marketing of animal products, and raising skills levels industry wide.

Phase 1 of the project represents an investment of 78.60 million euros, of which the AfDB provides 39.30 million, the IDB 39 provides million euros and 300,000 euros come from the Global Climate Centre (GCA).

It will be implemented in the regions of Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Louga, Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kolda, Sédhiou, Thiès and Ziguinchor and directly benefit at least 32,000 people working in livestock value chains, including 16,000 women and young people. A further 950,000 people (51% of whom are women) will receive indirect benefits.

More generally, the project will help improve food security, nutrition and public health among Senegal’s rural and urban populations by establishing a control system for food products of animal origin to ensure product safety. Veterinary services will be redeployed across the country and regional laboratories will be built or renovated to will help eliminate unofficial slaughtering and improve the hygiene and safety of animal products.

During the project’s two-year participatory, holistic and inclusive design phase, the technical departments of the relevant ministries were involved along with organisations involving farmers and processors, women and youth groups, other civil society actors, the private sector and technical and financial partners.

Opening the workshop, Ousmane Mbaye, Secretary General of the Senegalese Ministry of Agriculture, stressed the importance of the program for achieving food sovereignty and self-sufficiency in animal products. He acknowledged the support of the African Development Bank and thanked it on behalf of the Senegalese government for “its constant support to the livestock sector.”

Hatem Fellah, representing Mohamed Cherif, head of the AfDB country office in Senegal, praised the energetic cooperation among the three financing parties — AfDB, IDB and GCA — and the Senegalese government. He emphasised the importance that the African Development Bank attaches to the program’s efficient implementation and ultimate success, adding that the Bank will do all it can to support the work of the Ministry’s teams during program implementation.

As of 25 April 2024, the active portfolio of AfDB Group in Senegal comprised 39 operations with financing of around 2.5 billion euros. The agricultural sector accounts for 21% of the total amount, behind transport (30%), finance (15%), governance (10%), energy (8%), water and sanitation (7%), industry (4%), social (3%) and communication (2%).

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

Media contact:
Communications and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org