The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat has called on EAC Partner States to educate their citizens on how to protect themselves and prevent the spread of Monkeypox (Mpox).

This follows reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) that Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are experiencing an outbreak of the viral Mpox disease.

Burundi has confirmed three (3) cases of Mpox in Bujumbura and Isare, verified by national laboratories and the WHO. The Burundian health ministry has assured the public that measures are in place to manage the disease, with patients currently receiving treatment and showing improvement.

Since 2022, the DRC has reported over 21,000 cases and more than 1,000 deaths, according to WHO. In 2023, there were 14,626 cases and 654 deaths, and by the end of May 2024, 7,851 cases and 384 deaths had been reported. Many of those infected are children under five (39%), and nearly two-thirds (62%) of the deaths are also among children. Health experts have identified a new strain of the virus in one part of the country.

Burundi borders DRC, Rwanda and Tanzania while the DRC borders five EAC Partner States: Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan.

The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political Sectors, Hon. Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, emphasised the importance of taking preventive measures to minimise the spread of Mpox.

“EAC Partner States must provide necessary information about the disease and take preventive measures,” said Hon. Malueth. The DSG added that factual risk communication, community engagement and enhanced surveillance were crucial steps to managing the disease.

Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, was first discovered in monkeys in 1958, with the first human case reported in 1970. The virus spreads from animals to humans and between people through close contact, contaminated objects and respiratory droplets.

Symptoms include a skin rash or lesions, fever, intense headache, muscle aches, back pain, general body weakness and swollen lymph nodes, typically lasting two to four weeks. While most cases are moderate, severe cases and deaths can occur.

To reduce the risk of contracting Mpox, the public is advised to:

Avoid contact with individuals diagnosed with the virus or those who may be infected;
Wear a face mask when in close contact with symptomatic individuals;
Use personal protective equipment when caring for confirmed or suspected cases;
Wash hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based sanitizers after contact with infected persons or animals;
Regularly wash clothing and bedsheets at high temperatures;
Ensure meat is thoroughly cooked before consumption; and
Avoid contact with sick animals, particularly rodents and non-human primates, and refrain from handling bush meat.

Individuals suspecting that they may have contracted Mpox should self-isolate and seek medical advice immediately. While a vaccine against Mpox is available, WHO recommends vaccination primarily for those at high risk of exposure. Treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms, such as pain management.

The EAC will convene a meeting of health experts to deliberate on the situation. However, in anticipation of pandemics and epidemics in the region, the EAC, with support from the German Government through its development arm GIZ and the Africa CDC, has established a pool of rapidly deployable experts ready to be deployed in areas of disease outbreaks in the EAC.

Additionally, GIZ has also supported the EAC in strengthening 10 border areas with the DRC and other EAC partner states by providing handwashing facilities and health promotion activities to encourage protective health and hygiene (WASH) behaviours, aiming to prevent the spread of zoonotic and water-borne infectious diseases. This health and hygiene promotion initiative has reached 700,000 individuals. The first phase of the WASH project in 2021-2022, conducted in six EAC Partner States reached about 5 million individuals.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of East African Community.

At least 97 civilians have been reportedly killed or injured in an attack at a hospital, residential areas and a livestock market in Al Fasher City in North Darfur State on 27 July, according to local authorities.

“I am deeply saddened by these horrific attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, apartments and markets. Civilian infrastructures should never be a target and are protected under the international humanitarian law,” said Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan. “The United Nations in Sudan strongly condemns these indiscriminate attacks and extends our deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.”

The incident in Al Fasher caught many civilians by surprise as the town had experienced relative calm for about two weeks, enabling markets to reopen and many families to resume their livelihoods. Resumption of livelihoods and other economic activities, unimpeded humanitarian access, and upscaling of humanitarian funding are critical for Sudan to avert the looming threat of famine.

The country faces the worst levels of acute food insecurity in its history, with more than half of its population – 25.6 million people – in acute hunger. More than 8.5 million people face emergency levels of hunger (IPC 4), while more than 755,000 people are in catastrophic conditions (IPC 5) in Greater Darfur, South and North Kordofan, Blue Nile, Al Jazirah, and Khartoum.

More than 18,800 people have been killed and over 33,000 injured since the conflict broke out in April 2023, according to humanitarian partners. Over 10 million people have fled their homes, and this includes more than 5 million children – and over 2 million people who have crossed into neighbouring countries.

“At this moment when partners are racing against time and are doing everything they can to stave off a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe, I call on parties to stop the fight and to do everything possible to protect civilians, allow them free movement and to go about their daily lives,” said Nkweta-Salami.

Despite limited funding and a challenging operating environment, humanitarian partners are on the ground and have reached over 7.1 million people with some form of humanitarian assistance between January and May. But this is not enough, “I am urging donors to urgently step up to disburse their commitments and identify new funding if humanitarians are to stand a chance at preventing a large-scale famine from taking hold,” added Nkweta-Salami More than halfway through the year, the Sudan humanitarian appeal, which is seeking $2.7 billion, is just 32 percent funded.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).

Angola expects several large-scale oil and gas projects to come online over the next five years, while a 2025 limited tender kicks off exploration and development at offshore, onshore and marginal fields. Projects on track for development include the CLOV Phase 2 project in Block 17, the Cabinda oil refinery; the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development; the Quiluma and Maboqueiro fields; and the Kaminho Deepwater Development in Block 20/11. As such, demand for oilfield services, equipment and engineering solutions are poised to drive sustainable development on the back on hydrocarbon production and resource monetization.

The Association of Service and Equipment Companies of Angola (ASSEA) has partnered with the Angola Oil&Gas (AOG) conference for the 2024 edition – taking place in Luanda from October 2-3. The partnership aims to support the participation and contribution of Angolan institutions in the country’s oil and gas industry and will foster collaboration between global project developers and Angolan firms.

AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; national oil company Sonangol; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the African Energy Chamber; and the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute, the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

With plans to maintain oil production above one million barrels per day until 2027 while increasing the share of natural gas in the energy mix, Angola offers a wealth of opportunities for companies across the entire value chain. To support production goals, the government is promoting exploration in frontier basins and is implementing an incremental production initiative to entice reinvestment in producing fields. For Angolan service providers, these efforts unlock new business opportunities as the country’s local content policies prioritize the participation of local entities.

Angola is driving local content through its Angolanization initiative, which grants local service providers preference regarding oil and gas contracts. While the initiative mandates the inclusion of Angolan providers, ASSEA facilitates engagement between companies, improving market access for firms across the industry. As such, ASSEA serves as a bridge connecting foreign project developers to Angolan service and equipment companies.

ASSEA also works towards improving capacity building and skills development across the industry. In partnership with Muhatu Energy Angola – a network for women in the oil and gas industry – ASSEA launched the Ubuntu program in November 2023. A professional internship program, Ubuntu offers students in their final year of technical-professional courses the opportunity to engage and gain experience in work environments. The program aims to provide real-life experience for students while equipping them with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in the Angolan oil and gas industry.

As an AOG 2024 partner, ASSEA will facilitate discussions among industry stakeholders, promoting the expertise and technology of Angolan-based service providers. AOG 2024 serves as the largest international oil and gas platform in the country, with delegations from China, the USA, the UAE, Portugal, Switzerland and more joining the conference this October. Combined with strong local participation and an international reach, the conference creates newfound opportunities for partnerships, deal-signings and networking.

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

Over the next five years, up to $60 billion is expected to be invested across Angola’s oil and gas industry as international oil companies, independent E&P firms and juniors seize new opportunities in onshore, offshore and marginal fields. To support national production targets of maintaining output above one million barrels per day (bpd), Angola’s upstream operators are expanding their portfolios through block acquisition while reinvesting in producing blocks to maximize reserves.

During the Angola Oil&Gas (AOG) conference – slated for October 2-3 in Luanda – Angola’s upstream operators will provide insight into their respective investment and project outlooks in Angola. Speakers from energy majors Chevron, ExxonMobil and bp will outline large-scale ventures while E&P firms Afentra and Etu Energias will detail current and future exploration campaigns.

AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; national oil company Sonangol; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the African Energy Chamber; and the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute, the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Chevron is focused on developing existing blocks while unlocking frontier basins in the country’s deepwaters. In June 2024, the company signed two Risk Service Contracts (RSC) for Block 49 and Block 50 – situated in the Lower Congo Basin. Chevron will conduct seismic surveys across both blocks to improve the geological understanding of the acreage. The company also has interests in offshore Blocks 0 and 14 as well as in the Angola LNG plant. Billy Lacobie, Chevron’s Managing Director: Southern Africa, will provide an update on deepwater exploration during AOG 2024 as well as the company’s low carbon strategies in Angola.

Celebrating 30 years of operations in Angola, ExxonMobil is focused on maximizing output at producing assets while advancing frontier exploration. In 2024, the company made a discovery at the Likember-01 research well in Block 15, the first of the country’s incremental production initiative. Block 15 is one of Angola’s most successful assets, producing for 20 years and featuring 18 commercial discoveries. The new find showcases further developmental potential. Beyond existing assets, ExxonMobil is seeking play-opening finds in the Namibe Basin and could inject as much as $15 billion in the area following successful drilling. The company’s South Atlantic Exploration Manager Richard Barke and Managing Director for Angola Katrina Fisher will provide insight into these initiatives during AOG 2024.

Active in Angola since the 1970s, bp has spearheaded several major project developments in Angola. In 2022, the company merged its Angolan operations with that of energy major Eni’s, creating the country’s largest independent equity producer of oil and gas, Azule Energy. In 2023, Azule Energy signed RSCs for Blocks 46, 47 and 18/15 in the Lower Congo Basin while making FID on the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development – coming online in 2026. The company is also developing the country’s first non-associated gas project – the Quiluma and Maboqueiro fields – also coming online in 2026. Gordon Birrell, EVP Production&Operations at bp, will speak on bp’s expertise in the country while identifying future investment and production initiatives.

Angola’s largest private oil producer Etu Energias plans to produce 50,000 bpd by 2025 and 100,000 bpd by 2030. The company’s projects range from upstream developments to downstream production lines and is seeking new opportunities in exploration. Etu Energias secured $60 million in 2023 as part of a $190 million debt facility to finance the acquisition of a 20% interest in deepwater Block 14 and a 10% stake in Bock 14K. The company will also begin construction at a lubricant facility in 2025. During AOG 2024, CEO Edson dos Santos will detail asset acquisition, downstream investments and future partnership prospects.

Meanwhile, Afentra is strengthening its portfolio in Angola, having recently acquired interests in offshore Blocks 3/05 and 3/05A from Azule Energy. The company is conducting light well interventions to boost production at these blocks and is also in the final stages of acquiring interests in Blocks KON 15, KON 19 and 23. In 2024, Afentra sold its first Angolan cargo for the year of 450,000 bpd. During AOG 2024, Afentra’s COO Ian Cloke will unpack acquisition targets and production expectations.

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