LCH Consultancy&Associates (www.LCHConsultancy.com), an integrated advisory and strategic corporate communications agency focused on African development, is delighted to announce the appointment of Evelyn Wangui as the newest addition to its growing team to support the agency’s expanding global client portfolio.

With over ten years of experience in strategic public relations, Evelyne brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to LCH Consultancy&Associates. As Director of Content and Media Relations, she will be pivotal in strengthening strategic services across the African region. 

During her career, Evelyne has represented many multinational organisations from various industries, operating in both corporate and developmental spheres. She was educated in Kenya, studying journalism and political science at Nairobi University.

Commenting on her appointment, Evelyne said, “I am delighted to join this talented team of inspirational and highly motivated peers. This marks an exciting milestone in my profession. I look forward to innovating and executing new forms of corporate communications blended with business advisory.”

Lydia-Claire Halliday, Founder and Executive Director of LCH Consultancy&Associates, welcomed Evelyne. She noted that her entry aligns with the agency’s ongoing commitment to attract unique talent for continued world-class client support. “With this growing talent pool, I am confident that our clients will benefit from unparalleled communications and stakeholder relations support. We encourage both collaboration and intrapreneurship, which paves the way for our team’s development and success.”

LCH Consultancy was launched in 2012 to bridge the global knowledge gap by representing Africa and the corporations, organisations and people vested in its empowerment and equitable development. In 2023, the company officially rebranded as LCH Consultancy&Associates, representing the vital contribution of colleagues.

The agency specialises in three core areas: 

Investor Relations – supporting capital and debt raising while maintaining the perception of value across the global investment community. In this role, LCH Consultancy&Associates advises on price-sensitive commercial developments and business strategies to local and global audiences.
Corporate Communications – developing and executing communications plans that strengthen relationships with the media, public, industry, regulatory, and government stakeholders.
Strategic Business Advisory –  providing unique intelligence, analysis, and insights to clients distinguished by a deep understanding of the opportunities present in Africa. This service has been instrumental in enabling clients to make informed decisions regarding their business development and identify partnerships and strategic alliances.

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

Notes to Editors:
For more information, see www.LCHConsultancy.com 

Contacts:
Lydia-Claire Halliday
LCH Consultancy&Associates
lydia@lchconsultancy.com
+254708000510

Evelyne Mungai
LCH Consultancy&Associates
evelyne@lchconsultancy.com
+254726087451

Energy and commodities company Vitol will participate at the Angola Oil&Gas (AOG) 2024 conference (https://apo-opa.co/4b9OwCw) – scheduled for October 2-3 in Luanda – as a silver sponsor. The sponsorship demonstrates the company’s dedication to fueling the expansion of the Angolan oil and gas market by leveraging its extensive expertise and services.

Vitol operates at the core of global energy transactions. With a daily trading volume exceeding seven million barrels of crude oil and products, the company utilizes its expertise and logistical networks to distribute energy around the world efficiently and responsibly. Currently, Vitol has investments in six refineries worldwide, boasting a refining capacity of 480,000 barrels per day.

Organized by Energy Capital&Power, 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; 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.

In Angola, Vitol has operated for several years, distributing petroleum products to the local and regional market. The company secured a tender from Angolan national oil company Sonangol for the one-year supply of gasoline to the nation in 2021. This strategic move not only highlights Vitol’s burgeoning influence within Angola’s oil and gas sector but also underscores its pivotal role in ensuring consistent fuel availability. Furthermore, this partnership underscores Angola’s collaborative approach with major industry players to meet its energy demands efficiently.

Previously, Vitol entered into a multi-year LNG sales agreement with Angola LNG, signifying a significant development in the LNG market. Under this agreement, Angola LNG committed to delivering cargoes to Vitol at destinations worldwide. The history of Vitol procuring LNG cargoes from Angola LNG underscores a robust and ongoing partnership between the two entities. Additionally, Vitol aims to bolster its portfolio and play a role in meeting global energy demands, with a particular focus on Angola.

Vitol’s commitment to Angola extends beyond sponsorship, evident in its collaborative ventures with African entities to optimize the value of crude oil and ensure a steady supply of fuels to burgeoning markets. While recent investments span various African nations, including Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, Vitol’s sponsorship for AOG demonstrates its active involvement in Angola’s oil and gas sphere.

This year’s AOG 2024 conference will serve as a premier platform for stakeholders to address pressing issues within Angola’s oil and gas domain, encompassing strategies to mitigate production decline, bolster exploration efforts, diversify the economy and spearhead a just energy transition by harnessing natural gas resources

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

Ethiopia’s Minister of Water and Energy Habtamu Itefa Geleta will participate at the South Sudan Oil&Power (SSOP) 2024 conference and exhibition. Minister Geleta is expected to share his country’s experience in developing clean energy capacity and call for more power infrastructure investments.

Ethiopia is Africa’s largest hydropower market and has embarked on a strategic diversification of its energy mix. As such, the minister’s attendance during this year’s summit is poised to showcase an efficient, secure, affordable and sustainable power sector as vital to Africa’s economic growth and transformation.

Organized by Energy Capital&Power, SSOP 2024 positions South Sudan at the center of investments and partnership in the East African energy landscape. Taking place in Juba on June 25-28, the conference and exhibition invites investors to explore and engage with opportunities across the hydrocarbons, renewable energy and power sectors. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

In April 2024, the Ethiopian government and the World Bank signed loan agreements worth $1.72 billion to enhance the country’s electricity and water supply. Under the agreement, $523 million will be allocated to expand the country’s electricity network and boost renewable energy generation. $500 million will be directed towards facilitating the movement of food to markets.

Meanwhile, the African Development Bank approved a $104 million grant to finance a transmission project to improve Ethiopia’s electricity supply. The project will involve the construction of 157km of transmission lines and will include associated substations near the cities of Harar, Jijiga and Farem.

Ethiopia, along with Zimbabwe, signed intergovernmental agreements with Russia in July 2023 to establish a legal framework for the development of nuclear energy in the African country. Additionally, Ethiopia’s government signed a grant agreement with Denmark during the same month which would see the mobilization of $10 million towards developing the Danish-Ethiopia Energy Partnership and phase one of the Ethiopian Danish Water Sector Cooperation.

At SSOP 2024, Minister Geleta is expected to discuss the Ethiopian government’s plans to diversify its energy mix while delivering a consistent supply of power and unlocking opportunities that will stimulate public and private sector participation in the East African energy landscape. For more information about how you can participate in South Sudan’s biggest energy event, visit https://SouthSudanOilPower.com.

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

Tunisia’s economic recovery slowed in 2023, due to a severe drought, tight financing conditions and a modest pace of reform, leaving the country’s growth below pre-COVID levels, and making it one of the slowest recoveries in the Middle East and North Africa region, according to the Spring 2024 edition of the World Bank’s Economic Monitor for Tunisia.

The report, Renewed Energy to the Economy, forecasts growth rates of 2.4 percent in 2024 and 2.3 percent in 2025-26, assuming easing of drought conditions and some progress in fiscal and pro-competition reforms. The report emphasizes Tunisia’s improved external balance, its narrowing trade deficit supported by favorable international prices, and its external financing needs that remain significant. The report underscores the urgency of addressing the drivers behind the external financing challenges, including energy deficit, debt service, and level of capital inflows.

Despite gains in the tourism and export sectors, Tunisia’s economy was affected by the impacts of drought-related losses that led to an 11 percent drop in agriculture, underlining the need for adaptation to climate change. These losses have been compounded by limited domestic demand, penalizing sectors such construction and trade. This has led to a rise in unemployment, which reached 16.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023, and a drop in labor force participation.

The report delves into the details of the country’s current economic challenges and opportunities. Despite limited demand, inflation remains at 7.8 percent. In particular, food price inflation stands at 10.2 percent. Most of this inflation can be attributed to rising profits and import prices, underlining the significant impact of competition and trade policies on inflationary pressures. On the positive side the trade deficit fell from 17.5 percent of GDP in 2022 to 10.8 percent in 2023, with the current account deficit also narrowing from 8.6 percent to 2.6 percent of GDP over the same period.

Faced with tighter external financing conditions, Tunisia has increasingly relied on domestic banks — and more recently to the Central Bank – to finance its budget. This shift has heightened financial system vulnerabilities and led to a crowding-out effect, where banks devote an increasing share of lending to the government over the private sector.

“Despite ongoing challenges, there are significant opportunities for Tunisia to transform and strengthen its economy. With strategic investments, particularly in renewable energy, Tunisia could significantly enhance its economic resilience and sustainability,” said Alexandre Arrobbio, the World Bank’s Country Manager for Tunisia. “We are committed to helping Tunisia tapping into its rich renewable energy resources, and our report identifies clear pathways to growth and stability. Developing these resources is essential to reducing import dependency and fiscal costs while enhancing energy security and fostering a sustainable economic future.”

A major focus of the report is on Tunisia’s ambitious plans for renewable energy as a solution to its economic and environmental challenges. The country aims to increase the share of renewables in its electricity mix from the current 3 percent to 35 percent by 2030. At present, 2,200 MW of private generation projects have been launched, which are expected to bring the share of renewables up to 17 percent by 2025. The report highlights the large economic benefits of deepening this transition through an ambitious decarbonization agenda. The total investment required is estimated at US$ 4.5 billion by 2030 and could come mainly from the private sector should adequate regulatory conditions be in place. One of the flagship projects on this agenda is the electricity interconnection between Tunisia and Italy (Elmed). This project aims to improve the resilience of the Tunisia’s electricity system and transform it into a net exporter of electricity. This would significantly reduce the country’s dependence on costly natural gas imports and improve its balance of payments.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.