A dedicated roundtable at the upcoming Invest in Africa Energy (IAE) 2024 forum in Paris will shine a spotlight on Southern Africa, with a focus on South Africa, Mozambique, and Namibia. The region boasts new discoveries in the oil and gas sector, abundant renewable resources, and promising potential for hydrogen prospects. This makes it an attractive destination for investors keen on leveraging these resources for capital growth.

During the two-day forum, delegates will gain insights into Southern Africa’s status as a frontier market with first-mover advantages. From South Africa’s mineral-rich terrain to Zambia’s hydroelectric potential, Mozambique’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) prospects and Namibia’s untapped offshore reserves, the region offers diverse opportunities poised to fuel development.

Organized by Energy Capital&Power, IAE 2024 (https://apo-opa.co/3UMOOtQ) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 14-15, 2024 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Panelists include Godfrey Moagi, Chief Executive Officer, SANPC; Antoine Berel, Vice President Sub-Saharan Africa (South), Halliburton; Calib Cassim CFO Eskom, Paul Eardley-Taylor, Oil and Gas Coverage Southern Africa, Standard Bank and Dr. Sama Bilbao y León, Director General, World Nuclear Association. The session will be moderated by Olivier Barbeau, Managing Partner, Moore South Africa.

Namibia’s recent deepwater discoveries, including Graff-1X, Venus-1X, La Rona-1X, Jonker-1X, Lesedi-1X, Mopane-1X&2X, Mangetti-1X, and its most recent Enigma-1X, have intensified exploration activities within the Orange Basin. Although significant potential exists, substantial investment is need to fully develop these resources for commercialization. Recently, Namibia’s Minister of Finance announced that by the end of 2024, Namibia anticipates a final investment decision from multinational energy companies, TotalEnergies for its Venus-1X discovery and Shell for its Graff-1X discovery. This is a step towards accelerating oil production, set for 2029.

With two major LNG projects underway — TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG and ExxonMobil’s Rovuma LNG — Mozambique has solidified its position as a key player in both the Southern African and global gas markets. Moreover, Mozambique made significant strides by exporting its inaugural LNG cargo to Europe in 2022, facilitated by Eni’s Coral Sul floating LNG facility. With robust trade agreements in place and a growing capacity, Mozambique presents a dependable and burgeoning gas market. With over 100 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves, the nation offers ample opportunities for gas exploration, production, transportation, storage, and utilization projects.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Renewable Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) is expanding renewable energy capacity. Bid Window 7, launched in January 2024, aims to acquire 3.2 GW of onshore wind and 1.8 GW of solar photovoltaic projects. Integration into the grid will address power deficits and boost energy security. Private sector developers can seize this opportunity, secure contracts, and establish themselves in South Africa’s growing renewable energy market.

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

Energy Invest: Namibia 2023 – the official investment report on Namibia’s oil, natural gas, power, mining and renewable energy sectors – was relaunched at the Namibian International Energy Conference on Wednesday, in the presence of Namibia’s leading energy authorities, regulators and companies.

Endorsed by the Ministry of Mines and Energy and produced by Energy Capital&Power (ECP), the publication serves as the official publication on Namibia’s burgeoning energy sector, tracking its evolution into one of the most dynamic energy hotspots globally. Since the launch of the report at African Energy Week last October, Namibia has produced two more offshore discoveries at Galp’s Mopane complex in the Orange Basin; secured additional financing for the Hyphen Hydrogen Energy facility; advanced its draft National Upstream Petroleum Local Content Policy; and established a new joint development plan for the Kudu gas project, among other key developments.

“Against the backdrop of Namibia’s dynamic energy landscape, this publication delves into the prevailing trends, advancements and investment opportunities within the country’s burgeoning sector, offering insightful interviews and in-depth analysis,” stated Kelly-Ann Mealia, ECP Chairperson.

As Namibia seeks foreign investment to develop its hydrocarbon discoveries and establish requisite exploration and production infrastructure, the publication serves as an exclusive investor resource, uniting insights from Namibia’s leading energy authorities and private sector players to showcase key trade, investment and partnership opportunities.

“Energy Capital&Power has been honored to operate in this market as it enters an unprecedented period of growth. We look forward to working with the Namibian government and private sector to unlock the full potential of the country’s resources and connect projects with the global investment community,” concluded Mealia.

Energy Capital&Power is a strategic partner of the Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC) – taking place in Windhoek on April 23-25, 2024. The 6th annual conference unites industry leaders, business executives and policymakers to engage in dialogue, exchange ideas, create new partnerships and identify strategies to foster a prosperous energy industry in Namibia and beyond. For more information, please visit https://www.NIEConference.com/

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

South Africa is challenging the EU’s prohibition on the importation of South African citrus fruit affected by the fungus “citrus black spot” (Phyllotactic citricarpa). South Africa claims the EU measure appears to be inconsistent with various provisions of the WTO’s Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures.

Further information is available in document WT/DS624/1

This is the second dispute case initiated by South Africa regarding the EU’s import measures on citrus fruit. In July 2022, South Africa initiated a case challenging EU phytosanitary requirements for the importation of oranges and other citrus products related to the pest Thaumatotibia leucotreta, known as false codling moth (DS613).

What is a request for consultations?

The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Trade Organization (WTO).

The feasibility studies for the 256km multinational Kisumu-Kisian-Busia/Kakira-Malaba-Busitema-Busia expressway is set to start soon after EAC officially handed over the site to the consultancy firm named GOPA Infra Gmbh of Germany together with ITEC Limited of Kenya.

The expressway that will run from Kisumu in Kenya to Kakira, a town Jinja district, will involve rehabilitation of the existing two-lane single-carriageway to bitumen standards and the upgrading of the same into a two-lane dual carriageway over a 104km stretch.

The $1.4 million feasibility study project funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) will determine the economic viability of upgrading the existing multinational road sections from single carriageway to expressway standards. The studies will be carried out as one integrated project but in two distinct packages to determine the economic feasibility of developing the corridors that connect the two countries to the port of Mombasa.

The expressway is part of improvements on the Northern Corridor which provides landlocked East African nations faster access to Mombasa Port. It also forms part of the Mombasa-Kigali expressway that was prioritised at the EAC Heads of States Retreat on Infrastructure Development held in February 2018 in Kampala.

The rehabilitation along the EAC Northern Corridor is expected to contribute to strengthening road infrastructure within the EAC region to fast-track regional integration and spur cross-border trade.

Speaking during the site handover ceremony in Kisumu, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Infrastructure, Productive, Social  and Political Sectors, Hon. Aguer Ariik Malueth, disclosed the estimated overall duration of the feasibility study will be 18 months.The total cost is estimated at USD 1,499,587.00.

Hon. Ariik further revealed that the upgrading of the Kisumu-Kisian-Busia/Kakira-Malaba-Busitema-Busia expressway is expected to improve the transport services to five land-linked EAC Partner States, namely Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and DRC.

“It is our expectation that Partner States are also in the process of upgrading the other sections of the Nothern Corridor from Mombasa through Nairobi up to Malaba and from Kampala westwards towards Katuna and Mpondwe so as to achieve a uniform high level of service along the entire corridor,” said he said.

Hon. Ariik disclosed that EAC has 10 cross-border corridors that form the EAC Road Network Project totaling 15,000 kilometers, adding that the focus of the EAC Secretariat is to promote their improvements for the enhancement of the economic well-being of all EAC citizens.

The DSG also said that the scope of the assignment of the feasibility study will include the improvement of the Busia and Malaba One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) and the upgrading of Lwakhakha Border between Kenya and Uganda to an OSBP.

“The consultant is also expected to propose other measures including digitalisation of weighbridges, establishment of roadside rest areas and intelligent transport system,” added Hon Ariik.

On his part, Eng. Godfrey A. Enzama, the Principal Civil Engineer at the EAC Secretariat said that the road project will not only be expected to improve the transport flow, but also will address the issue of poor road safety along the road.

Eng. Enzama added that the entire EAC region, and in particular some sections of the Northern Corridor, has very high incidences of fatal road crashes, brought about by a variety of reasons including driver behaviour, bad weather, poor road conditions and pedestrian-vehicle conflicts.

On his part, Eng. Luka Kameli, who represented the Principal Secretary at Kenya’s Ministry of EAC, ASALs and Regional Development, said that the rehabilitation of the Kisumu-Kisian-Busia/Kakira-Malaba-Busitema-Busia expressway will boost most economic sectors including imports, exports, mining, forestry, production and delivery of manufactured products, trade in livestock and fisheries, goods and industrial products and tourism.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of East African Community.