More than $1 billion in Power Africa commitments finalized - USAID chief

 More than $1 billion in debt and financing commitments from U.S. agencies and private investors is set to be announced on Wednesday for U.S. President Barack Obama's signature Africa energy initiative, Power Africa, a top USAID official said.   The latest deals were finalized around a U.S.-Africa business forum on the sidelines of annual U.N. meetings in New York this week, USAID chief Gayle Smith said in an interview with Reuters. Obama launched the initiative in 2013.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

Vivo Energy opens largest diesel storage tank in Kenya at Shimanzi

 Vivo Energy Kenya has opened a 23 million litre diesel storage tank at the company’s Mombasa terminal at Shimanzi in what is the largest diesel storage capacity in the country by one oil marketer.   The company also opened a 5 million litre petrol storage tank.   The opening of these tanks increases the company’s diesel storage to 53 million litres, and petrol storage to 29 million litres.   “Additional storage will enable Vivo Energy Kenya.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

Expanding to Africa, Columbia Pacific opens health clinic in Nairobi

 Columbia Pacific Management, a Seattle-based investment firm that runs health-care facilities in various countries, has expanded to Africa.   Under the new Columbia Africa brand, the company opened its first clinic in Nairobi, Kenya, this week.   The 5,300-square-foot clinic and diagnostic center offers services in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, general surgery, orthopedics, opthalmology and dental care, according to a news.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

Government to invest Ksh. 3.2 Billion on Oil infrastructure, KTN Prime 21st September 2016

 The ministry of infrastructure is set to spend 3.2 billion shillings in constructing requisite infrastructure that will pave the way for Kenya to start exporting oil come June 2017. According to roads principal secretary Eng. John Mosonik, plans are underway to rehabilitate the Eldoret Lokichar road in preparation for the harvesting of early oil in Turkana. Stakeholders in the petroleum sector have expressed concern over the pace of development of key infrastructure along the.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

Solar power company raises Sh2.25bn to connect homes

 Solar power equipment distributor d.light has announced securing $22.5 million (Sh2.25 billion) for its PayGo business which provides homes with cheaper and clean power solutions.   The company, which has reached more than 1.6 million Kenyan households, said it will spend a significant amount of the investment in the East African market.   “Consumer financing for solar home systems makes the technology significantly more affordable for our customers. This.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

Kenya Power honoured for its low-cost electricity project

 Kenya Power has been named the most innovative firm at the African Investor's CEO Institutional Investment Summit awards for its aggressive electricity project targeting humble households.   Kenya Power's World Bank-funded Global Partnership on Output-Based Aid project connects low-end customers primarily those in the rural areas and informal settlements with electricity.   The firm has increased sales through the initiative which tackled the issue of electricity.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd September 2016

Made in Mount Vernon: Home decorations

 Rose Luangisa built her Mount Vernon-based home decorations business on having an eye for what looks good.   So when interior decorators and gallery owners began coming to her home 20 years ago to buy African wood sculptures, they looked around her living room and asked about the decorations made for herself.   "They would say, 'Oh, I really like that,'" said Luangisa, 48.   Clients' interest in Luangisa's custom-made pillows, wall hangings,.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st September 2016

Global Bakery Packaging Market to Grow by 2020

 The global bakery packaging market is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 4% during the forecast period, according to the latest market study released by Technavio.   The research report titled “Global Bakery Packaging Market 2016-2020” categorizes the global bakery packaging market into three major segments based on the type of materials used for packaging: Flexible packaging; Rigid plastic packaging and Metal packaging.   The global bakery packaging.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st September 2016

Columbia Asia Expands to New Continent with Columbia Africa

 Columbia Asia, one of the largest and fastest-growing healthcare companies in Asia, is expanding its operations to Africa to serve the rising demand from the continent’s middle class for affordable, modern and efficient healthcare facilities   The company’s first facility in Africa – a 5,300-square-foot multispecialty clinic and diagnostic center – opened this week in Nairobi, Kenya, a capital city with more than 3 million people and in the midst.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st September 2016

Africa: Automotive Coating Gains Demand for Energy-Efficient Technologies

 London — Upswing of automotive production in North America and Europe enhances growth opportunities for coatings, finds Frost & Sullivan's Visionary Science team   Automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are concerned about the rising energy consumption at their paint shops and the resultant increase in carbon emissions. These environmental issues and OEMs' desire to accelerate production cycle times have prompted automotive OEM coating suppliers to.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st September 2016

How Data And Machine Learning Are Changing The Solar Industry

 Like most sectors, the solar industry is rapidly embracing ways to analyze and crunch data in order to lower the cost of solar energy and to open up new markets for their technology.   The rise of data tools—algorithms, machine learning, sensors—are driving investments in, and acquisitions of, solar startups, while entrepreneurs are launching new companies that are using data to solve various solar industry problems. Meanwhile, big companies are spending money.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st September 2016

Transformation of Existing Energy Infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa Could Bring Electricity to 15.4 Million People

 The research findings are derived from a method that identifies existing energy infrastructure. This shows that partial investment has already been provided, and managers as well as technicians continue to operate and maintain the infrastructure. The study authors built a custom-made multi-layer spatial analysis and used satellite night images to spot rural mini-grids.   The study provided a map of three infrastructure categories: coal power plants that can burn biomass.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st September 2016