Gas Discoveries Fuel Investments in East Africa

 Significant gas discoveries in Tanzania, Kenya and Mozambique have put East Africa in the global spotlight, according to DHL’s executive. Steve Harley, president of energy sector at DHL, said that while Angola and Nigeria have always been the most notable producers within the sub-Saharan region, oil and gas activities in East Africa are now creating a stir amongst global exploration companies and potential investors. “Oil discoveries in Uganda and Kenya have also.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 11th August 2014

Kenya plans to reduce the cost of electricity by 47 per cent in the next three years

THIKA (Xinhua) -- A Kenyan official said Sunday that the country plans to reduce the cost of electricity by 47 per cent in the next three years amid increased power generation from cheaper sources. Principal Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Joseph Njoroge said the electricity producer, Kenya Power, is implementing a countrywide operation to upgrade the power network ahead of the expected additional generation capacity.   "The ongoing power project is all about making it.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 11th August 2014

Kenya: Electricity Prices to Drop Through Ongoin Power Project

 Kenyans will benefit from approximately 47 percent reduction in electricity prices in the next three years owing to increased generation from cheaper sources of power, Principal Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Eng. Joseph Njoroge, has said.  Njoroge said generation projects for the 5,000 MW additional capacity in the medium term are well on course with electricity prices for domestic customers expected to come down from the current average of US dollars (USD) 19 cents.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 15th August 2014

Kenya: Chinese Firm to Build Three Berths in Kenya's Lamu Port

 Nairobi — Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday signed a 480 million U.S. dollar agreement with a Chinese firm for the construction of the first three berths of Lamu Port in the coastal region.     The deal for the three berths under the Lamu Port - South Sudan - Ethiopia Transport Corridor Project (LAPSSET) Corridor Program was signed with China Communications Construction Company Ltd.     Kenyatta said his government has already set aside.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 11th August 2014

US$45.5m multi-storey car park to be constructed in Nairobi, Kenya

City Hall Nairobi has announced a tender notice for the construction of a 3000 multi-storey car park in Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD). The project involves developing an AT Sunken Car Park building at a cost of US$45.5m. The project will be undertaken through a public private partnership where the Government of Nairobi County is expected to provide the land for the project, while investors will provide the funds needed. Parking slots in Nairobi’s CBD is not.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 11th August 2014

Freedom Property Fund kicks off new residential developments

 Newly-listed Freedom Property Fund today announced it has launched several major projects, including two residential property developments, which will boost its portfolio of income-generating rental stock. It is also unlocking capital by releasing residential properties for strategic sale to the market.   Following Freedom’s successful listing on the JSE Main Board on 12 June 2014, it has commenced and progressed several projects identified in its prelisting.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 11th August 2014

African, U.S. Leaders Announce New Partnerships to Help Farmers

 The New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition now has commitments from private investors totaling more than $10 billion, U.S. and African officials announced at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit August 5. These new investments are expected to create about 650,000 jobs and reach over 5 million small-holder farmers in initial New Alliance and Grow Africa countries, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) said in a press release. This increase includes commitments.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 11th August 2014

SAPA welcomes commitment to the NDP

 The South African Poultry Association (SAPA) welcomed the commitment made by President Zuma, at the State of the Nation address on the 17 June 2014 to the agricultural objectives as set out in the National Development Plan Poultry-Africa-hyper7proSAPA has put plans in place to transform South Africa's local poultry sector. (Image source: hyper7pro) Kevin Lovell, CEO of SAPA, said in aiming for a five per cent economic growth rate and reducing unemployment, poverty and.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 11th August 2014

East Africa dairy farmers benefit from agricultural training

 East African farmers have benefitted from agricultural training, with the volume of milk sold by farmers in the East Africa Dairy Development (EADD) project increasing by 102 per cent over three years Dairy farmers Gates FoundationThe EADD project set a target to double the earnings of 17,000 dairy farmers in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. (Image source: Gates Foundation) The EADD joined forces with Heifer International, the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Technoserve, the.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 11th August 2014

KARI develops new banana and rice varieties

 The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) has developed new banana, rice and cassava varieties for farmers in Kenya Kenyan-farmer-K. TrautmannThe new banana, rice and cassava varieties for Kenyan farmers will prevent them from recycling seeds during the planting season. The new FHIA-17 banana variety matures within 12 months and has an impressive number of banana fingers and weighs more than 100 kg. “The FHIA-17 is suitable for coffee and cotton zones. It is.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 11th August 2014

Kenya's avocado sub-sector shows promising future

 With an estimated annual production of 115,000mt, Kenya’s avocado sub-sector has experienced further growth as investments increase in the counties and new export markets open up avocado-olle svenssonMore than 70 per cent of total avocado production comes from smallholder farmers. (Image source: olle_svensson) Foreign investors setting up avocado factories in the country have also improved prospects among local farmers. Each year, more than 1,000 avocado containers are.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 11th August 2014

Renewable energy needs guarantees for investors in East Africa

 The slow pace with which renewable energy projects have been rolled out across Africa may prove to be an advantage in a few years. As they catch up, African countries could benefit from technological developments and falling costs of wind and solar power. Norman Ndaba, Power and Utilities Sector Leader at global financial advisory firm Ernst & Young, says telecommunications developments in Africa may be an indicator of how renewable energy will evolve. In the 1980s and.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 8th August 2014