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Showing posts from June, 2018

Kenya Govt Allocates Sh500m to Test the BRT System

Angeline by Angeline May 24, 2018 in Kenyan News Nairobi BRT To be Functional by December 2018 – KEPSA Proposes The Kenyan government has allocated Sh500 million to facilitate the pilot phase of the bus rapid transit system (BRT) as it looks for private investors. The Ministry of Transport is currently negotiating a deal with a South African firm to obtain thirty 100 to 160 capacity buses to reduce traffic in Nairobi. According to James Macharia, the ministry’s cabinet secretary, the buses could be rolled out by the end of next month if negotiations are finalised this week. “We chose South Africa because those buses were ready and it’s quite near. So upon completion of the negotiations, which we will be having this week, we anticipate that after payment they should come within a week or two,” Mr Macharia said. Curbing Traffic Congestion in the City The BRT system will reduce traffic congestion in Nairobi while enhancing public transportation. Special lanes have already been ma

South Africa Plans to Add Up to $4 Billion of Renewable Projects

June 5, 2018 By Paul Burkhardt and Ntando Thukwana, Bloomberg REW_SouthAfricaPlans4BN South Africa plans to invite bidders for additional renewable power projects that may amount to as much as 50 billion rand ($4 billion) of investment and help stimulate local and black-owned business. The fifth bid window for 1,800 MW of renewable projects under the government’s independent power producers program will start in November, according to a copy of Energy Minister Jeff Radebe’s speech given at a conference in Johannesburg on Friday. “The intention is to enhance local manufacturing to ensure investment and economic growth as well as the opportunity to encourage opportunities for black industrialists and the development of black independent power producers,” he said. The bid window will require similar generation technology to the so-called expedited round announced in 2015, which has expired, he said. Related: South African Renewable Energy Sector Enjoys Huge Victory with New Contracts

Another two South African wind projects reach financial close

Photo by Mainstream Renewable Power 5th June 2018 By: Terence Creamer Creamer Media Editor A further two South African wind farms, with a combined investment value of R6.6-billion, have reached financial close following the signing of agreements for 27 renewable-energyprojects on April 4. Global wind and solar company Mainstream Renewable Power announced on Tuesday that construction of the 140 MW Kangnas Wind Farm, located near Springbok, in the Northern Cape, and the 110 MW Perdekraal East Wind Farm, located 80 km northeast of Ceres, in the Western Cape, should begin in June. A consortium comprising Concor and Conco has been appointed as constructioncontractor, while SiemensGamesaRenewable Energy will supply and install the wind turbines. The projects are being developed with a consortium of equity partners including: African Rainbow Energy and Power; H1 Holdings; local community trusts; Lekela; Mainstream Renewable Power, along with a consortium of investors such as the Internati

Cape Town Iron and Steel Works officially opened

Economic Development Minister and DHT president Dagistan Turanli at the Cisco plant opening 30th May 2018 By: Kim Cloete Creamer Media Correspondent SAVE THIS ARTICLE EMAIL THIS ARTICLE Font size: -+ The Cape Town Iron and Steel Works (Cisco) plant has been officially opened in Kuils River, near Cape Town. The plant has created 300 direct and another 120 indirect jobs, with another 200 in the pipeline. Established originally in 1967, the factory was closed by Murray & Roberts (M&R) in 2010, with the loss of 360 jobs. DHT, the new Turkish owners of Cisco have invested R550-million since acquiring the company in 2012 to expand and upgrade the steel plant, which produces steel from scrap using electric arc furnaces. Advertisement “When I visited these premises a few years ago, the place was shut down. Through entrepreneurship and energy you have turned an empty space into a productive workplace,” said Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel at the official laun

Uganda and TMEA sign Host Country Agreement renewing partnership

TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) will support interventions in Uganda for an additional period of 6 years with an initial budget of US$ 53 Million expected to reach US$100 Million by 2023. Kampala, May 18th, 2018: TradeMark East Africa and the Government of Uganda signed a Host Country Agreement (HCA) extending their partnership to 2023. In the agreement, the two have committed to support interventions that will lead to creation of at least 100,000 jobs in Uganda, poverty reduction and increase trade for Uganda. The HCA marks the commencement of TMEA’s US$ 53 Million second phase of interventions which will be implemented between 2018-2023. This value expected to reach $100M by 2023 Uganda’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in Charge of International Affairs, Hon Henry Okello Oryem, represented the Government of Uganda. TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) was represented by its CEO, Frank Matsaert. TMEA, an aid-for-trade organisation working in reducing barriers to trade in East Africa and i

President Kenyatta unveils plans to set up Kenya’s first export slaughterhouse

NAIROBI , 5 JUNE 2018, (PSCU) — President Uhuru Kenyatta today gave livestock farmers a reason to smile when he unveiled plans to set up Kenya’s first export slaughterhouse within the next two years. Before the export abattoir can come up, said the President, Kenya will start with the export of live animals to the international market. “We will begin with the export of live animals but in two years, we should have our own export slaughterhouse. My vision is to revive this important sector,” said the President The Head of State spoke at State House, Nairobi, after meeting with officials from the Djibouti Regional Quarantine Centre (DRQC)- the entity that will partner with Kenya to set up the export slaughterhouse. The DRQC officials led by its founder Mohammed Qaid Mohammed were accompanied by Djibouti government officials including the Charge D’affaires Abdoulkader Houssein Omar. The meeting was a follow-up one following recent bilateral talks in Nairobi between President Kenyatta a