The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reiterated its call for the Nigerian government to eliminate subsidies for fuel and electricity, contingent upon the enhancement of the social protection scheme. In its recent report titled “Nigeria: 2024 Article IV Consultation,” the IMF highlighted that these subsidies are projected to consume 3% of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024, up from 1% in the previous year. The IMF praised the Nigerian Federal Government for several measures,
The inauguration and commencement of full operations at the Luachimo Hydroelectric Plant in Lunda-Norte marks a significant step in revitalizing economic growth in Angola’s eastern provinces. The plant, with a capacity of 34 megawatts (MW), will initially supply electricity to the city of Dundo. Minister of Energy and Water João Baptista Borges, speaking at the inauguration ceremony, emphasized the importance of the project in integrating the future 220 KVA electricity network connecting Dundo, Lucapa (Lunda-Norte),
Angola’s oil production is expected to increase by 3% this year, rising from 1.13 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2023 to 1.16 million bpd in 2024, according to British consultancy Oxford Economics. Despite a slight drop in production in April, where output fell to 1.11 million bpd, 60,000 barrels less than the previous month, production has overall increased since the beginning of the year. Oxford Economics forecasts that Angola’s oil production will maintain an
By the end of the year, Angolan company Kwame Oil e Gás will invest $1 million to improve infrastructure and high-pressure washing equipment in oil tanks, announced General Director Aurélio dos Santos on Monday in Luanda. In an interview with Jornal de Angola, dos Santos highlighted that unlike some local companies, Kwame Oil e Gás, a consortium with 100 percent Angolan capital, prioritizes the training and development of local young people with no prior experience.
The Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) is set to evaluate Angola again in October, marking a crucial step in certifying members’ compliance with transparency standards. According to Beatriz Catomi, Deputy Director of the National Secretariat for the Implementation of the EITI, the second evaluation report will be released in September, a month ahead of the evaluation process. Catomi made these remarks yesterday during the opening of a seminar in Luanda, aimed at informing stakeholders about
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission, led by Assistant Director of the African Department Amadou Sy, is visiting Angola from May 7th to 17th to conduct a Post Financing Assessment (PFA). According to a press release on the Ministry of Finance’s website, the IMF representatives will hold meetings to evaluate Angola’s capacity to repay its existing debt to the Bretton Woods institution and assess potential risks affecting this commitment. The mission’s agenda includes important meetings
Angola and the United States of America inked financing agreements worth $1.3 billion in Dallas on Tuesday for the development of the Lobito Corridor, a key beneficiary of the Global Investment and Infrastructure Partnership (PGI). The signed documents, exchanged between Angolan Finance Minister Vera Daves and Reta-Jo Lewis, President of the US Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank), will fund three infrastructure projects associated with the Lobito Corridor. Additionally, they target investments in clean energy, connectivity, radio
Senegal’s National Bank for Economic Development (BNDE) has obtained a €70-million financing line from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), promoting South-South financial cooperation. The loan aims to bolster BNDE’s capacity to support the Senegalese economy, particularly projects led by SMEs, while strengthening its role as a development bank. DBSA will provide the line of credit for a seven-year period. The announcement aligns with Senegal’s decision to boost BNDE’s capital to €79 million, reflecting
The United States and Angola have finalized funding agreements for three infrastructure projects worth $1.3 billion. These initiatives are integral to the transnational Lobito Corridor development and are backed by the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), a collective commitment by G7 nations to promote private investment in global infrastructure endeavors. Among the trio of projects are two solar power plants boasting a combined capacity of 500 MW. Spearheaded by renewable energy firm Sun
The unemployment rate in the United States of America (USA) rose to 3.9% in April, a tenth more than in the previous month and the economy created 175,000 new jobs, the Department of Labor reported. ob creation was below what was expected by economists, who pointed to 243,000 jobs and a far cry from the 315,000 in March. These data suggest that the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) restrictive monetary policy, with successive interest rate hikes until
