Several trade groups have come together to appeal to the Group of Seven (G7), urging them to reassess their plan to ban Russian diamonds, citing potential detrimental effects on the industry. The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) confirmed earlier this month that sanctions on diamonds of 1 carat and above would commence on March 1. However, no guidance was provided on the implementation process or the necessary procedures for the trade. The
Namibia’s groundbreaking Hyphen green hydrogen project received a significant boost last week as the German government extended its support. Enertrag, a joint venture between Hyphen Hydrogen Energy and Nicholas Holdings, is at the forefront of this venture. The German government has designated the Hyphen project as a strategic foreign project, making it eligible for targeted support, indicative of its global strategic importance. This initiative marks a crucial step towards establishing a large-scale green hydrogen industry
Debswana, in preparation for its upcoming Jwaneng underground project in Botswana, has been actively nurturing local talent and enhancing skills development by enrolling graduate learners in various mining-related disciplines. Selected from a pool of candidates, 26 graduates are currently undergoing experiential learning at the Mopani Central training center in Zambia, a strategic move aimed at equipping them with the necessary skills and expertise for the challenges ahead. This initiative not only strengthens Debswana’s strategic partnerships
Egypt has raised the prices of various fuel products, fulfilling a commitment made over a year ago to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of a $3 billion financial assistance agreement. In a letter of intent signed in November 2022, Egypt pledged to permit the increase of most fuel prices to align domestic rates more closely with international energy market prices, Reuters reported. The country also pledged to compensate for the previous year’s slow
This morning President Masisi officiated at the ground breaking of 100 MW Mmadinare Solar Cluster , the first of its kind and scale in Botswana. The phase 1 of this project will generate 50 MW and will completed in January 2025 and the other 50 MW 6 months later , bringing a total of 100 MW by July 2025. The 100MW Mmadinare Solar is the first utility scale grid connected solar PV project and will
Mozambique has passed a decree to regulate the Sovereign Fund Law, marking a pivotal step in establishing a robust legal framework for managing revenues from the country’s oil and natural gas exploration. The newly approved regulation signifies a significant leap forward in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance in Mozambique’s natural resources sector. Enacted under Law 1/2024 of 9th January, the Mozambique Sovereign Fund aims to ensure the responsible management of non-renewable resource proceeds, fostering
During a conference in Houston, Texas, SLB CEO Olivier Le Peuch unveiled a surge in exploration activities in frontier areas, notably in countries like Namibia, Surinam, and Guyana, hinting at a wave of upcoming projects. Le Peuch highlighted a resurgence in exploration efforts over the past few years, pointing to countries such as Namibia as paving the way for the next phase of exploration. Despite yet to commence oil and gas production, Namibia anticipates its
German Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, Robert Habeck, and Namibian Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, have inked an agreement to bolster the Green Hydrogen Namibia Program, marking a significant step towards sustainable energy collaboration. The newly formed initiative aims to cultivate local hydrogen value chains, drive green industrialization, and conduct comprehensive environmental impact assessments for pertinent projects, laying the groundwork for a greener future. In a show of support, Germany
In 2023, Nigeria saw its highest payments from Shell in the form of production entitlements, royalties, taxes, and fees to the government, totaling $4.92 billion, marking the highest figure recorded in four years. Shell’s global payments to governments across 27 countries amounted to $29.51 billion in 2023. Following Nigeria, Oman and Norway were the second and third highest recipients, receiving payments of $4.09 billion and $3.81 billion, respectively. The payout to Nigeria increased by 8.85
Trina Solar, a leading South African PV panel producer, has launched the groundbreaking 195 MW Springbok solar project in collaboration with renewable energy firm SOLA and construction group WBHO. Situated in South Africa’s Free State province, the Springbok project marks a significant milestone as the country’s first and largest privately developed n-type utility-scale project, boasting a capacity of 195 MW. Leveraging n-type technology, Trina Solar will supply 331,200 panels of its Vertex N series modules.
