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Prescient Investment Management marks a decade of clean energy and infrastructure investment
Marking ten years of the Clean Energy and Infrastructure Fund, CEO of Prescient Investment Management, Cheree Dyers, used the firm’s 10-year milestone to reflect on what has changed and what still needs to happen. The Clean Energy and Infrastructure Fund, she explained, was built on a simple idea: Africa cannot grow without infrastructure. A decade
Shell Moves to Exit South Africa’s Fuel Retail Market After 124 Years
Energy major Shell is progressing with plans to sell its downstream assets in South Africa, ending its long running fuel retail operations in South Africa after over a century of direct involvement in the country’s fuel retail sector. The assets, held through Shell Downstream South Africa (SDSA), include close to 600 petrol stations. The company
Dangote Secures Gas Supply Deal for Ethiopia Fertilizer Project
Dangote Group has secured a long-term gas supply agreement to support its fertilizer project in Ethiopia, advancing plans to build an integrated production chain in the country. The company announced a 25-year gas supply deal with China’s GCL Group to supply its fertilizer plant under construction in Gode, eastern Ethiopia. The agreement is estimated at
South32 Suspends Mozal Aluminium Smelter After Power Deal Collapse
Australian mining company South32 announced on March 16 that it has placed its Mozal aluminium smelter in Mozambique under maintenance after its electricity supply contract expired and renewal negotiations failed. The company had signalled this outcome in recent months, warning that operations could not continue without a new agreement. Mozal remains one of Mozambique’s most
DRC Introduces New Authorization Rules for Key Digital Services
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has introduced a new regulatory framework targeting selected digital activities and services. In an order signed on March 11, 2026, Digital Economy Minister Augustin Kibassa Maliba set out procedures for reviewing applications and issuing authorizations under the country’s Digital Code. The new rules apply only to activities that require
Dispute Settlement, Regulation and Predictability for SMEs in AfCFTA
Trade agreements do not function on tariff schedules alone. For small and medium-sized enterprises SMEs, their value depends on whether rules and regulation can be enforced in a predictable and accessible way. Under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), dispute settlement mechanisms are intended to provide that certainty, giving smaller businesses greater confidence to
Eni Reports New Offshore Gas Discoveries in Libya
Italy’s energy group Eni announced on March 16 two gas discoveries offshore Libya, with estimated reserves exceeding one trillion cubic feet. The finds were made in two adjacent structures, Bahr Essalam South 2 (BESS 2) and Bahr Essalam South 3 (BESS 3), through the B2-16/4 and C1-16/4 wells. Both are located about 85 kilometers offshore
Have African Mining Operations Fully Integrated into the Cloud
Cloud systems are already present across much of African mining. Fleet management, condition monitoring, and production tracking platforms feed data into central environments every day. The question is no longer about access to cloud technology, but about how completely that data is aligned, standardised, and used across operations. Gradual Integration and System Gaps In many
Starlink Launches Satellite Internet Services in Central African Republic
U.S. satellite internet provider Starlink has launched commercial services in the Central African Republic, continuing its expansion across the continent. The company first entered Africa through Nigeria in January 2023 and has since rolled out services in roughly 30 countries, including Rwanda, Senegal, Benin, Ghana, Niger, Chad and Kenya. Starlink confirmed on March 16, 2026
Digital Dispatch Systems: Are African Haulage Fleets Running Half Blind?
African mining operations depend heavily on haulage, but control over it is not always as precise as it looks. Trucks move constantly between pit and plant, keeping material flowing. Yet behind that movement, dispatch decisions still rely on radio calls and manual tracking instead of real-time system visibility. On paper, this may not seem like
Energean Enters Angola with $260m Offshore Oil Deal
Energy company Energean has agreed to acquire stakes in two offshore oil blocks in Angola from Chevron, according to a statement released on March 12 on the London Stock Exchange website. The agreement covers a 31% interest in Block 14 and a 15.5% interest in Block 14K, both located offshore Angola. These blocks have produced
Inclusive Policies for Women and Youth Entrepreneurs in AfCFTA
AfCFTA agreements are often discussed in terms of tariffs, customs procedures, and market access. But for many small businesses on the continent, the real question is far much simpler: who actually benefits when borders open to trade? As the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) begins to take shape, attention is increasingly turning to whether
Burundi Signs Exploration Deal with KoBold and Lifezone for Critical Minerals
Burundi has signed a three-year agreement with US-based mining firms KoBold Metals and Lifezone Metals to explore deposits of critical minerals used in clean energy technologies. KoBold Metals, backed by investors including Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, will take part in the exploration effort. The move forms part of the government’s effort to attract international
Dry Stack Tailings: ESG Expectation or Financial Impossibility for African Mines?
Tailings management has become one of the most closely watched issues in the mining industry. For decades, mines around the world have relied on large tailings dams to store the waste produced after minerals are extracted from ore. These dams hold finely ground rock mixed with water and processing chemicals, forming a slurry that is
Shell Detects Gas Indications in Sirius-1X Well Offshore Egypt
Energy major Shell has encountered signs of natural gas while drilling an exploration well in the Mediterranean Sea offshore Egypt, according to a March 9 statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. The indications come from the Sirius-1X exploration well in the North East El-Ameriya Block, located off the country’s northern coastline.
Microsoft Launches Empower+ Digital Skills Platform for Young Women in Africa
Microsoft, together with the Education Plus initiative supported by UNAIDS, has introduced Empower+, a digital learning platform aimed at strengthening technology and artificial intelligence skills among young people in Africa. The platform was announced on March 10. It targets adolescent girls and young women across 21 countries and addresses long-standing disparities in access to digital
When Regulation Slows Innovation in African Startups
Launching a startup in African markets extends well beyond building technology or attracting customers. Before a product reaches the market, founders often navigate licensing applications, regulatory reviews and approval procedures that can take far longer than product development itself. Take fintech as an example. A startup offering mobile payments may need approval from a central
DRC Opens First Ever Gold Refinery in Kalemie
The Democratic Republic of Congo has opened its first pilot gold refinery in Kalemie, Tanganyika Province. The facility will allow the country to refine gold domestically for the first time. Authorities say the project will also strengthen oversight of the gold sector. The refinery, known as DRC Gold Refinery, aims to bring more of the
THE MINING WRAP
Recent developments across the global mining industry highlight a growing focus on automation, energy efficiency and strategic investment as companies adapt to evolving market conditions and operational pressures. The Democratic Republic of Congo has opened its first gold refinery, aimed at expanding domestic mineral processing and capturing more value from the country’s gold production. The
Energean Eyes Other African Gas Opportunities After Morocco Exit
Greek energy major Energean is exploring several gas investment opportunities in Africa, only months after withdrawing from Morocco. The company is currently assessing potential assets in Angola as well as offshore prospects linked to Mauritania and Senegal. Chief executive Mathios Rigas discussed the group’s plans in an interview published Monday, March 9, by Upstream Online.