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Credit Guarantee Schemes: Are They Really Working for SMEs?
Small businesses are constantly told that financing exists for them. Governments announce support programs. Development banks promote funding initiatives, and policy reports often highlight entrepreneurship as a driver of economic growth and job creation. The experience on the ground still looks different. When SMEs approach banks, the conversation quickly turns to collateral, balance sheets, and
Rio Tinto Restarts Zulti South to Extend Life of Richards Bay Minerals
Anglo-Australian mining group Rio Tinto has announced it will restart the Zulti South project to extend the operational life of the Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) mineral sands complex in South Africa. The operation produces zircon, rutile, and ilmenite. After suspending the $463 million project in January 2020, the company now plans to resume development in
Libya Restarts Mabruk Oil Field as Production Recovery Gains Momentum.
Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced on March 1 the restart of the Mabruk oil field in central Libya, reporting initial production of between 25,000 and 30,000 barrels per day (bpd). Output is being delivered through an early production unit designed to accelerate the field’s ramp-up while longer-term operations are restored. The latest restart follows
Jameson Cells and Next-Gen Flotation: Is Over-Aeration Hurting Mineral Recovery in Africa?
Mineral recovery in African processing plants is usually decided inside the flotation cells rather than at the face of the mine. When recovery slips or grade fluctuates, one of the fastest levers available in the control room is air flow. Increase the air, build a thicker froth, and stabilise performance. It is a practical adjustment,
Why Critical Minerals Status Does Not Guarantee Access to Funding
In policy circles and industry forums, the phrase “critical minerals” has increasingly become shorthand for opportunity. Governments invoke it in national development strategies, investors reference it in energy transition narratives, and mining executives use it to frame future growth. The underlying assumption is straightforward: if a mineral is deemed essential to global supply chains, capital
Has AfCFTA Reduced SPS Barriers in Agricultural Trade?
Tariff reductions were never the most complicated part of African trade integration. The real challenge lies in sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls that determine whether agricultural goods can cross borders at all. Several years into AfCFTA’s implementation, the practical test is straightforward: are food shipments moving more smoothly between African countries, or are exporters still
Angola’s State Oil Giant Sonangol Prepares for Potential IPO
Angola’s state oil company, Sonangol, is preparing for a potential initial public offering (IPO) as part of the country’s economic reform efforts. Sonangol confirmed during a press conference in Luanda on February 25 that technical teams are continuing work on the requirements for a future listing. Baltazar Miguel, a member of Sonangol’s board of directors,
Cross Border Payments Unlocking PAPSS to Cut Forex Barriers
Moving money across African borders remains surprisingly complicated. While goods, services and people move across the continent every day, payments often take a longer and more expensive route. A trader in Lusaka paying a supplier in Nairobi or Lagos often cannot send kwacha directly. Instead, the payment detours through the US dollar or another major
Incremental Innovation for African Mining SMEs
For many small and medium-sized mining companies, new technology can feel out of reach. Large mining corporations invest millions in automation, artificial intelligence and advanced machinery, which creates the impression that meaningful innovation requires massive budgets. In reality, affordable technology for SMEs looks very different. Rather than replacing entire operations, it focuses on practical tools
Founder Fridays: Analytics X
Discussions about economic growth often revolve around large corporations, foreign investment and government policy. Talifhani Banks sees the opportunity differently. In his view, much of Africa’s economic energy already exists in township businesses, informal traders and small enterprises that keep local markets moving every day but rarely have access to the systems or financial tools
THE MINING WRAP
The Democratic Republic of the Congo government is preparing the next phase of a nationwide airborne geological survey aimed at improving Mining knowledge of the country’s mineral resources. The program is designed to generate updated geological data that can guide exploration and attract new investment into the mining sector. The survey is expected to help
The Changing Rules of Engagement in Small Business Financing
Access to finance has always Determined the survival and growth of small businesses. In 2026, however, the environment around funding looks noticeably different from what many entrepreneurs were navigating even five years ago. Traditional bank lending still matters, but it is no longer the only gatekeeper to capital. A mix of technology, tighter investment discipline
How AI Is Supporting Safety Compliance in African Mining Operations
Standard Operating Procedures remain the backbone of safety management in mining and mineral processing operations. Across Africa’s mines, systems such as Lock Out, Tag Out, Try Out (LOTOTO) continue to define how equipment is isolated before maintenance or repair begins. As artificial intelligence begins to find its way into parts of the African mining value
Lamborghini Hits Pause on EV Plans, Extends Hybrid Strategy
Lamborghini has put its first fully electric vehicle on hold. The project had previously targeted a market debut around 2029. Instead, the company is expanding its range of plug-in hybrid models while it assesses demand for high-performance electric cars. The Sant’Agata Bolognese manufacturer outlined its electric ambitions in August 2023 when it revealed the Lanzador
Rhino Reports Gas and Condensate Flow at Namibia’s Volans-1X
Offshore tests in Namibia’s Orange Basin have produced both natural gas and condensate, according to results released on Feb. 23 by Rhino Resources Namibia Ltd. The company reported flow rates of roughly 33 million cubic feet of gas per day alongside about 5,300 barrels per day of condensate during testing at the Volans-1X well. The
Capital Controls vs Growth: Are African Regulations Holding Back SME Investment?
SMEs and startups are frequently described as the backbone of economic growth across African markets. They are expected to create jobs, introduce new ideas and diversify economies that still rely heavily on a few sectors. But the financial environment they operate in has, in many cases, been more complicated than the policy narrative suggests. One
Are Banks Warming Up to Financing Early-Stage African Mining?
Securing bank financing for new mining projects remains a daunting task across much of the continent, despite vast reserves of copper, cobalt, platinum, lithium and gold. The hesitation is not about the geological potential of these deposits. Instead, lenders are weighing a combination of financial, regulatory and operational risks that make many projects harder to
Azule Energy Begins Production at Ndungu Oil Field Offshore Angola
Azule Energy, the joint venture formed by BP and Eni, has started production at the offshore Ndungu oil field in Angola’s Block 15/06. In a statement on February 18 issued alongside the National Agency for Oil, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG), the company said the project had reached “first oil,” marking the start of commercial production.
Is Royalty Financing the Answer for Junior Mining Companies in Africa?
Royalty financing is gaining traction across Africa’s mining and energy sectors as companies search for alternatives to traditional debt and equity. In simple terms, royalty financing allows an investor to provide upfront capital in exchange for a percentage of future revenue or production from a project. For African extractive industries where projects are capital intensive
Training Women for the Next Wave of Tech-Driven Mining Jobs
Mining has changied in ways that are easy to overlook from the outside. Equipment is becoming more automated, operations are increasingly monitored from control rooms, and decision making relies more heavily on data. As a result, the skills mines need are constantly changing every day. Technical literacy, systems thinking, and digital maintenance are beginning to