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Libya Starts First Deepwater Exploration Well in the Gulf of Sirte
Libya has begun drilling its first deepwater oil and gas exploration well in the Gulf of Sirte, bringing offshore exploration back into focus after decades of mainly onshore development. The project involves Italy’s Eni and Saipem, BP, the Libyan Investment Authority, and Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), according to local media reports dated January 17.
Youth-Led SME Growth Barriers in Africa That Need Attention in 2026
Youth-led SMEs are building real businesses across Africa not as a future promise, but as a present day response to unemployment, rising living costs, and gaps in service delivery. They are running logistics routes, supplying local retailers, building digital products, and turning skills into income in markets that reward speed but punish mistakes. The challenge
Practical Tech Upgrades for African Mining SMEs
African mining SMEs are among the sector’s most active and essential operators, but they also carry some of its highest exposure to risk. They move people and parts, keep equipment running, and deliver services under tight timelines often in environments where small mistakes can escalate quickly. The challenge is that many SMEs are expected to
Founder Fridays: Maiyo Febi & Associates
Leadership development across Africa is often framed as strategic, performance driven and heavily focused on outward results. This is especially true in executive environments where confidence is rewarded, vulnerability is hidden, and success is measured through targets rather than personal growth. For Maiyo Febi, this was not just a gap in the market but a
THE MINING WRAP
Amazon Web Services (AWS) will be the first customer for Rio Tinto’s low-carbon Nuton copper, following the industrial scale deployment of Nuton’s bioleaching technology. The agreement ties copper supply to corporate decarbonisation targets and strengthens the market case for alternative recovery methods that can reduce emissions intensity while maintaining output. BHP and Rio Tinto Explore
Mazda Confirms New CX-5 Engines for SA Ahead of 2026 Launch
Mazda has confirmed key powertrain details for the next-generation CX-5 heading to South Africa and will launch the local range with a 2.5-litre petrol engine. The brand will add a mild-hybrid version later as it broadens the lineup. “The next-generation CX-5 marks a significant milestone for Mazda globally. While we look forward to introducing it
Have HMI and Smart PPE Reached African Mining at Scale?
African mining technology adoption is often described as a push for “modernisation.” However, the strongest Human Machine Interfaces (HMI) and wearable deployments are not driven by hype. Mines are investing for practical reasons, including reducing exposure to harm while keeping production steady. With pressure rising to cut high-consequence incidents such as fatalities and environmental disasters,
Audi Deliveries Slip in 2025 as Competition and Tariffs Bite
Audi, Volkswagen’s premium brand, reported a decline in global deliveries in 2025, citing a tougher market environment Driven by tariffs and intensifying competition. The automaker said it delivered 1.62 million vehicles, down 2.9% from 1.67 million the year before and below its stated target range of 1.65 million to 1.75 million units. Regional Weakness, but
China’s Vehicle Sales and Exports Expected to Slow in 2026
China’s auto market is entering a softer phase as demand weakens and global uncertainty continues to weigh on both domestic sales and exports, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM). The association estimates overall vehicle sales will rise by just 1% in 2026, a sharp slowdown from 9.4% growth in 2025, which points
Africa’s 2026 SME Outlook and Opportunities That Won’t Need Big Capital
In as much as 2025 revealed that access to flexible finance was the biggest hurdle for SMEs and start-ups alike, 2025 also reminded small businesses of a simple truth, growth is not always a funding story. It is often a systems story. Many SMEs did not stall because demand disappeared, but because cash cycles tightened,
Is Automated Equipment Reducing Downtime in African Mining?
African mining has never had a downtime problem in theory. On paper, the fleet is scheduled, maintenance is planned, parts are stocked, and production targets are “manageable.” On the ground, reality is Different. A single haul truck breakdown can choke an entire pit. A late service crew can trigger a domino effect across shifts. A
How Small Firms Can Strengthen Digital Defences on a Budget
Small firms don’t need a massive IT budget to take cybersecurity seriously. In fact, many of the attacks that hit small businesses succeed because of simple Human Error, weak passwords, outdated software, careless email habits, and unsecured devices. The good news is that strengthening digital defences often starts with discipline, not expensive tools. A smart
Apple Brings Google Gemini into Siri’s Next Release
Apple is preparing a redesigned Siri for release later this year. The assistant will run on Google’s Gemini models under a new multi-year agreement. The move gives Apple access to a proven AI system at scale. It also gives Google a stronger presence inside Apple’s ecosystem, where Siri remains a key tool for daily tasks.
Battery Minerals Value Addition Moving Beyond Raw Exports in the EV Era
As the global electric vehicle (EV) race accelerates toward full charge, Electric vehicles and grid-scale storage are driving sustained demand for lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese and graphite. This demand is altering the balance of power along battery supply chains, concentrating profits and technical capability in processing and manufacturing rather than in extraction alone. For mineral-producing
Policy Uncertainty and Its Effect on Small Business Growth in Africa
For many small businesses in Africa, the core challenge is not market access or entrepreneurial capacity but operating within a regulatory environment that is repeatedly revised, unevenly enforced, or poorly communicated. Taxes, permits, trade rules, and compliance obligations can change with little notice, turning long-term planning into a speculative exercise. Growth decisions whether to expand
Are PSC Converters Reaching the End in Africa’s Next-Gen Smelters?
When a project like Africa’s biggest and greenest smelters like Kamoa-Kakula, in the DRC, comes online, it is hard to ignore the fact that it does not incorporate Peirce-Smith (PSC) converters. This raises a bigger question: are modern smelters entering a phase where PSC-based designs are no longer the default? The short answer is no,
Founder Fridays: Farming In Heels
Agriculture and Farming in South Africa is often portrayed as traditional, male-dominated and difficult to access. This is especially true for women without land, capital or a farming background. For Kamohelo, this was not just a perception problem but a lived reality. Instead of allowing those barriers to define her place in the sector, she
THE MINING WRAP
Glencore Mining and Rio Tinto confirmed on January 9, 2026, that they are holding early-stage discussions on a potential merger. The companies are seeking scale in copper and other critical minerals to meet long-term energy-transition demand. A deal would create the world’s largest mining group with a combined market value of nearly US$207 billion and
Why African Mining SMEs Need Better Access to Digital Tools and Finance
It is clear that in much of Africa’s mining industry, attention tends to focus on large operators, major projects and headline investment figures, often at the expense of SMEs. Less visible, but equally critical, is the ecosystem of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that support mining operations through transport, equipment maintenance, fabrication, catering, safety services
High Copper Prices Put Africa’s Copper Giants to the Test
Copper prices are sitting near historic highs, driven by electrification, grid upgrades and rising demand from electric vehicles and data infrastructure. For Africa’s copper giants, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the price rally sharpens attention on how much value their economies are actually able to retain when market conditions are favourable. In the