On Friday, National Land Commission chairman (NLC), Dr Muhammad Swazuri (picture), ordered State agencies to stop evicting indigenous people living in ancestral forest lands. Populations concerned include the Sengwer people that live in the Embobut forest. “I am appealing to the concerned state agencies to put to a stop any further evictions. I am also calling on the indigenous dwellers to...

Morocco has totaled 12.3 billion dirham ($1.26 billion) in foreign direct investments in the first half of 2016, thus 34.9% less than the previous year, over the same period. This was revealed in data published on August 16, by the foreign exchange office. In opposition to FDIs, remittances from the Moroccan Diaspora grew by 2.3% to 34.9 billion dirham ($3.59 billion) ($3.59bn) over the first...

In Kenya, Kenol Kobil has signed an agreement with Castrol, a British industrial and automotive lubricant manufacturer regarding the construction of a $15 million lubricant factory in Mombasa. According to oil marketer, the collaboration is the most economical option when compared to importing the product from South Africa, where Kenol Kobil usually gets the commodity from. “The Castrol...

Several reports have shown that the global oil and gas exploration and production market will increase from the $4.12 trillion recorded in 2015, to $5.56 trillion by 2022, The Guardian reports. This is as a result of the increasing population growth, usage of oil and gas in the transportation industry, high standards of living, energy competence for industries and housing as well as...

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Benue State government with the aim of strengthening their cooperation are reviewing their partnership on a planned ethanol project in the state.This is coming after the President Muhammadu Buhari (photo), as part of efforts to ensure the energy security of the country, directed the NNPC to begin hydrocarbon exploratory activities in the...

Cairn Energy has revealed plans to begin more exploration and appraisal campaign offshore Senegal, in Q4 of 2016 or Q1 of 2017. The company operates the Sangomar Deep, Sangomar Offshore and Rufisque Offshore blocks with a 40% working interest alongside ConocoPhillips, FAR Ltd and Petrosen, Senegal’s National Oil Company with 35%, 15% and 10% working interests respectively. The three blocks...

In line with moves to expand in the greater Mediterranean and North African region, Rockhopper Exploration Plc, has completed the acquisition of Beach Petroleum Egypt, a subsidiary of Adelaide-based Beach Energy Ltd. Beach Egypt had a 22% interest in the Abu Sennan concession in the Abu Gharadig basin in the Western Desert as well as a 25% interest in the El Qa’a Plain concession on the...

Would it be possible that Dangote Flour Mills (DFM) is rising back from the ashes? That is presently the question on the lips of analysts after the Nigerian miller published results for its first nine months of activity. The firm which was re-acquired by business mogul Aliko Dangote from South African Tiger Brands, has indeed shown for the period which ended last June 30 a pre-tax profit of...

With Internet connexion improving, Senegal’s e-commerce market keeps growing. Taping into this growth which is fostered by information and communication technologies, a low bankarisation rate in opposition to a high penetration rate for mobile, the start-up PayDunya launched on November 26, 2015, a new Internet-based payment mode for individuals and firms. PayDunya through its online...

The global wind operations and maintenance market will grow to $17bn by 2020, from $10bn in 2015. This was revealed by the consulting and research firm GlobalData. Achieving this performance would result in an average growth of 11.2% of the sector over the period. “The operations and maintenance of a wind farm is essential as it contributes to value creation, increases turbine...