Ghana’s Environmental Protection Agency has issued environmental permits for Obuasi gold mine operated by AngloGold Ashanti. These cover the redevelopment project of the mine as well as associated tailings and water infrastructure. “With the key permitting and regulatory process complete, we will continue to progress the redevelopment of the Obuasi mine as a modern, productive operation...

Premier African Minerals clinched with Cadence Minerals a direct investment agreement worth $5.1 million for its Zulu lithium and tantalum project, in Zimbabwe. The completion of this investment will see Cadence acquire 30% stake in the project. “This conditional HoT (ed: heads of terms) with Cadence underlines the value and potential of the Zulu project, with a post-investment value...

German automaker Mercedes-Benz announced June 26 an investment of $700 million to develop its South African factory in East London (South East). The factory handles 110,000 cars per year, sold in 84 countries worldwide. Under the extension plan, the factory will be extended by two-third so as to produce new-generation Class C sedans. The move is expected to generate 800 additional jobs in...

A poll of multilateral donors have approved $1.57 billion in financing to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to expand transmission grid capacity to 20,000 MW over the next four years, Usman Gur Mohammed, TCN's MD, said. Funds were mobilized from World Bank, African Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency and French Development Agency. According to the manager, the...

The Moroccan subsidiary of French group Danone, Centrale Danone, lost 50% of its share on fresh milk market due to consumer boycott. The information relayed by Reuters, was announced by Danone’s CEO Emmanuel Faber (photo). The boycott campaign which kicked off last April 20 on social media also affects the Sidi Ali water brand and the Afriquia fuel stations. Campaigners accused targeted...

Rwanda signed a memorandum of understanding with Rosatom, the Russian nuclear company, on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. This agreement, the first of this kind between the two countries, will allow to set legal foundations for nuclear bilateral cooperation. The latter will include the development of nuclear infrastructure in the African country, but also the establishment of public...

The Ivorian High Authority for Audiovisual (HACA) confirms it has authorized the French group Free to launch a pay-TV service. The information previously announced by the country’s media, was confirmed in a statement published on HACA’s website. Not only has the regulator granted a license to Free Afrique S.A, but it also did so to SAT Ivoire and TNT SAT Africa Côte d'Ivoire. It pointed out...

MC Mining (formerly known as Coal of Africa Ltd) has received a R20 million loan from Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), a division of FirstRand Bank, for its Uitkomst coal project in South Africa. It reported that the 12-month loan is subject to a variable interest rate. “The company acquired its stake in Uitkomst in June 2017 and it has proven to be a highly profitable operation, with strong...

Tanzania signed an agreement with China’s Kanton Investment Company, whereby the company will set a cassava processing plant in Handeni district (Tanga Region). According to the Tanzanian Investment Centre (TIC), the $10 million facility will daily handle 200 tons of cassava, Daily News reports. CEO John Rwehumbiza pointed out that the project also aims to build grower’s capacity...

Abundant rain in Côte d’Ivoire last week are expected to boost yield during the 2017-18 cocoa mid-crop. Reuters reported that rainfall exceeded the five-year average in Daloa (which provides a quarter of national output) and in the heart of the cocoa belt in Soubre, reaching 67.9 mm and 67.2 mm, respectively.  “We are going to finish the mid-crop well. Everything is green and the trees...