The Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery just launched the 3rd edition of the National Grand Prix of Agricultural and Rural Press. The award is given to sa lute the contribution of Moroccan press to the development of Agriculture, via media productions directed toward the sector. Selected candidates are divided into two categories: audiovisual and written press or digital press. The first three...

Australian Kibaran Ressources, graphite and nickel producer, raised $2 million to finalize financing of its Epanko graphite project in Tanzania. As an additional funding mechanism, Investors would receive one free attaching option for every two shares subscribed. The collected funds will mostly be used to complete the due diligence process on Epanko. This process was launched by KfW...

The 2015 Global Dividend Index published by Herderson Global Investors on Feb 22 shows that dividends have reached $1.15 trillion, 2.2% behind 2014’s results. It is the first time that the figure decreased since the study was launched seven years ago. The decrease is attributable to the dollar’s strengthening. Striping out exchange rate movements and other lesser factors, underlying...

Between 2010 and 2015, West Africa and Central Africa have recorded the highest fecundity rates (average number of children a woman gives birth to) of Africa, a UN report on global trends in terms of fecundity revealed. With a fecundity rate of 5.8 children per woman over the period considered, Central Africa comes first, not only in Africa but also worldwide. West Africa follows with a rate of...

Harkand, has entered into its first strategic joint venture agreement with ESOPEG Lda in Angola. According to the global inspection, repair and maintenance (IRM) company, the just established company; Harkand Angola Lda, based in Luanda, is aimed at developing local IRM abilities and services in the country, provide support and local content on both large major capital development projects as...

Transocean has been given a notice of early termination from ExxonMobil for its semi-submersible drilling rigs. The contract for the ultra-deepwater drilling rig, GSF Development Driller I, was terminated by Esso Exploration Angola, ExxonMobil’s subsidiary. The GSF Development Driller I which was operating for ExxonMobil under a daily rate of $367,000 was constructed by Singapore’s...

Eni has announced that it is expecting to receive a Plan for Development and Operation approval very soon on its offshore natural gas development project in Mozambique. Luca Bertelli (photo), Eni’s Chief Exploration Officer, disclosed this on Tuesday during a conference in Houston. Bertelli added that will move forward with the phase 1 of the development after the approval has been...

Oil prices fell on Wednesday after Saudi Arabia dismissed production cuts as data revealed a further rise in U.S. crude stockpiles. Iran had stated it has no interest in limiting production following the lifting of sanctions. U.S. crude futures traded at $31.25 per barrel on Wednesday. International Brent futures fell around 1% at $32.90 per barrel. The drops were caused by...

Nigeria LNG has announced that one out of its six production trains at the Bonny Island plant is at present going through maintenance. According to the company’s spokesman, Tony Okonedo, the maintenance commenced on January 25 and end in the first week of April. He added that there are currently no production difficulties. When operating completely, the Bonny Island facility’s six trains...

Egypt's Middle East Oil Refinery Company (Midor) has entered into a first loan deal with three banks for $1.2 billion, Reuters reports. According to Midor’s Chairman, Mohamed Abdel Aziz, the loan signifies approximately 80 % of the cost of the company’s $1.4 billion Alexandria refinery lab extension while the remaining will be self-financed. The loan deal was signed by Abdel...