(Posted 04th May 2023)
CCA MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Chevron export earnings boost supply of US dollars in Venezuela
Reuters
Some of U.S. oil major Chevron Corp’s (CVX.N) export earnings from its Venezuela operations are bolstering supplies of U.S. dollars in the South American country, three sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. Chevron operates in Venezuela, which is under U.S. sanctions, with special authorization from Washington. It received and exported about 148,000 barrels a day of Venezuelan heavy crude to the U.S. in April… Read More
Pfizer earnings and revenue top expectations despite Covid vaccine sales decline
CNBC
Excluding Covid product sales, Pfizer said first-quarter revenue grew 5% over the same period a year ago.That growth was fueled by products from recently acquired companies, including Biohaven Pharmaceutical’s migraine drug Nurtec ODT and Global Blood Therapeutics’ sickle cell disease treatment Oxbryta, which contributed $167 million and $71 million, respectively.The company said the increase was also driven by strong sales of drugs like Sulperazon, an antibiotic for the treatment of urinary tract infections, and blood thinner medication Eliquis… Read More
U.S.-AFRICA RELATIONS
US says second convoy carries evacuees to Port Sudan
Barrons
With the arrival of a second overland convoy to Port Sudan, the US government has helped nearly 1,000 Americans escape the spreading conflict in Sudan, the State Department said Sunday. “We continue to assist U.S. citizens and others who are eligible with onward travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where additional U.S. personnel are positioned to assist with consular and emergency services,” said a statement from spokesman Matthew Miller. A first US-organized convoy reached Port Sudan on Saturday, bringing American citizens, local staff, and nationals from allied countries, for transit on to Saudi Arabia… Read More
ENERGY
GWEC partners with EnergyNet to support wind energy development in Africa
African Review
The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has been named the official ‘Lead Wind Energy Partner’ for the Africa Energy Forum (aef), which will be held in Nairobi from 20-23 June.Only 1% of the world’s wind farms are located in Africa, despite the continent having an enormously proven wind resource.GWEC has partnered with EnergyNet, the organisers of aef, to help provide a platform to advocate for wind technology at the forum. As such, GWEC’s Africa WindPower initiative is supported by GET.invest, a European programme that mobilises investment in renewable energy in developing countries…. Read More
MOZAMBIQUE: Eni drills new exploration well off Mozambique coast
Business Live
Italian oil and gas major Eni is drilling Mozambique’s first offshore exploration well in about eight years, according to the country’s regulator. The West Capella vessel has already started initial drilling at the Raia-1 well that will explore what could be a new oil and gas basin off Mozambique’s coast. The target is near Angoche, about 604km south of the Rovuma basin where the Rome-based company began producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) last year… Read More
HEALTH
WFP lifts suspension of operations in Sudan
Reuters
The WFP said on Monday it will immediately lift the suspension of its operations in Sudan that was put in place after the tragic deaths of its team member. “WFP is rapidly resuming our programs to provide the life-saving assistance that many so desperately need right now,” WFP executive director Cindy McCain wrote on Twitter. The WFP said on April 16 it had temporarily halted all operations in Sudan after three of its employees were killed in clashes between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary RSF a day earlier… Read More
Empowering African women leaders is key for health equity
Nature Human Behaviour
Gender inequity is endemic and adversely affects global development and health outcomes. In 2015, the African Union in Agenda 2063 (its strategic framework for sustainable development) declared a commitment to “an Africa, whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children”… Read More
INFRASTRUCTURE
Angolan Infrastructure Poised to Spur Growth and Diversification
Energy Capital Power
For Angola to achieve its targeted 9.9 GW of installed generation capacity and 60% electrification rate by 2025, the country’s Government has instituted an ambitious infrastructure plan. This plan is supported by a series of regulatory reforms, incentives for investors, and strategic partnerships that will require the execution of bankable Power Purchase Agreements, external financing, and the participation of experienced private sector developers. For the country to support new production capacity, power transmission infrastructure in Angola will have to be enhanced…..Read More
Africa’s infrastructure investment has recovered, but is unevenly distributed
North Africa Post
Commitments for Private Participation in Infrastructure (PPI) across 263 projects in Africa were worth $91.7 billion in 2022, a 23% increase from 2021, according to the World Bank’s latest data projection on investments, which demonstrates that infrastructure investments in low- and middle-income countries have started to recover… Read More
ICT
ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe will issue gold-backed digital tokens from next month
Bloomberg
Zimbabwe’s central bank plans to sell a gold-backed digital currency to the public from May 8 in another attempt to stabilize its tumbling currency and offer an alternative to the US dollar. The tokens, to be sold through banks in local and foreign currency at a 20% margin above the interbank mid-rate, will be introduced in two phases, central bank governor John Mangudya, said in an emailed statement on Friday. The currency will initially be used for investment and then for transactions… Read More
Why Africa Should Encourage Girls in ICT
Development Diaries
In Africa, women and girls’ underrepresentation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is a major barrier to their participation in tech design and governance.A report by UNWomen revealed that globally, 3.7 billion people do not have access to the internet and half of them are women…. Read More
Experts meet to transform SADC ICT landscape
Namibian
Delegates from the Southern Africa Telecommunications Association (Sata) member states converged at Swakopmund last Wednesday for a three-day regional conference themed, ‘ICT Connectivity and Service Delivery for the Benefit of All: Transforming our Society through Broadband and ICT Developments’…. Read More
