The Northern Cape Province of South Africa as well as the southern region of Namibia appear to be ‘hotspots’ for SOLAR ENERGY PROJECTS. Of the 66 solar energy projects within the SOUTH AFRICAN RENEWABLE ENERGY INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCER PROCUREMENT PROGRAMME (REIPPP), approximately fifty per cent are located in the Northern Cape. It is interesting to note that only two of the South African projects are using locally produced solar panels.
It has been reported that the Sasol II and III projects implemented in South Africa had the effect of producing approximately 30 000 trained artisans and technical specialists. There is, thus, not a shortage of OIL AND GAS SKILLS IN SOUTH AFRICA but rather a shortage of projects.
GLOBAL EXPORTS TO THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY (SADC) REGION rose from USD 175 billion in 2012 to USD 185 billion in 2013. The key suppliers were China, South Africa, Germany, India, USA, UK, Japan, France, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Ghana, South Korea, Italy, Brazil and Thailand.
There has been an increase in INTRA-AFRICAN INVESTMENTS. A recent example is the investment by GZ Industries of Nigeria in a can manufacturing operation in Kenya.
The TETE BUSINESS FACILITATION CENTRE IN MOZAMBIQUE was launched on 19 November 2014 but still requires companies to join the programme.
ECONET OF ZIMBABWE is registering considerable success with its expansion into MICRO-INSURANCE through its mobile telecommunications network. Its new insurance arm, EcoSure reports that it is registering more than 150 000 new customers in Zimbabwe per week.
The recent award of the MO IBRAHIM PRIZE FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN AFRICAN LEADERSHIP to the outgoing President of Namibia, Hifikepunye Pohamba, is further evidence of the GOVERNANCE SUCCESS OF AFRICA’S SMALL ECONOMIES. Previous winners were former Presidents of Botswana, Cape Verde and Mozambique.
Africa Project Access is a South African company providing specialist consulting services and information regarding projects in Africa. For more information, contact Paul Runge on +2711 465 6770 or afric.projs@pixie.co.za.
