Day: April 19, 2023

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has expressed South Africa’s concern about the conflict that broke out in Sudan over the weekend between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

“We are particularly concerned about the rising numbers of civilian loss of life, the destruction of private and public infrastructure, and the humanitarian disaster that is likely to arise with the entrapment of civilians in their houses with no access to food and other basic necessities.

“Equally concerning is the impact of the conflict on Sudan’s neighbours,” he said.

According to the World Health Organisation, 270 people have been killed, while more than 2 600 have been injured since the bloody battle.

The Deputy President spoke at the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) business forum in Cape Town, where the city is playing host to Africa’s most prominent business event to promote private sector participation in accelerating the implementation of the AfCFTA.

According to reports, at the heart of the clashes are Sudan’s military leader, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the commander of the paramilitary, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.

“Until recently, they were allies. The pair worked together to topple ousted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and played a pivotal role in the military coup in 2021,” CNN said on Monday.

However, the news channel said tensions erupted during negotiations to integrate the RSF into the country’s military as part of plans to restore civilian rule.

In his speech, Mashatile stressed the importance of social and political stability as one of the success factors for the AfCFTA.

“War and peace have a very direct and material impact on the success of continental initiatives like the AfCFTA. This is why our heads of State and government adopted the May 2013 Solemn Declaration, which committed the continent to silence the guns by 2020. The fact that guns are still firing should tell us that we should spare no effort in the quest for peace,” he told delegates.

He said South Africa fully supports the decision of the African Union Peace and Security Council at its 1 149th meeting, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 16 April 2023, on the situation in Sudan.

Mashatile also commended the efforts of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to resolve the conflict.

He also took the time to wish Presidents Salva Kiir of South Sudan, William Ruto of Kenya and Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti well in their efforts to secure a ceasefire.

Their efforts are also meant to immediately begin the implementation of the 5 December 2022 framework agreement aimed at returning Sudan to civilian rule, to which the belligerents have committed themselves.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Zizi Kodwa, will host a gala dinner to pay homage to renowned Grammy Award winners within the cultural and creative industry.

The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture said Thursday’s event is intended to recognize South African Grammy Award winners since 1965.

The department will pay tribute to the first icon who paved the way, such as Miriam Makeba best known as “Mama Africa”; five time Grammy Award winners – Ladysmith Black Mambazo; Lebo Morake; three time Grammy Award winners – Soweto Gospel Choir; Wouter Kellerman and Nkosinathi Maphumulo best known as Black Coffee.

The 2023 Grammy Award winners as a trio, Nomcebo Zikode, Wouter Kellerman and Zakhele Madida, best known as Zakes Bantwini will also be honoured.

“The event will also highlight the executive actions and policy proposals of government that honour the creative sector while elevating the spirit of the nations as we drive nation building through celebrating South African excellence in the arts at a global stage, promoting and advancing the creative economy.

“Furthermore, also elaborating on the mandate of the department and government on our gains of democracy,” the department said.

Both past and recent Grammy Award winners as well as various celebrities, icons legends of the cultural and creative industry, will also grace the ceremonial gala dinner at Galleria Conference and Events Venue in Sandton.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The TotalEnergies E&P Nigeria says it will stop routine gas flaring in 2023 to actualise energy security and sufficiency.

Mr Victor Bandele, the Deputy Managing Director, Deepwater TotalEnergies E&P Nigeria, said this in Abuja, when he featured at the Chief Executive Officers Roundtable, at the ongoing Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2023).

Bandele said the decision was a deliberate measure by the company toward delivering safer, cleaner and accessible energy for energy transition.

He noted that about 95 per cent of its gas production was currently being utilised.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable which gave top energy companies an opportunity to share their thoughts on how best to solve issues around energy poverty was tagged: “Building Energy for Tomorrow.”

Bandele said the decision of the company to end gas flaring this year started in the past 15 years noting that they had been progressive on the target.

He expressed the company’s commitments to ensure fully integrated, sustainable and available energy in the oil and gas industry to actualise energy transition.

According to him, the company places safety of people and respect for the environment at the forefront.

“Over the years, we have been consistent in development, making sure that all infrastructure we have are fully utilised.

“This year, we have just finished drilling an exploration well and we will continue to consolidate on the things we know how best to do,” he said.

Speaking on gas as the transition fuel, Bandele said the company had inaugurated onshore projects which were already at the engineering stage.

He said the action was a deliberate plan by the company to supply electricity to communities situated at the site of its oil block which had been in darkness for the past 25 years.

“We acquired second largest solar company in the world. It is also a deliberate action to work in that space to boost the industry,” he added.

He said they would continue to consolidate on new energy, while expanding gas development projects.

Bandele challenged the industry regulators to increase the scope of gas to be used on gas channel since the pipelines were being utilised.

He also said TotalEnergies was in talks with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. on how to install another 10 megawatt electricity to a community in the zone of its project.

He explained that the project would be 100 per cent solar-based with two years completion target.

Bandele said that the company had made a lot of progress in its domestic gas education to stakeholders and was continuously enriching its gas portfolio in terms of export.

“TotalEnergies is present in all sectors of energy in Nigeria, namely downstream, midstream and upstream,” he said.

Emphasising on its downstream achievements, he said the company’s 550 filling stations across the country operate on solar energy.

Bandele regretted that so much time had been wasted on deliberations and solutions for energy security, and called for on hands to be on deck to achieve the desired result.

“Nigeria is a cornerstone to the development of Africa. No country is as mature as Nigeria on gas development and we must take advantage of that,” he said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany to Nigeria and the German-Nigerian Hydrogen Office have geared up efforts on promoting low-carbon hydrogen for economic growth and industrialisation.

The German Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Annett Gunther, said this at the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2023).in Abuja.

The two offices hosted a dialogue titled “Low-Carbon Hydrogen: A Key Piece for a Just Transition”.

The offices are financed by the Federal Foreign Office and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

According to Gunther, the process is clearly moving from oil to gas, and from gas to hydrogen and other green and renewable energy sources.

Gunther said the Nigerian International “Petroleum Summit” was re-branded as “Energy Summit”, thus reflecting a crucial change in its outlook and in the increased attention it gave to non-traditional sources of energy.

In his remarks, the Country Director, GIZ Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr Markus Wagner, said that, “the nascent low-carbon hydrogen economy and its associated industries held the promise of economic growth and industrialisation.

He emphasised its added-value creation, decent job generation, infrastructure development, and an increased access to secure affordable low-carbon energy.

“Yet, these socioeconomic benefits can only be reaped if we focus on long-term development instead of immediate returns. If we focus on how to make the Energy Transition a Just Transition,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Amb. Gabriel Aduda, in his keynote address, said Nigeria was keen on exploring the possibilities that the nascent hydrogen economy could create for its energy sector.

Aduda emphasised how low-carbon hydrogen fitted into the theme of 2023 edition of the NIES (Global Perspectives for a Sustainable Energy Future), which was motivated by the foreseen changes in the fossil fuel segment as the world pursued the energy transition agenda.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Dr Salisu Dahiru, expressed gratitude on the existing cooperation between Germany and Nigeria.

He expressed anticipation for further cooperation in the implementation of Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, especially on the topic of low-carbon hydrogen.

Dr Chinnan Dikwal, Executive Vice President, African Energy Council also made a presentation on the opportunities and challenges to make low-carbon hydrogen a reality for Nigeria.

Dikwal said that Nigeria was well positioned to produce low-carbon hydrogen for domestic use and export into Europe and Asia.

He further gave recommendations to help develop a robust hydrogen value chain in Nigeria, such as creating a H2 accelerator programme for start-ups and projects, co-locating H2 production and consumption in hydrogen valleys.

He included launching a hydrogen-centric regulatory regime to instill confidence for both producers and consumers of hydrogen.

The presentation was followed by a panel discussion, which served as a platform for Nigerian voices from oil and gas, renewable energies, public sector, academia, and NGOs to speak about their visions of a Just Transition.

Ms Gina Lagunes, Head of the German Nigerian Hydrogen office, in a remark said Nigeria, as a traditional fossil fuel exporting country with existing oil and gas infrastructure and know-how, could use this trend as a momentum to transition towards sustainable energy.

Lagunes further reiterated the Hydrogen Office’s commitment towards providing advisory for the creation of an enabling framework for low-carbon hydrogen, developing capacity in public and private sector, civil society, as well as offering support to private sector and specific projects.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF) has announced a 5.46 per cent increase in pension benefits, up from a 4.62 per cent increase in 2022/2023.

The pension benefit increase became effective for all GIPF pensioners on 01 April 2023.

In a media statement issued on Wednesday, GIPF stated that the rate was determined after a thorough actuarial due diligence that considered the fund’s average annual return over the last five years, current and future liabilities, and assets.

Given the volatility of returns from year to year, the civil servants’ pension fund has implemented a three-year averaging method, with the returns of each December year-end serving as a reference point.

According to GIPF, as a result, despite the current volatile economic outlook which has resulted in rising fuel and commodity prices, GIPF continues to provide members with guaranteed benefits.

“The fund constantly strikes a delicate balance in awarding pension increments by taking volatile investment returns, global geopolitical circumstances, the need to manage expectations regarding pension increases, and ensuring that our pensioners live reasonably within inflation parameters,” it said.

GIPF aims to match the Namibia Consumer Price Index to ensure that pensions in payment retain their purchasing power over time, subject to affordability, it added.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency