Author: Publisher

{{Kenya will continue to hold the chairmanship of the regional business lobby if the rotational period of leadership is extended to two years.}}

According to the Executive Director of East African Business Council, Andrew Luzze, the extension of the EABC term of rotation is one of the key issues to be discussed during this year’s AGM scheduled for April 4.

Kenya is currently holding the chairmanship of the board under Bidco Oil Managing Director Vimal Shah pictured above.

Previously, the East African Business Council (EABC) has had annual rotational leadership within the five member states.

The Chair is held on annual basis and it rotates among the five countries of the EAC, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.

“Some of the key issues to be discussed during this AGM will include offer of Diplomatic status for EABC Staff by host countries of EAC, elect the Chair, Vice-Chairs and members of the Executive Committee and appoint auditors and fix their remuneration among others,” said Mr Luzze in a statement.

Mr Luzze also noted that the meeting will also discuss the location of EABC’s headquarters given that Rwanda had offered to provide a land for the council to set up its head offices in the country.

The meeting looks to bring together all members of the east African community business body from the five Partner States where they elect a team to lead them for a year.

The EABC board is made up of 22 board members with four representatives from each Partner State and one past chairperson as well as the Secretary who is the Executive Director of the Council

NMG

{{US-based solar services company SolarCity is to invest US$7mn in Tanzanian solar lighting services company Off Grid Electric to produce off-grid solar power.

According to industry sources, SolarCity has teamed up with venture firms Vulcan Capital and Omidyar Network in this investment, which is part of the initiative to develop off-grid solar in developing nations.}}

Off-grid solar refers to electricity generation in areas with little or no access to power due to scattered population. This energy is generated in a self-sufficient manner without any dependence on the main electricity grid or other public utilities.

Off.Grid:Electric stated that it uses a mobile payment platform which allows customers in Africa to purchase solar lighting in small amounts, rather than having to pay for an entire solar power system upfront.

This approach is becoming increasingly attractive in the developing world due to the use of cell phones, added the company.

Lyndon Rive, CEO of Solar City, said, “Solar power is already more cost-effective than kerosene and other polluting power sources that are common in the developing world.

Many emerging economies skipped the build-out of phone lines to go straight to cell phones, and the combination of solar and storage can obviate the need for more power lines. Off Grid’s growth could have a profoundly positive impact on the economies, human health, and air and water quality in the markets it serves.”

With a minimum of US$5 per month, Off.Grid:Electric said it provides access to solar power through its M-Power energy hub in Tanzania, adding that it also encouraged potential buyers to switch from using kerosene lamps to solar.

The investment allows SolarCity to enter the off-grid solar market where mobile money platforms are enabling pay-as-you-go services in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

In the past six months, Khosla Ventures, DFJ, Omidyar Network and Gray Ghost Ventures have invested US$13mn in off-grid solar lighting companies in Africa, stated reports.

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{{New Kush Exploration & Mining (NKEM) and the state government of Eastern Equatoria have begun the first gold mining exploration in three counties of Kapoeta region, South Sudan.}}

Anthony Viljoen, director of NKEM said, ”We have been granted a license of operation to undertake gold mining and exploration in the state by the central government in Juba.

New Kush has conducted wide-ranging consultations with leaders in the counties of Kapoeta North, South and East.”

According to a government survey, Eastern Equatoria has great potential for mining of various minerals.

Tutus Lokwacuma, the commissioner of Kapoeta East county, encouraged the exploration, saying gold mining could create employment opportunities for locals and help develop the region east of the state of Equatoria.

Viljoen added that his company had several mining equipment items at Mombasa in Kenya, which are ready to be transported to South Sudan.

”We hope our company will be able to extract large amounts of quality gold and reduce the amounts that are smuggled out of South Sudan without being taxed,” he said.

According to industry sources, South Sudan has been engaged in a dispute with Sudan over the transport of oil to international markets and there has been a year-long halt in production.

Since then, the northeastern African nation has been trying to recover from the shutdown and looking at alternative sources of revenue.

{africanreview}