Encouraging all Sierra Leoneans to engage in agriculture regardless of their background, President Bio showcased his own endeavors, highlighting the cultivation of over 1,400 acres of rice
FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, October 18, 2024/ — His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has joined the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, development partners, and farmers from across the nation to mark the first anniversary of the Feed Salone Initiative during the World Food Day celebrations, themed “Right to Food for a Better Life and a Better Future.” The President urged Sierra Leoneans to take initiative by growing their own food, even in their backyards.

He emphasized that while large-scale farming plays a critical role in realizing the Feed Salone objectives, if every citizen takes part in cultivating their food, his vision of food self-sufficiency for the nation will soon be a reality. He asserted that no nation can thrive without its people engaging in an agricultural revolution and called on all Sierra Leoneans to fully support the Feed Salone program for the greater good of the country.

President Bio reflected on how his flagship program during his first term focused on education, leading to an increase in school attendance among girls. He took the opportunity to express gratitude to the First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, for her timely advocacy for the protection of girls in the country.

Encouraging all Sierra Leoneans to engage in agriculture regardless of their background, President Bio showcased his own endeavors, highlighting the cultivation of over 1,400 acres of rice and an additional 500 acres of oil palm on his farm. He clarified that Feed Salone is about the welfare of Sierra Leoneans not about him as President or the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), urging citizens to actively pursue farming.

Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella, Chairman of the Presidential Initiative on Climate Change, Renewable Energy, and Food Security, expressed his gratitude to farmers for exhibiting their produce and demonstrating their efforts since the launch of the Feed Salone Initiative by President Bio. He urged farmers to remain patient with the government as it works to improve the sector, assuring them that with their support and government commitment, the goals of Feed Salone are within reach.

Mr. Saeed Abubakar Bancie, the Food and Agricultural Organisation representative in Sierra Leone, thanked President Bio for his dedication to agriculture through the Feed Salone initiative, noting the global increase in hunger and the pressing need for food diversification. He assured continued support from FAO for Feed Salone, including assistance for farmers and the Ministry of Agriculture in providing livestock, implementing innovative best practices, and empowering local communities.

Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, expressed appreciation to farmers nationwide for their steadfast support of President Bio’s Feed Salone initiative. He highlighted that October 16th is not just an ordinary World Food Day celebration, but the very day President Bio launched Feed Salone, urging farmers to leverage their resources to turn agriculture into the nation’s breadbasket.

Dr. Kpaka confirmed that farmers have embraced the President’s call for widespread agricultural engagement across the country, citing several leading women farmers, including those in the diaspora. He assured farmers and private sector stakeholders that their contributions matter, particularly in rice, onion, seed production, poultry, and egg production, which have conserved valuable foreign reserves.

The Minister promised that Feed Salone will continue until Sierra Leone can produce rice that is less expensive than imported varieties, improve connections for farmers to access markets through better road infrastructure, provide financial support to farmers, and create additional jobs in the sector. He encouraged everyone to engage in farming at any scale, reiterating the imperative that together, we can grow what we eat and urging others to take an active role in the Feed Salone initiative.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.

Tanzania and the East African Community (EAC) at the centre of regional transmission expansion: Tanzania Energy Cooperation Summit 2024

Confirmed as one of the most stable and important investment destinations on the continent, Tanzania prepares to host the fifth annual Tanzania Energy Cooperation Summit (TECS) from 31 January to 1 February 2024 in Arusha, home of the East African Community (EAC).

Investors from across industry, finance and government are convening to showcase Tanzania’s potential. Potential that is epitomised by a country now ranked third in sub-Saharan Africa for future investment, that is expected to see 6% GDP growth by 2025, and that has seen hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars of investment, targeted towards infrastructure, hydropower, LNG and solar projects in recent years.

Ranked by KPMG behind only South Africa and Nigeria, Tanzania has confirmed its status when it comes to trade and investment.

The nation was cited for its strategic location to the east of the continent, its abundance of natural resources, and its recent investment spike, especially in the power sector. A first on-grid 50MW solar power plant, a $300 million investment into hydropower, a $42 billion LNG project formed by Shell, Equinor and Exxon Mobil, and almost $7 billion injected into infrastructure, confirms its attractiveness both in Africa, and globally.

Organised by EnergyNet, TECS24 will not only highlight these success stories but look at future trade and generation projects poised to transform the country and region further. Challenges around financing and guarantees will also be brought to the fore, to ensure that momentum isn’t lost and that the country’s power sector continues to go from strength to strength.

Alongside major investors, stakeholders attending include national ministers from Tanzania, Malawi and Ethiopia, as well as heads of national utilities, including Tanzania’s Managing Director of TANESCO, Gissima Nyamo-Hanga. Speakers from Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) and Zambia’s ZESCO will also be present. They, alongside representatives from the public and private sectors, DFIs – including AfDB, BII, World Bank Group and ATIDI – and multilaterals, will descend on Arusha for an intimate, high-level business retreat like no other.

With an emphasis on Tanzania’s’ position as a regional energy enabler, topics being brought to the table include Tanzania’s economic outlook and energy development potential, as well as plotting the best way to build a regional power market. Public-private partnerships in transmission projects will also be on the agenda, in addition to DFIs, governance and regulations, and the vital role of renewables. Attendees will be invited to offer ideas around building better regional interconnection, more robust frameworks for trade and investment, and ultimately to form a roadmap for regional energy access moving forward.

“Tanzania’s positioning on the continent has made it pivotal to trade. With connections between south and east and also to the rest of the world, the country has always had the potential to be a trailblazer for industrial growth – and now we’re seeing how this potential will be realised. It’s therefore hugely exciting to showcase Tanzania’s growth and to make sure the opportunity and momentum continues.” said Simon Gosling, Managing Director, EnergyNet.

He continued, “We’re also delighted to be hosting the summit in Arusha, giving everyone the time and space to deep-dive into the sector’s most pressing topics.”

“With Tanzania being one of our founding member countries, we are keen to do more in support of the country’s energy sector goals. Building on the progress made at last year’s event in Dar es Salaam, we hope that TECS24 will provide greater clarity on the proposed role of the private sector in the energy sector and how DFIs – particularly multilateral insurers and guarantors like ATIDI – can be supportive of such efforts and the wider energy transition,” commented Obbie Banda, Underwriter & Acting RLSF Coordinator at the African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI).

Aleem Tharani, Co-Head for Infrastructure Sector Group (Africa), Bowmans and Head of Projects, Energy & Infrastructure (Africa), concluded: “The 5th Tanzania Energy Cooperation Summit marks a pivotal moment for Africa’s energy sector. By uniting investors, government entities and industry specialists, we’re fostering dialogues crucial for advancing Tanzania’s energy roadmap, prioritising gas and renewables, and enhancing regional transmission. Bowmans is proud to sponsor this summit, recognising its significance in shaping Africa’s energy future and strengthening public-private partnerships.”

FACILITATING ENERGY INVESTMENT IN FAST-GROWING ECONOMIES – EnergyNet has produced investment forums and executive dialogues for Africa and Latin America’s power sectors for the last 25 years – in Europe, the USA, Asia and across Africa and Latin America.

We work with governments and national utilities to facilitate investment summits where credible international investors can build relationships with public sector stakeholders to advance access to power.

Best known for the Africa Energy Forum, the longest-serving business development meeting place for senior-level decision makers in Africa’s power sector, other leading investment summits we provide strategic perspectives on the investment landscape and project preparation include the Tanzania Energy Cooperation Summit, H2 Africa, Offshore Technology Africa, Powering Africa Summit, Latin American Energy Forum and Latin American & Caribbean Gas Conference and Exhibition. YES! Youth Energy Summit and YES! Youth Energy Day are part of the portfolio, with a focus on creating a platform and network to boost the skills, connections and business readiness of a new generation of African energy leaders

Having this focus on public and private sector partnerships provides us with a valuable lens through which we can offer independent perspectives and support the business development activities of companies from around the world operating in these fast-growing markets. Our team talks daily with stakeholders across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean to support these insights, so relationships and investor insights are our business and our passion.

Sonatrach’s Vice President for Gas Liquefication to Shape Energy Sustainability Discussions at African Energy Week (AEW)

Nassr-Edine Fatouhi, Vice President of Gas Liquefaction at Sonatrach has confirmed his participation at African Energy Week 2023 where he will shape conversations around Algeria and Africa’s untapped gas potential in driving the stability of the global energy market.

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) (www.EnergyChamber.org) – the voice of the African energy sector – is pleased to announce the participation of Nassr-Edine Fatouhi, Vice President of Gas Liquefaction at Sonatrach – the national oil company (NOC) of Algeria – at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) conference and exhibition.

Taking place from 16 – 20 October in Cape Town, AEW 2023 will host Fatouhi in high-level panel discussions around investment and partnership opportunities across Algeria’s burgeoning natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) sectors.

Representing one of the world’s largest natural gas and LNG producers and exporters, Fatouhi’s participation at AEW 2023 will play a crucial role in shaping the dialogue on best practices that will propel Africa’s energy renaissance, with a particular emphasis on gas developments. This participation centers on vital themes including energy security, decarbonization, and affordability, collectively driving the continent’s sustainable energy agenda forward.

As the seventh largest gas consortium globally and Africa’s largest gas company, Sonatrach stands as a pivotal contributor to the sustainable growth of the global energy industry. While the demand of energy continues to expand globally, Sonatrach’s operations continue to position Africa as a key contributor to global energy security. The company is a key energy supplier to international markets including Europe and the Asia Pacific. In 2021 and 2022, through the works of Sonatrach, Algeria ranked as Europe’s second LNG exporter as the bloc faced disruptions to supply chain due to the Russian-Ukraine war.

As Algeria and Africa prioritize the responsible development and efficient utilization of their gas resources for sustainable growth, Sonatrach stands at the forefront of the continent’s industrial expansion.

The company has forged strategic partnerships with prominent global energy stakeholders and investors, with a shared goal of accelerating the development and monetization of Algeria’s abundant reserves, which include 159 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. This comprehensive effort also extends to the revitalization of Algeria’s entire energy value chain.

In the first half of 2023 alone, Sonatrach announced the discovery of ten new oil and gas deposits, a significant milestone in the context of the firm’s ambitious $40 billion investment plan for the 2023-2027 period.

In July, Sonatrach further bolstered its profile by entering into a strategic agreement with TotalEnergies for the development of Algeria’s hydrocarbon-rich Tin Fouyé Tabankort II (TFTII) and Tin Fouyé Tabankort Sud (TFT sud) gas fields, while also enhancing its LNG capabilities.

Sonatrach’s expertise extends beyond Algeria’s borders, influencing industry expansion in regional and global markets, including Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania, Mozambique, Angola, Nigeria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, England, the Netherlands, and Peru. In early August, the company, in collaboration with partners Eni and bp, successfully resumed operations in Libyan gas potential blocks, marking a significant milestone after a 20-year force majeure declaration.

In the downstream sector, Sonatrach plays a pivotal role in fostering the expansion of the African market. It operates Africa’s largest gas refineries and is a significant investor in new ventures. In June, the NOC awarded Petrofac a substantial $1.5 billion contract for the development of the Arzew Industrial Complex in western Algeria. This strategic move aligns with Sonatrach’s commitment to meeting the surging demand for LNG and other petrochemicals, both domestically and across the broader regional and international markets, including Europe and the Asia Pacific.

Furthermore, the company is actively engaged in several significant downstream projects, including the construction of the HMD 3 refinery, the PDHPP project, as well as the development of Skikda Conversion and Steam Cracker downstream facilities.

As Sonatrach continues to advance its growth both domestically and internationally, Fatouhi’s participation at AEW 2023 stands as a transformative opportunity. It provides the Vice President with a strategic platform to engage with African and global counterparts, facilitating discussions and the potential signing of industry-defining agreements.

“Sonatrach’s expertise and strategic investments have been transformative across the entire global hydrocarbons and energy value chain. The company has solidified its position as a crucial supplier of gas and LNG on a global scale, even amid significant market disruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukraine conflict. As global energy demand experiences a resurgence, Sonatrach’s role in shaping the expansion and sustainability of the global energy market only continues to grow.,” stated NJ Ayuk, the Executive Chairman of the AEC.

AEW 2022 unites African energy stakeholders with investors and international partners to drive industry growth and development and promote Africa as the destination for energy investments. Key organizations such as the African Petroleum Producers Organization, as well as African heavyweights including Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria, have partnered with AEW, strengthening the role the event will play in Africa’s energy future.