Russia plans big dairy export push in North Africa, Middle East and Asia
"Annually, the Russian dairy industry can show export growth rates of about 15-20%, but it is not excluded that the growth can go exponentially under the right conditions," Artem Belov said. Russia's annual dairy exports are now worth $400 million, or about 1% of a global market estimated at more than $40 billion, he said. The new target markets are in countries that Russia is courting heavily as it pivots its trade away from Europe. Russia does not make significant dairy exports to Western countries and dairy products are not subject to sanctions imposed by those countries. "In 2024, Algeria may become the number one buyer and number one in terms of exports of dairy commodities.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 17, 2024 05:37 UTC
The Big Question: Heather McEwan
In our regular feature Heather McEwan, Senior Manager – Project Developer Engagement for Verra South Africa responds to our Big Question: Are carbon markets the correct solution for Africa? Climate effects are limiting the ability of African countries from sustainably developing and utilising their resources to benefit their people. Until we reach a global consensus on carbon emission reductions, the VCM will remain the most effective means to drive finance to African climate projects. The VCM can help fund climaTe projects that spur reforestation and forest conservation, investments in renewable energy, carbon-storing agricultural practices and direct air capture across Africa. Despite recent volatility, VCM demand more than doubled over the past year, with nature-based climate projects leading the way.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 17, 2024 03:36 UTC
Chevron reportedly set for UK North Sea exit after 55 years
Chevron is set to commence the sale of its remaining UK North Sea assets, which will mark the US energy giant’s departure from the basin after more than five decades, reported Reuters. Chevron’s decision to exit the UK North Sea is part of a broader trend among leading oil and gas companies, which are gradually withdrawing from the mature British basin to concentrate on more recent global discoveries. Its holdings in the region include a 19.4% interest in the BP-operated Clair oilfield, the largest in the British North Sea, which currently produces 120,000 barrels per day. In 2019, Chevron divested many of its North Sea holdings to Ithaca Energy, echoing similar actions by ExxonMobil and Shell over the past decade. Chevron has clarified that the North Sea sale is not influenced by the UK Government’s 35% windfall tax imposed on North Sea producers after the spike in energy prices in 2022.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 17, 2024 02:59 UTC
Russia plans big dairy export push
Russia plans big dairy export push Plans exports to North Africa, Middle East and Asia17 May 2024 17 May 2024 3 minute read 3 minute read By: By: Global Ag Media EuropeRussia plans to grow its presence in the global dairy products market by increasing supplies by 15-20% annually with a big push into Arab countries - especially Algeria - and southeast Asia, the head of industry lobby group Soyuzmoloko told Reuters. "Annually, the Russian dairy industry can show export growth rates of about 15-20%, but it is not excluded that the growth can go exponentially under the right conditions," Artem Belov said. Russia's annual dairy exports are now worth $400 million, or about 1% of a global market estimated at more than $40 billion, he said. The new target markets are in countries that Russia is courting heavily as it pivots its trade away from Europe. Russia does not make significant dairy exports to Western countries and dairy products are not subject to sanctions imposed by those countries.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 17, 2024 02:30 UTC
Morocco targets additional 6.5GW renewable energy capacity by 2027 – The North Africa Post
Morocco is planning to boost its renewable energy capacity to 11GW by adding 6.5GW over the next four years, energy minister Leila Benali said. Currently, renewable energy represents 40% of the energy mix, with plans to bolster that share to 52% before 2030. Besides renewables, Morocco aims to increase the share of gas in its energy transition by investing in LNG terminals, ports, and pipelines. She said Morocco is well-positioned to lead the energy transition thanks to its regulatory framework and investments to develop the grid. Morocco plans to connect Dakhla, in the southern provinces, to Casablanca through a 3GW electricity connection.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 17, 2024 02:19 UTC
Israel moves into north Gaza, pounds Rafah without advancing
Israel's tanks pushed into the heart of Jabalia in northern Gaza on Thursday, facing anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs from militants concentrated there, while in the south, its forces pounded Rafah without advancing, Palestinian residents and militants said. South Africa asked the top U.N. court to order a halt to Israel's Rafah offensive, saying it was "part of the endgame in which Gaza is utterly destroyed". Israel has denied South African allegations of genocide in Gaza and said it had complied with an earlier court order to step up aid. Israel declared major operations over in northern Gaza months ago while pledging to return to prevent Hamas regrouping. In the southern tip of Gaza, tanks held their positions in eastern neighbourhoods and outskirts of Rafah while keeping up pressure with aerial and ground bombardments.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 17, 2024 01:18 UTC
Benin-Niger spat: China may try to mediate to access crude oil from ‘its’ pipeline – The North Africa Post
Benin-Niger spat: China may try to mediate to access crude oil from ‘its’ pipelineTensions between Benin and Niger have escalated since the military coup in the latter in July 2023, with the borders between both countries remaining closed and with Benin preventing Niger from using its port to export its crude oil, mostly bound for China. Relations between the two nations soured after the Nigerian military overthrew the country’s democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum last year. In response, Benin has prevented Niger from using its port to export its first crude oil, with President Patrice Talon accusing Niger of treating its neighbor like an “enemy”. “The Nigerian government is still afraid that ECOWAS or France could try to reinstall the ousted president through military intervention.” Laessing also adds that “China will probably try to mediate. After all, China built the oil pipeline.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 16, 2024 18:19 UTC
Tunisian lawyers launch one-day strike over police repression
Hundreds of people have taken to the streets of the Tunisian capital after a lawyer was allegedly tortured by police. Lawyers in the north African nation of Tunisia have launched a one-day strike following the recent arrest of two of their colleagues, as opposition to repressive measures by President Kais Saied intensifies. Tunisian police raided the bar association’s headquarters on Monday to arrest Mahdi Zagrouba, a lawyer who has been critical of the president. The association said that Zagrouba was tortured and that his body showed signs of abuse, including bruises. It is a scenario to escape responsibility after it was proven that he assaulted a policeman during a protest this week,” Tunisian Ministry of Interior official Fakher Bouzghaia said.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 16, 2024 18:00 UTC
Nuclear renaissance: Subtle with promise of extreme results
“For example, one large nuclear power plant can replace multiple coal-fired power plants to provide the same level of energy. Japan is set to continue its revival of nuclear energy as public opinion starts to favour the restart of nuclear reactors for the first time since the Fukushima incident. The COP28 declaration urges financial institutions to reconsider this stance and include nuclear energy in their energy lending policies to achieve the goal of tripling nuclear energy by 2050. The Ministry of Energy in Algeria and Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom signed a memorandum of cooperation around the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Rosatom also reiterated a plan touted in 2023 which involves South Africa and the Russian state nuclear corporation jointly developing a floating nuclear power plant project for the country.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 16, 2024 16:11 UTC
Floating the idea of solar on the sea
Floating solar photovoltaic systems (FPV) are gaining traction thanks to their potential for higher energy yield and efficiency compared to conventional land-based solar PV systems. FPV gaining traction slowlyWorldwide installed capacity of FPV power plants reached more than 3GW in 2021, from just 100MW in 2016. While RE consumption is high in European countries, China has taken the lead in FPV energy production with a 320MW FPV plant in operation since 2021. The Central Electricity Board of Mauritius in early 2023 invited bids for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of a 2MWac floating solar power plant at Tamarind Falls Reservoir. In late 2022, China installed a pilot-scale two-floater 0.5MWp marine FPV system in the Yellow Sea, outside Shandong, which integrates FPV with offshore wind.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 16, 2024 15:38 UTC
EasyJet To Boost North Africa Capacity, Sees Strong Summer Demand
EasyJet plans to increase capacity on routes to North Africa by 35% during winter 2024-25 as part of efforts to narrow financial losses during the low season. During the winter 2023-24 season, easyJet served nine destinations in North Africa, including Agadir, Essaouira, Marrakech and Rabat in Morocco; Giza, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt; and Enfidha in Tunisia. Alongside the planned North Africa growth, easyJet is also introducing its first flights to West Africa from late October with the launch of two routes to Cape Verde. This has included a rationalization of capacity in Berlin—a process that began in 2022—and further growth from Lisbon and Porto. CCO Sophie Dekkers noted that the competitive landscape remains challenging, highlighting that Ryanair is adding 40 aircraft and 8.9 million seats this summer.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 16, 2024 14:28 UTC
Standard Bank puts the ‘power’ into hydropower
Standard Bank assisted Lowmar Farm, a commercial farming enterprise, with the financing of a new hydro project, costing approximately R24 million. This is the most significant private hydro project for which the bank has ever provided financial support. The 362kWp hydro plant is expected to produce about 2.9GWh in its first year, which will provide sufficient power for two farms. Within the first seven weeks of operation, the hydro system generated power to the value of R550,000 at Eskom’s rates. Standard Bank intends to continue to play a leading role in helping clients bring their energy projects to fruition.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 16, 2024 13:22 UTC
Middle East/North Africa Regional Office
OverviewThis map displays countries covered in the Middle East/North Africa geographic region. This map displays countries covered in the Middle East/North Africa geographic region. Show MoreThe MENA region is home to more than 879 million people and spans across 25 countries where over 22 languages are spoken. Today, CDC's presence in the region includes the MENA Regional Office established in 2020 in Muscat, Oman, a country office in Pakistan, and technical experts based in the region. The MENA region is diverse socially, politically, and economically.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 16, 2024 12:17 UTC
WRAPUP 1-Israel moves in on north Gaza Hamas stronghold, pounds Rafah without advancing
CAIRO/JERUSALEM, May 16 (Reuters) – Israel’s tanks pushed into the heart of Jabalia in northern Gaza on Thursday, facing anti-tank rockets and mortar bombs from militants concentrated there, while in the south, its forces pounded Rafah without advancing, Palestinian residents and militants said. The slow progress of Israel’s offensive, more than seven months after it was prompted by Hamas’ deadly cross-border raid, highlighted the difficulty of achieving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aim of eradicating the militant group.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 16, 2024 11:26 UTC
EBRD expects Morocco’s growth to reach 3 % in 2024 and 3.6 % in 2025 – The North Africa Post
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) expects Morocco’s economic growth to reach 3 per cent in 2024, before rising to 3.6 per cent in 2025, supported by a recovery in external demand and government investment. Despite additional expenditure related to the post-earthquake reconstruction and expanding targeted social protection spending, inflation eased to 0.3 per cent by February 2024. However, Morocco’s high dependence on energy imports and seasonal agricultural production makes the economy vulnerable to climate risks, underlines the report. In its projection for the whole southern and eastern Mediterranean region, EBRD expects growth to accelerate from 2.7 % in 2023 to 3.4 % in 2024 and 3.9 % in 2025. This represents a downward revision compared with the previous forecast due to the negative impacts of the war in Gaza on the region’s tourism and investments.
Source:The North Africa Journal
May 16, 2024 11:07 UTC