initial Archives - AfricaBusiness.com

10Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy

Standard Bank Group commits R9.4bn to first batch of renewable energy projects

Standard Bank Group has emerged as the leading investor in the first round of South Africa's renewable energy independent power producer (REIPP) procurement process, backing a total of 11 wind and solar projects. Standard Bank Group will provide comprehensive corporate and investment banking services to all its clients, including underwriting R9.4-billion worth of debt, providing interest and currency hedges, carbon trading credits, and corporate bonding and guarantee facilities. Standard Bank Group has also taken an equity stake in four projects. The South African government's allocation of 1,416MW for this first round of the procuremnt process has translated...

3Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News

IST Research Deploys Crowdsourcing Technology to Colombia & Zambia

Engaging Populations Utilizing Indigenous Communications Technology Fredericksburg, VA, November, 2012 --(PR.com)-- IST Research has developed novel approaches to collecting highly structured data from indigenous populations in the most austere locations around the globe. The IST Research Data Collection Environment includes new technology development and social engineering efforts necessary to effectively engage populations in information sharing campaigns. IST Research has recently deployed its Data Collection Environment (DCE) to both Colombia & Zambia with the intent of engaging and collecting data from the local residents in these countries using the technology with which they are most familiar. The system was designed to seamlessly launch collection tools...

8Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News

World Bank Launches New Fund to Help African Countries Negotiate Best-Possible Deals for their Oil, Gas, and Minerals

PARIS, October, 2012―With new discoveries of oil, gas, and other minerals generating a wave of significant mineral wealth in African countries, the World Bank today launched a new fund to help countries on the continent level the playing field and ensure equitable deals in their natural resource contracts with international companies. With Africa holding 15% of the world’s oil reserves, 40% of its gold, and about 80% of the platinum group of metals, natural resources represent important development opportunities for the continent. For example, oil production has been growing steadily in Africa, and is expected to continue to rise at an average rate of six percent per year for the foreseeable future. At the 40th Anniversary Meeting of the Zone Franc Monetary Union in Paris today, attended b...

17Jul

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African News

Online ID OD: Illegal Web Trade in Personal Information Soars

LONDON, July 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Experian CreditExpert's identity web monitoring service reveals more than 12 million pieces of personal information traded online globally between January and April 2012 More than 12 million pieces of personal information were illegally traded online by identity fraudsters in the first four months of 2012, new figures from Experian CreditExpert reveal. Bespoke research* from Experian CreditExpert's web monitoring service - which helps people to quickly detect ID theft - shows that the first four months of 2012 have already outstripped the entire of 2010 when 9.5million pieces of personal information were illegally traded. Approximately 90% of the illegally traded data during January - April this year consisted of password and login combina...

9Jul

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African News

Market Rally Running Out of Steam?

LONDON, July 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- June proved to be a bullish month for stock markets, with investors buying back into the market after three previous months of declines as Central Banks looked to stimulate a slowing global economy. In June, the FTSE 100 gained 251 points or 4.7%. However, having hit resistance at the 5700 level at the end of last week, will the FTSE's charge start to run out of steam? By close of play in the UK on Friday (July 6), all the major indices were firmly in the red, with the Dow Jones leading the way as it fell by over 150 points (over 1%) by 4.40pm (BST). Major indices in the UK and Europe recorded falls too, with the FTSE 100 shedding 30 points and Germany's DAX 30 sliding by over 125 points to close the week at 5662.6 and 6410.1 respectively. L...