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23Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy

Dropping Solar Power Tariff Rates Spurring Indian Photovoltaic Generator Market

Netscribes launches report on the Photovoltaic Generator Market in India 2012 as part of Netscribes’ Energy and Utilities report series. Mumbai, India, December, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Solar PV power generation has long been acknowledged as a superior form of clean energy technology with vast potential, assuming its cost component can be significantly reduced. It draws upon the planet’s most plentiful and extensively distributed renewable energy resource, the sun. The latest report from Netscribes Inc delves deep into this dynamic market propelled by the photovoltaic generator and makes a comprehensive study of the equipment’s market in the country and its ever increasing role in the solar power generation infrastructure. The report begins with an introduction ...

13Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, Energy, Green Energy, South Africa News

How will South African industry deal with tariff hikes and carbon taxes?

African Utility Week to assist Large Power Users to face energy obstacles The proverbial axe is falling on ‘business as usual` as every industry in South Africa, from mining to manufacturing to retail, is cringing at the thought of rising energy tariffs and the impending implementation of a carbon tax. Stemming the tide of rising tariffs On the receiving end of tariff hikes, industry is dealing with three significant elements, namely the cost of electricity, uncertainty around sufficient electricity supply and carbon emission management. According to Shaun Nel, Project Director & Advisor, Energy Intensive Users Group of Southern Africa (EIUG), “the current request by Eskom to raise electricity prices by 16% per annum over 5 years will have a significantly negative ...

14Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News

The 10th Forex Conference & Expo Kicks off this Thursday 15 November in Dubai

The show will open its doors in Dubai at 10:00 am on Thursday and will cover online trading currencies, commodities, gold, oil, stocks and derivatives, at Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai, and will continue until Friday November 16, 7:00 pm. '' Forex for this year 2012 will witness the participation of Swiss banks specialized in Forex trading along with many trading companies that come for the first time in Dubai. Speaking at the Conference; 15 notable lecturers and speakers from the leading experts and global economic analysts, said Katia Tayar, President of Arabcom Group ; the Organizer of the Event. The Conference provides the perfect opportunity to highlight the trends of the current global capital markets and market expectations in 2013, and it reviews a range of issues of commo...

12Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Science

Chicago-Based Nonprofit Tackles Scientific Literacy Both in the US and in Africa

ISTG, a Chicago-based non-profit [501(c)(3)] organization committed to the promotion of scientific educational development in urban communities within the US and in Africa through international science and technology middle and high school projects. Chicago, IL, November 12, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Chicago-based Nonprofit Tackles Scientific Literacy Both at Home and Abroad Who?: The Innovative Science and Technology Group (ISTG) What?: Founded in 2006, ISTG is a Chicago-based non-profit [501(c)(3)] organization committed to the promotion of scientific educational development in urban communities within the US and in Africa. ISTG has a number of programs aimed at helping it achieve its goals including Project AFARA, Project UJAMAA, and Project Africa Tomorrow. Proj...

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...

8Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, South Africa News

Ireland’s Minister for Trade and Development Leads Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission to South Africa

On Sunday 10 November 2012, Ireland’s Minister for Trade and Development, Joe Costello TD, will lead an Enterprise Ireland trade mission with 37 companies to South Africa. The trade mission is being organised by Irish trade and technology agency, Enterprise Ireland in close cooperation with Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Embassy of Ireland in Johannesburg. It is aimed at cementing the growing trade relations between the two countries and is part of a broad, long term strategy to further develop Irish trade links and partnerships not just in the South African market, but in the wider Sub-Saharan region. Last year Irish exports to South Africa increased to €944m and exports for 2012 are expected to continue this momentum. South Africa exports ...

7Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo: ICT4Gov Project Uses Participatory Budgeting and Telecommunications to Build Transparency and Accountability

Synopsis Project feedback mechanisms driven by participatory budgeting and new innovations in information communication technology are working to successfully build transparency, increase accountability and overcome a long history of mistrust in the Democratic Republic of Congo's South Kivu Province. Challenge Following decades of colonial rule, conflict upon conflict, mismanagement, and internal corruption, the Democratic Republic of Congo's national government was left with limited institutional capacity to provide effective services at the local level. This limited capacity has often prompted citizens' groups to view the central government as illegitimate, rent-seeking authorities uninterested in ensuring that resources filter down from the capital to far flung pr...

7Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy, South Africa News

Abengoa Begins Construction on Two CSP Plants Awarded by the South Africa Department of Energy

- Khi Solar One and KaXu Solar One will be the first concentrating solar power (CSP) plants in South Africa and will use advanced technology specifically developed for the country's needs - Both plants will be able to store energy and generate power after sunset SEVILLE, Spain, Nov., 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Abengoa, the international company that applies innovative technology solutions for sustainable development in the energy and environment sectors, announced today that it has begun construction on the 50 MW solar power tower Khi Solar One and the 100 MW parabolic trough plant KaXu Solar One in South Africa. The concentrating solar power (CSP) plants were two of the 28 renewable energy projects announced late 2011 by the South Africa Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE ...

6Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News

Payroll System: Small Businesses Can Print Paychecks on Blank Stock Easily with New EzPaycheck Software

Small business payroll software ezPaycheck was updated with new and more flexible features to allow users print paychecks and stubs on blank stock easily. Try it free for 30 days at http://www.halfpricesoft.com Detroit, MI, November, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Small business payroll software ezPaycheck was released with new feature to print paycheck with stubs on blank check stock. Designed with small business in mind, ezPaycheck payroll system from halfpricesoft.com was developed to speed up and simplify payroll tax calculations, paycheck printing and tax reporting. ezPaycheck developing team hopes this new blank check stock printing feature will save users more time and money on payroll tasks. To open ezPaycheck payroll software to more small business users, Halfpricesoft.com also announc...

5Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, Kenya News

Deforestation Costing Kenyan Economy Millions of Dollars Each Year and Increasing Water Shortage Risk, UNEP and Kenya Forest Service Report Finds / Services from Kenya’s Water Towers Underpin Many Sectors of Economy

NAIROBI, Kenya, November 5, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ – Deforestation deprived Kenya’s economy of 5.8 billion shillings ($US 68 million) in 2010 and 6.6 billion shillings in 2009, far outstripping the roughly 1.3 billion shillings injected from forestry and logging each year, according to a joint Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report. The ongoing work of the KFS, together with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) and international partners, says that the contribution of forests is undervalued by 2.5 per cent, putting the estimate of its annual contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at around 3.6 per cent. Hon. Dr. Noah Wekesa, Kenya’s Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, said the report – entitled ‘The ...