East Africa’s oil and gas sector seen expanding rapidly over next decade

The oil and gas sector in East Africa is projected to attract massive inflows of investments over the next decade as foreign companies seek to exploit the newly discovered deposits. A new report by... 

Modern tramway system commissioned in Addis Ababa

Ethiopia has achieved a major milestone in its efforts to improve public transport in the capital, Addis Ababa, following the commissioning of a modern tramway system. The electrified Addis Ababa... 

$350m loan secured for Kenya pipeline project

Kenya is finally set to start building a new multipurpose petroleum pipeline, after securing a $350-loan from a consortium of banks, including South Africa's Rand Merchant Bank. The other banks in... 

Work set to start this year on 100 MW Kenya wind farm

A subsidiary of global giant General Electric is set to start work on a $300-million wind power plant in Kenya in November. The company has secured $233-million from the Overseas Private Investment... 

Chryso Southern Africa enters the East African market

Chryso Southern Africa Group has entered the East African market with the opening of a new subsidiary in Kenya as part of its ambitious growth programme on the continent. The company, a leading... 

Long-delayed Lake Kivu methane-gas-to-power project advances

US company Contour Global is finally set to inject 25 MW of electricity into Rwanda’s national grid after years of delay. Energy Development Corporation Limited (EDCL) MD Agnes Bateta says Contour... 

Kenya to develop mining-sector masterplan in bid to restore investor confidence

The government of Kenya is hoping to win back the confidence of foreign investors in the mining sector after contracting an independent consultant to develop a comprehensive masterplan. It has... 

Ethiopian Airways unveils big Boeing acquisition plan

Africa’s fastest-growing carrier, Ethiopian Airways, plans to acquire six new Boeing 787 Dreamliners at a cost $1.3-billion as part of an ambitious expansion initiative. The airline, which has set... 

Kenya faces $2bn lawsuit over mining licence cancellation

Cortec Mining Kenya has lodged a $2-billion lawsuit against the government of Kenya for cancelling its licence for niobium and rare-earth metals mining project. Cortec lodged the lawsuit at the... 

Ethiopia begins filling Gilgel Gibe III hydropower reservoir

Ethiopia has embarked on filling the reservoir of its tallest hydropower dam, the Gilgel Gibe III, and intends to start partial generation of electricity in a couple of months. Water and Energy... 

Chinese-led consortium clinches Kenya coal concession

Kenya has selected a consortium led by China’s HCIG Energy Investment Company to develop a coal mining project after a previous attempt failed to produce a successful bidder. HCIG Energy, in... 

Tanzania pulls trigger on big Port of Dar es Salaam expansion plan

Tanzania has embarked on a megaproject to expand the Port of Dar es Salaam in an effort to transform the facility into the preferred gateway to the East Africa region by 2020. Tanzania’s Ministry... 

Another cement manufacturer set to enter Uganda market

Another cement manufacturer is set to enter the Ugandan market, raising hopes that prices will come down and spur growth in the construction industry. National Cement, a Kenyan manufacturer, has... 

Battle for Ethiopia’s cement market intensifying

The battle for control of Ethiopia’s cement market is set intensify following the commissioning of Dangote Cement's plant later this month. Says Dangote Cement Ethiopia country GM  Teshome Lemma:... 

Way being opened for $1.4bn Djiouti–Ethiopia oil pipeline

Work is set to start soon on the construction of a $1.4-billion oil pipeline connecting Ethiopia and Djibouti, after the two neighbouring countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on its... 

Terminal operators vie for Mombasa port contract

Top terminal operators are battling for a contract to manage and operate a new terminal that is nearing completion at the Port of Mombasa, in Kenya. According to the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), 19... 

Work begins on $2bn Nairobi water supply master plan

Kenya has started implementing a $2-billion holistic water supply master plan for its capital city of Nairobi and neighbouring towns as a rising population and urbanisation exert pressure on... 

Egypt, Ethiopia aim to settle Grand Renaissance Dam dispute by June

The protracted dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Renaissance Dam project is expected to be settled by June, when a study on its impact is expected to have been concluded. After... 

Chinese breathe life back into Uganda’s Kilembe copper/cobalt mine

The machines at Uganda's Kilembe mine, which fell silent more than three decades ago, are set to roar into life again, after the Chinese consortium that took them announced copper production will... 

Kenya seeks operator for second port of Mombasa container terminal

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) intends to hire an independent operator to take over the management of the second container terminal that is under construction at the Port of Mombasa. To increase... 

Construction of new Jomo Kenyatta airport terminal to begin in January

After a delay of more than three years, construction of a futuristic terminal at Kenya’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airort (JKIA) is finally to start in January. Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) MD... 

Contractor appointed for new oil terminal in Mombasa

Kenya’s sole oil-importing facility is set for decommissioning following the contracting of Danish engineering firm Niras to oversee the construction of a new oil terminal. Barely two months after... 

Rwanda expresses interest in importing electricity from Ethiopia

Rwanda has joined a number of East African countries seeking to import electricity from Ethiopia as its demand grows. After it became apparent several generation project it is implementing will not... 

Nigerian-owned group mulling Tanzania coal project to provide fuel for cement plant

Tanzania’s cement market is set for a major shakeup in pricing after Dangote Cement announced its plant in the country's Mtwara region will be powered by coal. Nigerian-owned Dangote Cement says it... 

Tanzania poised to award Mtwara port expansion contract

Tanzania will this month award the contract for the expansion of Mtwara Port, after the discovery of natural gas made the project a priority.   Mtwara port manager Musiba Fikili says the East... 

Debate on country benefits of gas raging in Tanzania

Debate is raging in Tanzania on whether government has signed watertight agreements with foreign companies to ensure the country reaps maximum benefits from its vast natural gas resources. This... 

Lamu port project hits land-compensation snag

Implementation of one of East Africa’s biggest infrastructure projects, the Lamu port, on the Kenyan coast, has hit a snag in the form of controversy over compensation of owners of the land on... 

$2bn contract awarded for Kenyan coal-fired power plant

Efforts by the Kenya government to increase energy generation by 5 000 MW over the next three years received a major boost following the award of a $2-billion contract to build a coal power plant... 

Kenya finally set to move ahead with Mombasa offloading facility

Kenya is set to finally embark on the construction of a second petroleum offloading facility to tackle importation constraints that have been blamed for high oil product prices in the country.... 

Global heavyweights in the race for $3bn East African oil pipeline project

International firms, some individually and others as consortia, are vying for the contract to build a multibillion-dollar petroleum pipeline connecting the oilfields in Kenya, Uganda and South... 

Ethiopia Airways’ growth ambitions supported by Chinese loan

Plans by Africa’s fastest-growing carrier, Ethiopia Airways, to double its size by 2025 have received a major boost in the form a $500-million loan from the Chinese government. The airline is... 

Kenya revives steel manufacturing plans

Kenya has revived plans to set up an integrated iron and steel manufacturing plant to fuel an industrial explosion as part of ambitions to transform itself into a middle-income economy. After... 

Kenya pipeline contract awarded, but legal challenge delays progress

Labanese firm Zakhem International has been awarded the contract to build a $500-million petroleum pipeline in Kenya. The company overcame stiff competition from seven shortlisted firms and scored... 

Kenya moves to inject life into geothermal power plans

Power utility Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) has injected life into plans to implement geothermal power projects that have failed to take off owing to a financial crunch. About two... 

Rebuilding of fire-damaged Jomo Kenyatta terminal to start within months

The reconstruction of the main terminal at Kenya's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), which was destroyed by a fire, will start in the next three months. Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) MD... 

Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi keen to accelerate rail project

Three East African nations have vowed to accelerate the construction of a crucial railway project aimed at interlinking their economies and boosting trade. Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi say... 

Uganda seeks India’s help as it mulls nuclear options

Energy-hungry Uganda has announced plans to exploit its known uranium deposits in a new nuclear programme aimed at meeting growing demand for electricity. The country has approached nuclear... 

Kenya in bid to unlock finance for geothermal projects

The authorities in Kenya are in negotiations with various financial institutions to unlock the funding crunch facing several geothermal power projects. Although Kenya has identified geothermal... 

Ethiopia poised to start next phase of Bole Airport expansion

Ethiopia is set to embark on Phase III of the Bole International Airport expansion project in an effort to transform the facility into a regional connecting hub. The Horn of Africa nation has... 

New life for stalled Kenyan wind project

One of Kenya’s most important energy projects that had stalled owing to a lack of finances is back on track after a consortium of financial institutions provided $870-million for its...