The new financing will be used to scale up the project’s energy infrastructure, with a focus on strengthening sustainable power solutions and maintaining uninterrupted, high-efficiency operations. The expansion is particularly important for energy-intensive agricultural activities that operate in areas beyond the reach of conventional electricity grids.

Cairo 3A is an off-grid energy initiative serving the poultry sector, providing reliable and integrated power systems to support large-scale farming operations. The project uses a hybrid generation model that combines solar PV, battery storage and gensets. This approach helps improve operational resilience while reducing reliance on traditional fuel-based electricity generation.

The first phase of the project, launched in 2020, delivered a contracted capacity of 3 MVA along with 2.5 MWp of solar generation. As the farm has expanded and its energy requirements have grown, a second phase is now being implemented. Scheduled for completion in 2026, this phase will increase the total capacity to 5.5 MVA and solar generation to 4.5 MWp, representing an 83% increase compared with the initial phase.

Karm Holding stated that the additional financing represents an important milestone in its growth strategy and highlights the strength of its partnership with Egypt’s banking sector. The company reaffirmed its commitment to delivering projects that meet high standards of efficiency and sustainability, while supporting Egypt’s broader transition toward a more resilient and sustainable economy.

Roller manufacturer Hamm has introduced the Smart Compact Pro under the motto “Measure it right. Measure it now.”

For the first time, real-time density is being used as a decisive parameter for qualitative assessment and integrated into automated compaction. Smart Compact Pro makes a significant contribution to extending the service life of road surfaces and, in the long term, reduces construction and repair costs, as well as potential additional expenses for the contractor.

Automated compaction with Smart Compact

Despite advances in digitalisation, asphalt compaction has so far been heavily dependent on empirical data and the experience of the roller driver. Consistent double passes and the correct use of dynamic compaction were often dependent on the driver’s knowledge. Since 2022, the Smart Compact digital compaction assistant from Hamm has been simplifying the compaction process in asphalt construction by controlling the compaction modes and forces based on the selected layer type – base, binder or surface course – automatically and separately for both drums.

The system continuously monitors the asphalt’s physical properties, such as temperature and rigidity, as well as its complex cooling behaviour, to ensure homogeneous compaction by applying the optimum compaction energy and modes in each case. There is even the option of incorporating local weather data.

Smart Compact Pro with real-time density measurement: Higher quality, lower costs

Hamm is now expanding Smart Compact to incorporate an essential measured value – real-time asphalt density. Industry experts agree that it is the decisive parameter for qualitative assessment during the compaction process and will become the key indicator for rigorously meeting regulatory requirements and minimising financial deductions.

Smart Compact Pro closes this gap by integrating the new “Realtime Density Scan” sensor into the automated compaction process. It determines the asphalt density in real time by measuring the dielectric conductivity of the asphalt mix to be compacted, therefore forming the basis for the correlation with the asphalt density or the porosity. Both parameters are crucial for self-monitoring or control testing. With the help of real-time density, Smart Compact Pro is able to provide construction companies with a decisive advantage by accurately implementing regulatory requirements.

This can significantly reduce potential financial deductions due to inadequate quality in the construction work and also save costs for premature repairs. Using Smart Compact Pro also significantly reduces the costs for extracting drill cores.

In summary, the world-first integration of real-time density into automated compaction represents a significant step forward for asphalt compaction. Even inexperienced operators can achieve optimal compaction results with Smart Compact Pro, with no need for extensive prior knowledge. This offers a significant boost for construction companies in times of an increasing shortage of skilled workers.

In modern mining operations, safety challenges are intensifying as infrastructure becomes larger and more complex

Expanding conveyor networks, extensive underground systems and widely distributed electrical installations require reliable ways to transmit and verify shutdown commands across long distances.

According to Ian Loudon, international sales and marketing at Omniflex, fibre optic technology is playing an increasingly important role in ensuring these critical safety communications remain dependable.

Conveyor systems remain central to the extraction, movement and processing of coal, yet they also present significant operational and safety risks. Over time, mining operations have expanded dramatically. Conveyor belts that once ran only a few hundred metres can now stretch for several kilometres, often traversing difficult terrain or operating deep underground. Maintaining safe operations across these extended distances requires robust emergency signalling, rapid shutdown capability and confirmation that commands have been successfully executed.

In many mines, conveyor belts can run between 20 and 30 km, incorporating multiple drive motors, synchronised programmable logic controllers and various loading or discharge stations along the route. If a fault develops at any point in this system, the potential for operational disruption or safety incidents increases significantly.

Historically, copper cabling was used to transmit safety signals, but this technology was not designed for the extended distances now typical in large mining operations. Over spans of 10 to 30 kilometres, copper wiring can suffer from signal degradation, voltage drops and electromagnetic interference generated by nearby electrical equipment such as motors, drives and switching systems. When repeaters are introduced to maintain signal strength, the overall system becomes more complex and vulnerable to additional points of failure.

These limitations mean copper-based signalling is increasingly unsuitable for modern mining environments, particularly those with long-distance infrastructure or heavy electrical activity. Extended copper runs are highly susceptible to electromagnetic interference and voltage loss, while attempts to extend signal transmission beyond roughly 10 kilometres generally require additional converters or amplification equipment. Underground conditions can further weaken signals, as dense rock formations and heavy electrical installations disrupt communication paths.

Another major drawback of traditional systems is their reliance on one-way signalling. When a shutdown command is issued, operators often only know that the instruction has been sent, not whether it has been received or executed. In situations involving critical equipment such as conveyors, crushers or ventilation systems, this uncertainty can create serious safety risks.

Fibre optic technology strengthens safety systems

To overcome the reliability challenges associated with copper cabling and conventional shutdown circuits, many mining operators are now adopting fibre optic communication for safety-critical applications. Fibre technology offers several important advantages in demanding mining environments. It is immune to electromagnetic interference, does not generate sparks and can reliably transmit contact signals across distances of 20 to 30 kilometres.

These characteristics make fibre particularly suitable for long conveyor systems, deep underground transport routes and electrically intense environments such as substations. By eliminating many of the vulnerabilities associated with traditional wiring systems, fibre optic networks provide a more resilient foundation for safety communications.

A key shift in modern safety strategies is the move from simply issuing a shutdown command to confirming that the action has actually taken place. In mining operations, the difference between a command being sent and a shutdown being verified can be critical. Without confirmation, equipment could continue operating despite problems such as a damaged conveyor belt, a stalled crusher or unsafe gas levels.

Specialised fibre optic devices designed for safety-critical applications support this approach. These include Safety Integrity Level rated bidirectional contact repeaters that replicate contact signals over long distances while simultaneously providing monitoring and feedback. Such systems transmit both the shutdown command and confirmation of the resulting action through the same optical link, allowing operators to verify the response in real time.

This architecture reduces uncertainty, simplifies wiring requirements and helps ensure compliance with mine safety protocols covering emergency shutdowns, isolation procedures and interlock systems.

As mining operations continue to expand and electrical systems become increasingly distributed, fibre optic signalling provides a reliable method of maintaining control across large and complex environments. Instead of relying on assumptions that commands have been executed, operators gain direct confirmation that machinery has stopped and systems have entered a safe state.

This level of verification supports stronger safety practices across the industry, reflecting a broader transition toward systems that confirm safety outcomes rather than simply issuing commands.

With extensive experience in long-distance and safety-critical environments, Omniflex has developed fibre optic modules designed to support bidirectional contact replication, auxiliary confirmation and fail-safe operation. These systems have been implemented in industries such as mining, nuclear power and electrical infrastructure where operational reliability and verified safety are essential.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has launched a new trade finance guarantee scheme to support Angolan businesses in association with local banks

The facility is provided to Banco de Fomento Angola (BFA) under the Global Trade Finance Program (GTFP), an initiative of the IFC, the World Bank’s private finance arm.

It is open to firms including small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to secure the inputs they need, deliver to customers on time and sustain and create jobs across key value chains.

By de‑risking trade transactions and improving the reliability and speed of cross‑border payments, the facility will strengthen supply chains, support more diversified growth, and deepen Angola’s integration into regional and global markets, the IFC said in a statement.

“Trade finance keeps businesses going,” said Makhtar Diop, IFC's managing director.

“Working with BFA, we’re helping Angolan firms access vital imports, trade more smoothly across borders, and create jobs, strengthening supply chains and the wider economy.”

Trade finance remains a “binding constraint” for many African firms, the IFC noted.

The continent faces an estimated trade finance gap of roughly US$100bn to US$120bn annually, with SMEs disproportionately affected, despite representing over 90% of businesses and accounting for about 80% of employment in Africa.

The new trade finance facilityis expected to unlock trade, boost businesses and support jobs in Angola, where access to foreign exchange and limited correspondent banking relationships have complicated cross-border payments, making it harder for firms to source inputs and fulfil orders.

These constraints impact sectors like food and agriculture, where Angola imports a substantial share of its consumption needs and firms require steady access to inputs; recent assessments indicate Angola imports over half of its food, underscoring the importance of reliable trade finance to keep supply chains flowing.

Through the Global Trade Finance Programme, IFC’s guarantees will back BFA’s issuance of trade instruments, such as letters of credit, trade‑related promissory notes and bills of exchange, and standby instruments including bid and performance bonds and advance payment guarantees.

By de‑risking cross‑border transactions, the facility is designed to help BFA grow its trade portfolio, broaden its network of counterparties, and expand access to trade finance for Angolan firms across sectors, including agribusiness, manufacturing and essential goods.

The goal is to strengthen Angola’s integration into regional and global value chains while relieving pressure points that often hinder SMEs from scaling and creating jobs.

“We are confident this partnership will have a positive impact not only on communities but also on the Angolan economy,” said Luís Roberto Gonçalves, BFA’s CEO.

It means BFA will have more instruments at its disposal to finance SME enterprises in productive sectors of the economy, boosting food production and distribution, enhancing food security and creating jobs.

“This partnership reaffirms BFA’s commitment to scaling solutions that advance the development of Angola’s financial system and reinforce the trust our clients and partners place in us.”

It also aligns with the World Bank’s strategy to grow access to finance in Angola's private sector as a means of unlocking economic growth.

Reliable trade finance will ensure access to fertiliser and seeds for farmers, packaging and raw materials for manufacturers, and spare parts and equipment for service providers.

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Get a real-time list of equipment present in a vehicle and see what is missing versus an established vehicle equipment list. Select missing tools on-screen. Quickly home in with proximity-increasing sounds and visuals on a portable RFID reader

Discover the affordable RFID Scan & Drive solution from Brady!

Have you ever arrived at an intervention without the necessary equipment? Ever lost tools during field interventions? How much time do you spend to make sure all equipment is accounted for, and present in your vehicles? Now you can confirm vehicle inventories digitally and automatically, highlight any missing assets, and home in on misplaced items to quickly complete your vehicles. How much time could you save?

Everything present

Instantly see which tools are present in a vehicle - and what is missing. Easily save substantial time per vehicle, per intervention, with automated equipment inventory checks that take only seconds.

By labelling equipment with passive, battery-free UHF RFID labels, we can let an RFID reader in your vehicle detect which tools and items are present. The RFID reader can check detected tools versus a list of expected items to confirm a complete vehicle inventory or to highlight missing equipment on your phone.

Be fully equipped before leaving for a field intervention. Avoid losing tools after interventions. Don’t waste time checking visually where every piece of equipment is. Just scan, get confirmation in seconds, and drive to your next destination.

Home in on assets

Quickly find misplaced equipment. Home in on specific items with a portable RFID reader and proximity-increasing sounds and visuals.

Passive, battery-free UHF RFID labels bounce back radio signals from a portable RFID reader up to 15 metres. By measuring the strength of the returning radio signal with patented data capture technology, our portable RFID readers guide users towards a unique RFID label applied on a specific tool. When closing in, auditive and visual feedback strength from the reader increases.

RFID labels can include an LED, powered by an RFID reader from a 1.5 metre distance, to let a tool light up or to find it in a dense inventory of equipment.

Solution components

Brady develops and manufactures every component in our solution. Tested in in-house laboratories, each component is designed to withstand the wear and tear of field interventions, including exposure to UV, dust and moisture.

• RFID labels: Brady offers industrial grade on- and off-metal RFID-labels and tags that stay attached and remain legible on your equipment.
• Fixed RFID readers: Equipped with patented data capture technology, Brady’s fixed RFID readers collect data on items passing through their read range.
• Portable RFID readers: With intuitive displays, Brady’s portable RFID readers and SLEDs deliver unmatched mobility, data collection and interaction.

Are you interested in automated inventory checks solution from Brady? Visit our website, watch the short video and download the free RFID labelling guidebook.

Find out more now!