Portuguese group MCA has just energised Africa's largest off-grid renewable energy photovoltaic (PV) park in Angola

The site will supply green energy to more than 136,000 people, with a production capacity of 25.40 MWp and batteries with a storage capacity of 75.26 MWh.

It is the country’s first autonomous, off-grid system with a solar source and battery bank for night-time supply – meaning that no fossil fuels will be consumed.

The inauguration was attended by Angola’s Minister of Energy and Water (MINEA), João Baptista Borges.

Manuel Couto Alves, chairman of the MCA Group, said that “the delivery of this first park, with cutting-edge technology and operating models adjusted to the evolution of local demand, represents our ability to adapt and our flexibility in responding to specific contexts.”

The project, with more than 40,000 solar panels installed, generated 300 jobs and enable annual savings of around 10 million litres of fuel, avoiding the emission of 37 tonnes of CO2 using renewable energy.

“For us, this project represents not only a technical challenge overcome with excellence,” added Alves, “but also a significant transformation in the quality of life of the communities involved. It is with a sense of accomplishment that I see people's homes lit by green energy.”

The financing for the project was structured by the UK’s Standard Chartered Bank with the support of German Export Agency, Euler Hermes, which granted a guarantee of around €1bn reinsured by Cosec and K Sure, the Portuguese and Korean export credit agencies (ECA).

The public electricity production company, PRODEL Ep, is the promoting entity.

The Angolan municipality of Cazombo, with a population of around 411,074 inhabitants, is the capital of the province of Moxico Leste.

The commissioning of the new park represents the first major source of electricity production and distribution in the region.

The Cazombo photovoltaic park forms part of a broader Rural Electrification Project in Angola that began in 2023 and is expected to be completed in 2026.

As well as MCA Group, it involves the Angolan government through the Ministry of Energy and Water and the Ministry of Finance, as well as a consortium of banks represented by Commerzbank AG as agent, and the German ECA, Euler Hermes.

As part of this project, MCA will also build 46 isolated solar mini grids to benefit more than one million people in 60 communes in the interior of the country, located in the provinces of Malanje, Bié, Lunda-Norte, Lunda-Sul and Moxico.

Photovoltaic power of 256MWp and 595 battery storage will be generated, and more than 200,000 household connections will be made.

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Cementir Group has expanded its global decarbonisation efforts with the introduction of two lower-carbon white cement products under its D-Carb range

Produced in Egypt by Sinai White Cement Company, the new variants are now available across Middle East and Africa (MEA) markets.

The offerings include a Limestone Portland cement that meets CEM II/A-LL 52.5N EN197-1 requirements with an approximate 10% clinker reduction, and a CEM II/B-LL 42.5N option featuring around 20% clinker reduction when compared to the widely used Aalborg White CEM I 52.5R.

Designed to support industrial users in accelerating their decarbonisation pathways, the launch provides MEA customers with a practical shift toward lower-carbon construction materials without affecting performance, production efficiency or aesthetic outcomes.

“In 2024 and early 2025, we progressively introduced D-Carb products across Europe and APAC region, including Australia, where we have received positive feedback from diverse industry segments. We are pleased to see D-Carb enabling customers to meeting emerging low carbon requirements in building and urban infrastructure projects, while continuing to deliver the high performance and architecture aesthetics expected of white cement.” said Michele Di Marino, chief sales, marketing and commercial development officer of Cementir Group.

“Today, extending this portfolio to MEA with two tailored variants represents an important milestone in Cementir’s journey toward net-zero emissions by 2050. As the building and construction sectors worldwide increasingly prioritize decarbonization, these products reinforce our commitment to low-carbon solutions aligned with regional decarbonization targets.”

Stefano Zampaletta, Group Product and Solution Manager at Cementir Group, added, “The introduction of the two D-Carb® variants in MEA highlights our understanding of the diverse application requirements for lower-carbon materials in the region. Achieving reduced carbon footprints while maintaining the good standard of performance expected of white cement is a complex challenge, but these products demonstrate our capability to deliver both, supporting a shared ambition for sustainable construction across entire value chain.”

“MEA markets are rapidly embracing sustainability, and the arrival of D-Carb® positions us to lead this transition. By combining lower carbon emissions with the performance expected of white cement, we are setting a new benchmark and opening new opportunities for responsible construction in the region,” concluded Abdel Hamid Gadou, commercial director of Sinai White Cement. 

Zipline, the U.S.-based robotics company operating the world’s largest autonomous delivery network, has signed a landmark agreement with the U.S. Department of State to significantly expand its drone-powered medical logistics services across Africa

The initiative aims to triple the number of hospitals and health facilities served, from 5,000 to 15,000, ultimately giving as many as 130 million people rapid access to blood, medicines, and other essential supplies.

The partnership is structured under a first-of-its-kind pay-for-performance model, through which Zipline may receive up to US$150mn to scale its AI-driven, robotics-enabled delivery infrastructure. African governments using the service will pay up to US$400mn in performance-based fees, with funds released only upon signing expansion agreements that guarantee long-term service commitments.

Keller Rinaudo Cliffton, CEO and co-founder of Zipline, emphasised the significance of the collaboration, stated, "We started Zipline to build a logistics system that serves all people equally…today, the U.S. government is doubling down on our work." Jeremy Lewin, Under Secretary of State, added: "This partnership is an example of the innovative, results-driven partnership at the core of the America First foreign assistance agenda."

Zipline’s system, designed and manufactured in the U.S., has completed 1.8 million autonomous deliveries since 2016 with zero safety incidents. Independent evaluations highlight substantial improvements in health outcomes, including reduced maternal mortality, fewer stockouts, and increased immunization coverage. In many regions, Zipline has cut delivery times from 13 days to under 30 minutes.

African governments have funded Zipline’s services for years, and this expansion amplifies their existing investments. The agreement also marks a new chapter in commercial diplomacy, integrating U.S. technology into global health infrastructure. Rwanda is expected to be the first country to formalise its participation.

The model ensures that U.S. financing will be deployed only after countries commit to expansion targets. Each new Zipline hub will serve as a permanent logistics centre staffed entirely by local employees, supporting skilled job creation and economic development.

Rwanda’s minister Paula Ingabire affirmed the impact of past collaborations, stated, "We have witnessed the extraordinary impact of drone delivery saving time, saving money, and saving lives." Nigeria’s health minister, Muhammad Ali Pate, echoed the sentiment, noting Zipline’s potential to support a "healthier, more equitable future," while Côte d'Ivoire’s health minister Pierre Dimba emphasised the service’s alignment with national goals for rapid, equitable access to essential health products.

As autonomous logistics currently reaches less than 1% of the global population, Zipline and its partners view this initiative as a pivotal step toward closing that gap. The State Department hopes the model, paying for measurable results and fostering sustainable national ownership, can be replicated by other donors and development organisations worldwide.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and Algeria’s Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Startups, and Micro-Enterprises have agreed to deepen cooperation to accelerate the growth of startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa

The announcement came at the close of the fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025), hosted in Algiers from 4 to 10 September. Leading the Bank’s delegation, Ousmane Fall, Acting Director of the Industrial and Trade Development Department, highlighted the AfDB’s central role in unlocking finance for African businesses. “Supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and startups is one of the key pillars of our work, as defined in the Four Cardinal Points of the Bank group’s new president, Dr Sidi Ould Tah,” said Fall. He added, “The Bank will support SMEs through an innovative approach that combines new financing instruments, advisory services, and policy reforms to promote their emergence across the continent.”

Strengthening private sector engagement

Ahead of discussions with Minister Noureddine Ouadah, the Bank delegation met with Algeria Venture, the state-backed startup accelerator. Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation, particularly by linking Algerian startup funding mechanisms with leading private equity and venture capital funds. They also confirmed plans to jointly take part in the African Startup Conference, scheduled in Algiers from 6 to 9 December 2025, which aims to promote innovation, strengthen networks, and attract investment on a continental scale.

Closing IATF 2025, Minister Ouadah announced the launch of a new investment fund for African startups, an initiative championed by Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, underlining Algeria’s commitment to prioritising youth and innovation in shaping Africa’s economic future.

The AfDB’s Non-Sovereign Operations team also presented financing solutions for the private sector while pursuing new strategic collaborations. Engagements with firms such as Solewant Group, a Nigerian steel and coatings leader, illustrated the Bank’s interest in high-impact African companies.

Showcasing innovation and entrepreneurship

The AfDB further contributed to several IATF sessions, including one organised with UNDP’s Timbuktoo initiative and the African Union on “Building an Enabling Startup Ecosystem,” as well as a discussion hosted by Afreximbank’s African Research and Innovation Centre. These platforms enabled the Bank to highlight its Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab and its flagship ENNOVA programme, which helps entrepreneurs expand their operations and access new opportunities.

The IATF Advisory Council, in which the Bank is an active participant, announced that Lagos, Nigeria, will host the fifth edition of the fair in 2027. Reaffirming its commitment, the AfDB stressed that trade, entrepreneurship, and innovation remain central to driving inclusive growth and industrial transformation across the continent.

FLS has completed a significant upgrade to its polyurethane manufacturing facility in Delmas, Mpumalanga, positioning the site as a key global hub for the production of its advanced NexGen wear-resistant material

This development forms part of a wider modernisation programme by FLS, aimed at strengthening supply chains, increasing manufacturing efficiency and enhancing
sustainability across its global footprint.

Brad Shepherd, director service line - screen and feeder consumables at FLS, said the investment at Delmas aligns with the company’s global strategy to standardise and optimise production processes.

“This is a milestone for us,” commented Shepherd. “We are integrating cutting edge technology and modern manufacturing methodologies across all our polyurethane plants, and Delmas is leading the way. The upgrade enables us to respond more quickly and reliably to customer needs across Africa, the Middle East and Europe.”

The centrepiece of the upgrade is the introduction of purpose-built infrastructure to produce NexGen screen media - a polyurethane material developed by FLS to deliver extended wear life, reduced maintenance and improved operational efficiency. In on-site trials, screen panels made from NexGen have demonstrated up to three times the wear life of conventional rubber and polyurethane products, making it a gamechanger for industries that rely on high performance screening solutions.

Warren Walker, head of global manufacturing - polyurethane operations at FLS, explained that Delmas is the first of the company’s five global polyurethane plants to complete this transition. “We have installed new, latest generation polyurethane machines, precision tooling and dedicated preheating ovens for inserts,” he said. “This allows us to significantly increase our output while ensuring consistent quality.”

The facility now includes two trommel screen media stations and three screen media stations, each tailored to produce NexGen products. One of the standout technologies introduced is a programmable auto- calibrating polyurethane machine capable of adjusting material hardness to suit
specific applications.

“The flexibility to produce varying hardness levels is critical,” Walker noted. “It means we can tailor our screen media precisely to the customer’s application, ensuring optimum performance and longevity.”

To complement this, a high capacity polyurethane machine capable of pouring up to 42 kg per minute is in operation at the facility. This system is particularly suited to applications requiring large volume pours, such as flotation spare parts and vertical mill components.

The Delmas facility already benefited from a significant upgrade in 2019, when a state-of-the-art six-axis machining centre was introduced for tooling precision, along with robotic welding systems for manufacturing screen media panel inserts and a CNC controlled spiral welding machine to produce wedge wire products. The latest round of investments builds on this foundation and brings the facility to the forefront of global polyurethane production capability.

Energy efficiency was a key consideration in the new layout and equipment design. “We have incorporated smart energy saving features like individual temperature control on each casting table station,” Walker remarked. “This avoids the need to heat large surface areas unnecessarily and contributes to our carbon reduction goals.”

Further supporting these goals is the installation of 300 kW of solar generation capacity at the Delmas site, completed in 2024. Plans are already in place to expand this by another 500 kW in 2026, along with the integration of a battery energy storage system (BESS), enabling greater energy independence and resilience.

FLS’s offering from Delmas extends beyond screen media manufacturing. The facility is equipped to handle the complete fabrication of vibrating screens, from raw material processing and in-house machining to assembly and factory acceptance testing. This vertical integration allows the company to deliver customised solutions with tighter control over quality and lead times.

Shepherd emphasises that FLS operates both as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and a screen media specialist, supplying screen panels for all types and brands of vibrating screens, feeders and trommel screens.

“We don’t just supply products,” he said. “We work closely with our customers through our network of on-the-ground specialists to assess site conditions and select the best screening media for their specific needs.”

He notes that many older processing plants are treating materials that differ from their original design specifications. In these cases, screen efficiency can often only be improved by optimising the screen media. “This is where NexGen makes a real difference,” Shepherd commented. “Combined with the correct aperture design, it allows customers to get more life and better performance from their screens.”

Unlike injection-moulded polyurethane, which can compromise the structural integrity of screen panels, FLS’s proprietary process retains superior mechanical properties, resulting in a tougher more durable product. “We have never used injection moulding because it reduces the quality of the end product,” Shepherd explained. “Our process delivers a product that stands up to the toughest operating conditions and offers lasting value.”

Walker adds that the expansion at Delmas not only supports FLS’s global operations but also contributes meaningfully to the South African economy. “Our commitment to local manufacturing is evident in the scale of our investment and the jobs we have created,” he said. “We have expanded our workforce, prioritised local recruitment and significantly grown our apprenticeship programme.”

A strong focus has also been placed on developing female artisans. In 2024, six women from the local community were recruited into a three year trade apprenticeship programme, receiving training in welding, fitting and boilermaking.

“Our investment during a period of economic uncertainty underlines FLS’s long term commitment to South Africa and to our customers in the broader EMEA region,” said Walker. “We are not just building products – we are building skills, opportunities and partnerships that will power sustainable growth for years to come.”