Jubail Bros has completed the testing of new MWM gas generator sets at its Nigeria facility - it marks the latest step in a new partnership with the global genset producer

“We’ve successfully completed the factory testing of our first-ever two × 1 MW gas generator sets powered by the MWM TCG2020V12 engine— right here at our Nigeria factory, and in the presence of an MWM representative,” Jubail Bros said in a statement posted on its social media.

“This marks a major step forward in our journey toward high-capacity, efficient gas power solutions, delivered with the quality, precision, and OEM-backed assurance our projects demand.”

The company called it a proud moment for its team “and a strong signal of what’s ahead in gas power execution.”

It added that the new units are part of a larger integrated power package combining gas and diesel generation, synchronisation, and ABB transformers “engineered for reliability, flexibility, and performance.”

Jubaili Bros last year announced its collaboration with MWM, a provider of sustainable gas gensets, to provide large, gas-fuelled electrical power solutions across Africa and the Middle East.

The partnership is to be built around MWM’s expertise in gas engine and gas genset technology as well as the extensive engineering and aftersales network.

As a result of the collaboration, Jubaili Bros will offer MWM gas generators with 42% and above efficiencies ranging from 400 to 4,500kW electrical that are suitable for a range of applications.

“We are confident that this collaboration will enable us to meet the growing demand for gas powered generators in the region,” Dr. Marcus Schumacher, CEO of Jubaili Bros said at the time the collaboration was announced.

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Komatsu will present its next-generation machinery, digital technologies, and service solutions at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 under the theme, “Connected performance, driving your success.”

The company will demonstrate how insights from connected equipment can be translated into tangible business results to boost productivity, enhance safety, and manage total cost of ownership.

Located at booth W41945 in the West Hall, Komatsu’s exhibit will feature one of the company’s most robust equipment lineups in years, including several models making their North American debut. Each machine is engineered for strong performance, with even greater value when integrated into Komatsu’s comprehensive digital ecosystem, which spans telematics, fleet management, artificial intelligence, and autonomous solutions.

Excavators

The exhibit will highlight the new PC220LCi-12 and PC365LC-11 multifunction plus excavators, designed for operator comfort and advanced technology integration to support efficient and productive jobsite operations. Another new excavator will also be unveiled during the show.

Wheel Loaders

Models such as the WA485-11 and WA475-11 will demonstrate how Komatsu’s proprietary Hydraulic Mechanical Transmission, improved cab design, and embedded technology can increase cycle times, reduce fuel consumption, and enhance operator awareness.

Dozers

Two next-generation dozers will be featured with advanced steering systems and operator-focused cabs. Their technologies are designed to help operators of varying skill levels achieve consistent results while boosting efficiency and productivity on the jobsite.

Haul Trucks

Komatsu will showcase the HD605-10 with enhanced performance and Smart Quarry integrations, along with Smart Quarry Autonomous solutions for both new and retrofit trucks. An all-new high-payload articulated truck with innovative traction control will also be unveiled.

Komatsu emphasises an integrated approach to supporting owners and fleet managers at every stage, from equipment selection and operator training to fleet management, performance analysis, and future planning. The company’s aim is to make operations easier, provide actionable insights, and help businesses achieve sustainable and profitable results.

This includes advancements in autonomous operation, software-defined vehicles, and AI technologies across Komatsu’s product line, driven by recent partnerships and developments.

“Owners and fleet managers want equipment and technology that work together to create value across the entire enterprise, not independently as one-off solutions,” said Rod Bull, CEO, Komatsu North America. “Connected performance is our commitment to deliver machines, data and services that help make better decisions, improve daily productivity and build long-term value in their operations.”

The company will also highlight expanded capabilities in My Komatsu, its central enterprise platform. Visitors can explore personalized digital experiences showing how fleet information, planning tools, and support resources integrate in one interface, leveraging AI and data analytics to shorten decision cycles and improve fleet performance. Smart Construction digital solutions will be demonstrated through hands-on displays and live demos, including tools like Smart Construction Dashboard mobile for planning, tracking, and precise digging.

Additional offerings at the booth will cover forestry applications, drilling equipment, and crushing solutions. Attachments from Komatsu-owned manufacturers Montabert, Lehnhoff, and Hensley will demonstrate increased versatility and efficient material handling across jobsites. Montabert and Hensley will also exhibit in adjacent booths to showcase end-to-end solutions for the construction and mining industries.

At Mining Indaba 2026, Ecobank Sierra Leone unveiled two major financing deals that highlight the growing role of African capital in supporting mining projects that promote local beneficiation, economic development and sustainable growth

The first transaction, concluded with Sierra Rutile Limited (SRL), the world’s leading producer of rutile, will finance the acquisition and relocation of the Kwale Mineral Sands Processing Plant from Kenya to Sierra Leone. The move supports the development of SRL’s Sembehun Project and represents a significant step in strengthening the country’s position within the global titanium supply chain.

In a second announcement, Ecobank revealed funding for Meya Mining that will support the acquisition and installation of advanced diamond processing equipment, mining vehicles and associated infrastructure. This investment will enable Meya to scale its operations responsibly and efficiently as it moves into full commercial production.

A milestone for Sierra Rutile and African mining finance

The Sierra Rutile transaction, led by Ecobank Sierra Leone with support from Ecobank Ghana, marks a turning point for the country’s mining and financial sectors.

Rutile is a critical mineral used across aerospace, medical and advanced manufacturing industries. By securing the future of the Sembehun Project, one of the world’s largest and highest-grade rutile deposits, the deal reinforces Sierra Leone’s role as a key supplier of titanium feedstock to global markets, ensuring long-term supply stability.

The transaction is also a first for Sierra Leone’s banking sector, demonstrating the maturity of the local financial market and the ability of African banks to structure and lead complex, risk-sharing deals that have traditionally been dominated by international lenders.

In addition, the project offers a practical example of intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). By reusing and relocating existing high-quality industrial assets from Kenya, rather than importing new equipment from outside the continent, the approach reduces capital costs, lowers carbon emissions associated with manufacturing and logistics, and shortens project timelines.

Supporting growth in Sierra Leone’s diamond sector

Alongside the Sierra Rutile deal, Ecobank Sierra Leone Limited, supported by Ecobank Ghana Plc, announced a US$25mn financing package for Meya Mining Limited. The facility reinforces the bank’s commitment to supporting sustainable development in Sierra Leone’s diamond industry.

The financing will strengthen responsible diamond production, support compliance with international frameworks such as the Kimberley Process, create local employment and contribute to national beneficiation objectives. It also aligns with Sierra Leone’s broader development strategy by linking financial solutions to long-term economic impact.

The transaction is expected to stimulate local supply chains through domestic payment flows, create and sustain more than 400 direct jobs with the majority sourced locally, and strengthen Sierra Leone’s standing in the global diamond market through traceable and responsibly mined stones. It also encourages further downstream investment, including cutting and polishing, to maximise value retention within the country.

Sebastian Ashong-Katai, managing director of Ecobank Sierra Leone, commented, "The Sierra Rutile transaction is a powerful demonstration of Ecobank’s pan-African network in action. We are not just providing capital; we are bridging continental gaps by facilitating the complex logistics and cross-border financing required to move critical industrial assets from Kenya to Sierra Leone. By leading this deal domestically, we are demonstrating that Sierra Leone’s financial infrastructure is ready for large-scale, long-term investment. Our support for Meya Mining shows that domestic capital can mobilise to support key projects that will drive local value addition, employment and growth."

"This partnership with Ecobank allows us to structure and execute a capital-efficient transition to the Sembehun Project, ensuring the long-term sustainability of our operations. It is a vote of confidence in Sierra Leone’s mining sector and a testament to the capacity of African financial institutions to structure world-class mining deals," stated Sierra Rutile CEO Lima Sufian-Kargbo."

“Ecobank’s support is especially valuable amid current challenges in the diamond market. This highlights the distinct geo-economic potential presented by the Meya deposit in Sierra Leone and further enhances the Company’s vision of what the future holds," said Meya Mining Limited CEO Jan Joubert.

"Ecobank’s facility will support the mine’s shift to commercial production, following an investment of more than US$100 million from shareholders in resource and initial mine development."

The Emerging Africa & Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF) has announced €40mn of sustainability-linked financing package to support the further upgrade and expansion of Cape Verde’s national airport network

The investment will fund development across seven airports, strengthening connectivity and airport environmental objectives and boost tourism to the country.

Specifically, it will support Phase 1B of a 40-year concession awarded in 2023 to Cape Verde Airports, operated by Vinci Concessions, to fund critical capacity upgrades, runway extensions, terminal expansions across four international and three domestic airports.

The programme is designed to accommodate sustained growth in passenger traffic while improving service quality and safety, in a country where air connectivity underpins economic development and tourism.

Sustainability measures include on-site solar PV and battery storage, energy-efficient terminal upgrades, water recycling, drainage and wastewater treatment, and commitments to reduce airport emissions by 30% by 2030, with a pathway consistent with Vinci Concessions objective to net zero by 2050.

Thanzi Ramukosi, investment specialist at Ninety One, the fund manager of EAAIF, said the investment in Cape Verde Airports reflects a commitment to financing essential transport infrastructure while limiting greenhouse gas emission increases.

“The sustainability-linked facility advances a programme that improves air connectivity and resilience in a Small Island Developing State, where aviation is fundamental to economic activity and tourism.”

Since the financial close of Phase 1A in 2023, traffic across Cape Verde’s airport network has recovered ahead of expectations, exceeding pre-pandemic levels, supported by new routes and additional airlines.

International traffic now accounts for approximately 80% of total passenger volumes, providing a resilient euro-denominated revenue base and underpinning the project’s robust financial profile.

On 13 January, 2026 Vinci Concessions announced the completion of the first phase of works, worth €80 million, to modernise and decarbonise airport operations.

It also announced record traffic growth with a 60% increase between 2022 and 2025, driven by 35 new air routes and initiatives to enhance connectivity.

The EAAIF funding contributes to a €142mn next phase over the coming three years for additional improvements.

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The countries of sub-Saharan Africa are set to become more important as the global economy realigns in the face of wider geopolitical shifts, a new report suggests

South Africa, as one of the so-called BRICS nations, also stands to prosper.

The report, by Boston Consulting Group, suggests that global trade will show some resilience, and could grow 2.5% annually through to 2034 despite rising fragmentation.

According to the report, nations in the so-called ‘Rest of the world’ category — which includes all of sub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of South Africa — look set to gain overall on the back of strategic neutrality.

“These free agents, however, will become increasingly important in the future, both as markets and suppliers of goods and services,” the report notes.

While there are a wide range of trade scenarios, reflecting current volatility, small non-aligned countries appear to be relatively isolated from any potential negative fallout.

The BRICS+ nations — including South Africa, and countries that joined later, such as Egypt and Ethiopia — will also seek to expand relationships within the Global South.

“BRICS+ countries have been taking steps to collaborate with each other on trade, which they see as a driver of growth,” the report notes. But their approach to trade differs, with some negotiating deals with other groupings and some not.”

BRICS+ nations (excluding China) could see 3% growth with the rest of the world over the period as well as trade growth among themselves, it adds.

“Global trade isn’t retreating, it’s reorganising,” said Marc Gilbert, managing director and senior partner, Global Leader of the Center for Geopolitics, and a co-author of the report.

“Leaders who embed geopolitics in capital and strategic decision-making will be best positioned to navigate the next decade of change to secure resilience as well as growth.”

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SANY Group has officially begun operations at its first global engineering machinery remanufacturing hub, the SANY Hunan-Hainan Intelligent Manufacturing Industrial Park

The launch marks a major step in SANY’s globalisation and sustainability strategy, with the company securing CNY100 million (US$14.27mn) in orders from clients in Southeast Asia and Africa on the opening day.

The Park represents China’s first industrial facility co-developed by a pilot free trade zone (FTZ) and a pilot free trade port, advancing cross-regional collaboration between Hunan and Hainan provinces. By leveraging both provinces’ industrial strengths and policy incentives, the Park is designed to support Chinese enterprises in expanding their international footprint.

Construction of the Park began in August 2023, covering approximately 10 hectares (150 mu). With a total investment of CNY600 million (US$85.62mn), it is expected to reach an annual output value of CNY750 million (US$107.02mn) when operating at full capacity.

Positioned as a regional remanufacturing hub and resource distribution platform, the Park focuses on the maintenance and remanufacturing of core engineering machinery components as well as second-hand equipment from domestic and international markets. The facility promotes the circular reuse of industrial resources, aligning with SANY’s commitment to sustainability.

Operating under the Hainan FTZ framework, eligible value-added processing activities enjoy tariff preferences, while remanufacturing operations under bonded supervision may qualify for corporate and personal income‑tax incentives. The Park benefits from the “Dual 15%” tax-incentive policy, receiving approval for outsourced processes to enjoy a 15% corporate income-tax reduction.

“The project represents a key strategic initiative for SANY to deepen its globalisation, digitalisation, and low-carbon transformation. Moving forward, SANY will continue to actively explore new models for remanufacturing, promote the circular reuse of industrial resources, and jointly advance the global engineering machinery industry's transition toward a greener, low-carbon future,” said Tang Xiuguo, chairman of SANY.