ENGIE Energy Access (www.ENGIE-EnergyAccess.com), Africa’s leading Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) and mini-grid solutions provider, has officially commenced the construction of 15 solar mini-grids in Zambia’s Eastern Province. This initiative is a crucial part of the transformative Increase Access to Electricity and Renewable Energy Production (IAEREP) programme, funded by the 11th European Development Fund and the European Union.

By expanding the adoption of off-grid energy solutions in Zambia, ENGIE Energy Access will provide reliable electricity to underserved families and small businesses, creating economic growth and increasing socio-economic welfare in local communities.

MySol Grid Zambia, a unit of ENGIE Energy Access, is responsible for constructing, owning, operating, and maintaining these mini-grids. This ensures that residential, commercial, and productive-use customers have access to dependable and renewable power along with value-adding services.

“We are excited to announce this significant milestone, which brings ENGIE Energy Access closer to achieving its goal of operating 60 mini-grids across five provinces in Zambia. This project supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 7, by delivering affordable, reliable, and sustainable clean energy to 40,000 people living in rural areas. Our work is an important element of the national electrification plans, and we are committed to collaborating with the authorities to expand energy access and promote sustainable development in Zambia,” said Gillian-Alexandre Huart, CEO of ENGIE Energy Access.

The first sites in this groundbreaking project include: Lusinde, Kandongwa, Nyimba Mwana, Chidiwa, Chataika, Kanyanga, Petulo, Kasamba, Chidiwa, Mphole, Mung’omba, Kalambana, Mtore, Kondwelani, Lunga, and Luamphande and are scheduled to be operational by the end of 2024.

In 2023, MySol Grid Zambia signed a USD 7.5 million debt facility with Facility for Energy Inclusion (FEI), managed by Cygnum Capital. This funding will provide the company with the necessary resources and flexibility to construct a total of 60 mini-grids under the IAEREP programme. This is a significant step for the mini-grid sector, with these assets having attracted non-recourse long-term financing.

ENGIE Energy Access established its presence in Zambia in 2017.  It currently has over 250 employees, 650 independent sales agents, and more than 60 points of presence across the country. The company has sold over 300,000 shs kits and has 1 mini-grid operational in Chitandika.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Engie Energy Access.

Press contact ENGIE Energy Access :
katja.damman@engie.com

About ENGIE Energy Access www.ENGIE-EnergyAccess.com
ENGIE Energy Access is the leading Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) and mini-grids solutions provider in Africa. The company develops innovative, off-grid solar solutions for homes, public services and businesses, enabling customers and distribution partners access to clean, affordable energy. The PAYGO solar home systems are financed through affordable instalments and the mini-grids foster economic development by enabling electrical productive use and triggering business opportunities for entrepreneurs in rural communities. With over 1,800 employees, operations in nine countries across Africa (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia), 2.5 million customers and more than 12.5 million lives impacted so far, ENGIE Energy Access aims to impact 20 million lives across Africa by 2025.

Read more on ENGIE-EnergyAccess.com

Canon Inc. (https://en.Canon-CNA.com/) announced today that it will launch new plastic sorting equipment with innovative material identification technology. The equipment applies Raman spectroscopy technology to moving objects with a tracking mechanism to collectively detect the material types of plastic fragments with high accuracy, even when black plastic pieces are mixed with other colors, which has been conventionally challenging. Today, the company will begin widely accepting orders from the market for the “TR Series” which includes the “TR-S1510.”

Currently, roughly 20%[1] of plastic waste generated in our daily lives is recycled as material for new products (material recycling), while the remainder is used as fuel or incinerated. Recycled plastics have to maintain a certain degree of purity, which is why materials made of plastic waste, such as ABS[2] and polypropylene (PP), must be accurately identified. However, black plastics, often used in home electronics or automobile upholstery, do not transmit or reflect visible light, making it difficult to identify their materials using conventional near-infrared spectroscopy[3]. Additionally, in order to accelerate plastic recycling, higher accuracy and productivity are required for sorting operations. The new product employs a proprietary tracking Raman spectroscopic method to rapidly sort all plastic pieces regardless of their colours, including black, with high precision, thereby helping to improve the productivity of recycling plants. With the launch of this product, Canon marks its entry into the recycling system market in an aim to build a circular economy by maximizing material recycling.

The new product’s high-precision, high-speed sorting of plastic including black pieces is thanks to its unique combination of Raman spectroscopy with a tracking mechanism. Raman spectroscopy is a detection method that utilizes laser light to illuminate plastic pieces to obtain molecular information of the substance, thereby enabling the material detection. This method is technically applicable to black plastic. However, due to the limited amount of reflection by the black plastic pieces, the measurement time is too long relative to the speed and throughput required to effectively sort all the pieces regardless of their colours at recycling plants. Therefore, the practical application of Raman spectroscopy to sorting black plastic has so far proven difficult. By combining Raman spectroscopy with Canon’s measurement and control equipment, the company has developed a tracking Raman spectroscopy technology which scans[4] laser light toward the pieces, thus ensuring there is enough measurement time required for each piece of plastic according to its colour and achieving high speed and high accuracy overall. With this new system, the materials of black plastic pieces which were challenging to identify using the conventional near-infrared method can now be identified in a practical manner even when mixed with other colours, thereby helping to improve the productivity of recycling plants and, as the result, maximizing material recycling.

This new product maintains a conveyor speed of 1.5 meters per second and can sort up to 1 ton of plastic per hour. It can even be customized according to a customer’s throughput and installation space by changing the module which tracks and measures the plastic pieces or the combination of conveyor belts.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com

APO Group – PR Agency
Rania ElRafie
e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com

About Canon Central and North Africa:
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.

Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.

Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://apo-opa.co/3VZpZLo) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.

For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com

UNIDO’s Director General Gerd Müller visited the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to expand the cooperation between UNIDO and Algeria with a special focus on decarbonization, green hydrogen, circular economy, food security, entrepreneurship, skills development and South-South cooperation.

The Director General met with the President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, at the Presidential Palace of El Mouradia in Algiers, and discussed ways to strengthen UNIDO-Algeria cooperation and to jointly contribute to advance industrial development in Africa.

Müller commended the reforms launched by the President through his national action plan 2020-2024, stressed Algeria’s leading role in the energy sector and strategic importance for Africa: “Algeria is not only the largest country in Africa, but also one of its leading economies with great potential for sustainable industrialization, and an important partner for other African countries, Europe and the world. This is the beginning of a new quality of cooperation between UNIDO and Algeria. We will increase our efforts to support economic diversification, local value addition in strategic sectors and creating jobs for the large young population, as well as supporting regional trade integration via the African Continental Free Trade Area.”

The Director General also met with Ahmed Attaf, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who expressed his commitment to UNIDO’s mandate and stressed that industrial development is vital to driving economic progress and job creation in Africa. Müller highlighted Algeria’s strategic role for the entire African continent in energy access and regional integration and stressed that UNIDO will increase its support to help the country realize its full potential as a role model for other African countries in terms of local processing. Müller and Attaf also discussed the need to mobilize more investments for sustainable industrial development in Africa. UNIDO is organizing in the fourth quarter of 2024 two high-level conferences dedicated to mobilizing such investments. The Director General invited the Minister to participate in these conferences, noting that Algeria can function as a bridge to other African countries for investments, technology and knowledge transfer.

A joint declaration signed between the Director General and Ali Aoun, Minister of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production underscored the commitment to expand the cooperation between UNIDO and Algeria.

Ali Aoun said:  ”UNIDO interventions are very successful. We would like to expand our cooperation with the Organization and benefit from its experience and expertise to accelerate the sustainable industrial development”.

Director General Müller thanked the Minister for the ongoing successful cooperation and highlighted that the joint declaration gives a new dynamism to the cooperation: “We will initiate new projects in priority areas for Algeria including the decarbonization of heavily-emitting sectors such as cement and the modernization of infrastructure, vocational training, new technologies and the local pharmaceutical industry.”

Energy was also an important topic of the Director General’s mission to Algeria. He was briefed by Mohamed Arkab, Minister of Energy and Mining, on Algeria’s plans to accelerate its energy transition and increase the share of renewable energy in its energy mix. UNIDO is already supporting the country’s efforts to become a key player in green hydrogen, and Müller and Arkab moreover discussed expanding UNIDO’s project portfolio to help Algeria increase local value addition of critical minerals for the global energy transition, and to work together via South-South cooperation to support energy access throughout Africa

Müller’s meeting with Fazia Dahlab, Minister of Environment and Renewable Energy, focused on expanding UNIDO’s existing project portfolio with concrete new projects in cleantech, circular economy, green hydrogen and for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol.   Minister Dahlab commended the ongoing cooperation with UNIDO in particular for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol and the ECOVERTEC project, funded by the EU, which is introducing resource efficiency, cleaner production as well as new clean technologies to more than 250 industries in the country.

During his visit to Algeria Venture, the first state-owned start up for entrepreneurs and innovation, together with Yacine Oualid, Minister of Knowledge Economy, Start-ups and Micro-enterprises, Director General Müller agreed to boost cooperation and promote clean tech start-ups, AI, circular economy and innovation to create jobs for youth.

Müller also held a meeting with Toufik Bouras, Acting Director General of the Algerian Agency for International Cooperation in Solidarity (AACISD).  Discussions centered on potential cooperation between UNIDO and AACISD to implement projects in African countries, particularly LDCs, with a focus on capacity building andvocational training, climate resilience and safeguarding the environment

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

On 5 May 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of the COVID-19 global health emergency, but efforts to fight the virus continue worldwide.

In South Sudan, the Ministry of Health set an ambitious goal to vaccinate over 80% of the population aged 18 and above by the end of 2024. To achieve this, the Ministry of Health included COVID-19 vaccination as part of regular healthcare services. This strategic move ensured that COVID-19 vaccines were readily accessible across various centers, increasing the chances of reaching a broad population.

To ensure the success of this initiative, South Sudan implemented a comprehensive system to monitor vaccination rates and disease spread in real-time. The Ministry of Health also launched targeted campaigns to raise awareness about vaccinations, especially among groups at higher risk, dispel myths, and educate the public on the benefits and safety of vaccines, ensuring higher acceptance rates.

The Campaign’s Reach

In early 2024, South Sudan conducted a successful COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Terekeka, Central Equatoria State; Kapoeta South, Kapoeta North, and Ikwotos, Eastern Equatoria State; Ezo and Tambura, Western Equatoria State; Aweil East and Aweil North, Northern Bahr El Ghazal State; and Gogrial West and Tonj North, Warrap State, vaccinating over 51% of the targeted population and significantly boosting overall vaccination rates.

“My team and I went door-to-door, spreading the word about the importance of vaccines and ensuring everyone had the opportunity to get vaccinated,” said Alice Lajara, a community leader in Isoho village. Her efforts not only educated the community but also alleviated fears and misconceptions about vaccinations.

“Alice’s visit changed everything for us. I was so scared for my children, but she explained everything clearly and kindly. Now, I feel confident that we are protected”, said Lucy Nabal, a young mother who overcame her fears about vaccinations.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of community leaders like Alice Lajara, who went door-to-door to spread awareness about the importance of vaccines, the campaign achieved an impressive 86% COVID-19 vaccination rate in Isoho village of Ikwotos County, Eastern Equatoria State.

“Vaccines save lives,” said Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative for South Sudan. “By integrating the COVID-19 vaccine alongside essential vaccines such as the oral polio vaccine, pentavalent, measles, and tetanus toxoid, we can significantly enhance the overall immunity of our population and improve the health of our vulnerable communities. This comprehensive approach ensures that our children and adults are protected against multiple diseases, paving the way for a healthier future.”

Thanks to the generous funding of the World Bank, South Sudan’s successful vaccination campaign demonstrates the power of collaboration between government institutions, community leaders, and international organizations in safeguarding communities’ health and safety. It showcases the effectiveness of comprehensive vaccination strategies, real-time monitoring, targeted awareness campaigns, and community involvement, paving the way for its population’s healthier and more resilient future.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – South Sudan.