The Invest in African Energy 2024 forum awarded Benoît de la Fouchardiere, former Group General Manager of Perenco and current CEO of multi-service company Dixstone, with the Legendary Service to Africa Award on Tuesday.

Uniting African oil and gas industry giants, the award was presented by Marcel Abéké, Minister of Petroleum of Gabon; NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber; Armel Simondin, CEO of Perenco; Tim O’Hanlon, Senior Advisor to Panoro Energy; and Jean Michel-Jacoulot, CEO of Trident Energy.

“The energy industry has always been composed of champions who serve so much. Benoît took Perenco to bigger places. We thank you for showing that it’s not about the company – it’s about the people,” said Ayuk.

Under the leadership of de la Fouchardiere, Perenco has evolved into a regional leader in integrated oil and gas development, with operations spanning the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad, Gabon, Cameroon and the Republic of Congo. In Gabon, the company is spearheading the $1-billion Cap Lopez LNG terminal – set to transform the country into an LNG exporter – as well as the re-development of mature and marginal assets.

“Today, we are able to reinvent the future of mature fields in Gabon, to take gas resources and utilize them for the good of the people and of Africa. We are now moving forward with this gas project in Gabon – this is your vision,” said Simondin. 

“Moving into very challenging sectors of the gas business is a credit to you,” noted O’Hanlon. 

Julius Rone, Group Managing Director and CEO of UTM Offshore, was also honored with the Changemaker for Pioneering Gas Monetization by FLNG Award. UTM Offshore is currently driving Nigeria’s energy transition through the development of a floating LNG plant – the first of its kind to be developed in the country by an indigenous company – aiming to reduce the country’s carbon footprint and monetize its 200+ trillion cubic feet of natural gas. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

While remaining underexplored, South Sudan is considered to hold significant commercial quantities of mineral resources. A nascent gold mining sector in the country offers established producers the opportunity to partner with the government on frontier prospects and leverage their expertise to spearhead mineral exploration, extraction and development activities.

For the first time in its eight-year history, this year’s South Sudan Oil&Power (SSOP) conference and exhibition has expanded to four days to include a concurrent Mining Forum, which will explore and promote South Sudan’s untapped mining potential. The forum invites international investors and private companies to participate in the forum and engage directly with South Sudan’s Ministry of Mining to explore emerging opportunities in the sector.

Geological Surveying and Mineral Occurrences

Despite holding similar known geological frameworks as neighboring countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and northern Uganda, reliable information on the potentiality of South Sudan’s mineral reserves is not yet readily accessible. The DRC serves as the world’s 16th largest gold producer, accounting for 2% of global production. The Kibali gold mine serves as one of the largest gold mines of its kind in Africa, producing 343,000 ounces of gold in 2023 and showcasing a high potential for similar gold deposits in South Sudan.

In 2022, exploration surveys in Uganda led to the discovery of approximately 31 million tons of gold ore deposits, from which an estimated 320,158 tons of refined gold could potentially be extracted, valued at $12.8 trillion. The geological framework in South Sudan comprises three main units, two of which show regionally correlated gold sequences with northern Uganda.

Known gold deposits mainly occur in the central and eastern Equatoria region in South Sudan, which is home to a number of small-scale artisanal mining activities. In these states, gold is mined across the Kawokono area, with reported activity located near the areas of Nyangea, Lauro, Buno, Napotpot and Namurunyan, where gold is extracted by local miners. Meanwhile, over 50 alluvial sites located near the Luri river – approximately 40 km southwest of Juba – have reported gold discoveries, which have been estimated to contain a concentration as high as 4 grams per m3. Other important alluvial gold concentrations have been reported from the Kinyeti river, the city of Nimule and northeast Karpeto.

International Collaboration in the Sector

Last February, South Sudan’s Ministry of Mining and South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy signed an MOU for collaboration in the mining sector, providing for increased cooperation in exploration, knowledge transfer and capacity building. As part of the signing ceremony, South Sudan’s Minister of Mining Martin Abucha called on international investors to participate in the country’s mining industry, inviting private sector players to engage with the Ministry in exploring newfound opportunities.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s state-owned African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation announced last June that it is actively seeking partnerships with South Sudanese mining companies. South Africa’s Council for Geoscience has also expressed interest in geothermal activities in East Africa, with a focus on South Sudan. Furthermore, an exploration pact between U.S.-based mining firm REE-Magnesium and Canada’s CVMR Inc. signed in September 2019 enabled the two companies to conduct satellite imaging to map South Sudan’s mineral resources. The exploration pact has also positioned the South Sudanese Government in a space where it is able to explore its own mineral resources and productively develop the sector.

Further announcements to the country’s mining sector – which include development of a geological laboratory and the establishment of a mining chamber – will be made later this year during the seventh edition of the SSOP conference and its satellite Mining Forum. The Forum, which will take place on June 27, will showcase new project developments and facilitate partnerships and investment between local and foreign mining firms, while exploring the intersection of mining and energy and how South Sudan can leverage its existing infrastructure to support mining sector growth.

SSOP 2024 positions South Sudan at the center of investments and partnerships in the East African energy landscape. Taking place in Juba on June 25-28, 2024, the conference and exhibition invites investors to explore and engage with opportunities across the hydrocarbons, renewable energy and power sectors. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

PayRetailers (www.PayRetailers.com), the leading payment processor for Latin America is pleased to announce its new expansion to Africa. With coverage across four countries, the company offers a unified payment solution that will be a game changer for cross-border online merchants looking at Africa as their next move for strategic growth.

To strengthen its presence in the continent, PayRetailers is activating its payment processing functions in Rwanda, Zambia, Uganda, and Tanzania. This will offer a simple, user-friendly, and scalable experience to businesses looking to grow their regional operations and give them access to major local methods like SPENN, Airtel, and MTN.

This market is increasingly connected and mobile and destined for strong growth, which is why PayRetailers, in its mission to increase financial inclusion and continue supporting business growth in emerging markets, has decided to activate its networks in the region and drive this exciting era of prosperity.

Lorenzo Pellegrino, Chief Operating&Digital Officer at the fintech, states: “As a part of our strategic expansion, we are extending our coverage to four markets in Africa, at least to start with. Over the coming months, we plan to steadily expand our operation in the continent, which is experiencing incredible growth in the payments industry and has massive potential for merchants looking to diversify and broaden their consumer base. Using the stellar and continuous growth we have experienced in LATAM as our guide, we are well-poised to help businesses thrive faster and more sustainably.”

“We recognize the immense potential and significance of venturing into these dynamic markets,” adds Juan Pablo Jutgla, CEO of PayRetailers. “Each new addition to our market coverage is a gateway into untapped opportunities and strengthened partnerships, ensuring our sustained growth and global relevance. Our imminent expansion into additional countries across West, North, and Southern Africa underscores our commitment to empowering our clients and connecting them with diverse consumer bases across the continent.”

From May onward, businesses will be able to operate in the region using PayRetailers for their online users, representing a major milestone for its client portfolio and its innovation strategy for 2024.

To secure its standing in the African market, the company reveals further expansion plans already in stow for the coming months.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of PayRetailers.

For media contact:
María José Naya
mariajose.naya@payretailers.com

About PayRetailers:
Founded in 2017, PayRetailers has established itself as a leading global provider of online payment services with a focus on Latin America&Africa. The company’s mission is to offer comprehensive payment solutions for e-commerce, covering the entire process of cross-border transactions without the need for a local entity.

Through a direct API, an advanced technological platform, and commercial agreements, PayRetailers provides global merchants with access to over 250 local payment methods across Latin America&Africa. Simplifying payments for both businesses and their clients, PayRetailers increases conversion and boosts sales. Their proprietary technological architecture is also highly flexible and scalable, allowing them to innovate rapidly to meet the ever-evolving market demand.

Based in Spain, with strategically located regional offices in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, Bulgaria, and the Isle of Man, PayRetailers positions itself as a trusted partner for businesses looking to maximize their growth potential and expand into Latin America, Africa, and beyond.

For more information, please visit the PayRetailers website at www.PayRetailers.com or their LinkedIn page at https://apo-opa.co/4dI7wK8.

His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio has addressed the Clean Cooking in Africa Summit, emphasising that it has seen a lack of progress because nearly four in five Africans still cook their meals over open fires and traditional stoves using polluting fuels.

He noted that the lack of access to clean cooking had dire consequences for health, the climate and gender equality, contributing to nearly half a million premature deaths of women and children annually in Africa alone.

The President, therefore, reiterated that the sole aim of the summit, organised by the International Energy Agency, IEA, is to elevate clean cooking on the global agenda, to mobilise financial commitments and to develop a roadmap of concrete action-oriented strategies.

His Excellency the President also commended the IEA and the Africa Development Bank Group for convening the summit, adding that the past experiences had revealed a disheartening truth that clean cooking, a matter of utmost importance, was often overlooked in the energy access and electrification planning processes in the different countries.

“Today’s Summit is a call to action, a plea to prioritise this crucial issue for the betterment of our people and our planet. In the context of Sierra Leone, the 2023 SDG Tracking Report shows that Sierra Leone’s access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking was at only 0.8% in 2021, with 1.5% of the population in urban areas having access and 0% in rural areas with access.

“The absence of access to clean cooking solutions significantly affects Sierra Leone’s economy, with estimated annual costs of inaction totalling US$4.7 billion. These costs stem from adverse impacts on various fronts: women’s lost productivity (US$1.4 billion), health (US$3.2 billion), and climate change impacts (US$0.2 billion).

“So, this Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa to Make 2024 a Turning Point for Clean Cooking is critical for Sierra Leone, and hence my presence here today. Therefore, we must be bold enough to implement the right policies and create the enabling environment to ensure that the close to 1 billion people currently lacking access to clean cooking in Africa can transition to cleaner fuels and technologies.

In his opening remarks as Chairman of the plenary and Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Dr Fatih Birol, said he was pleased to have global leaders together to discuss ways of mitigating the effects and lack of access to clean cooking in Africa.

President of the African Development Bank, Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina, said he was speaking at the summit as president of the ADB and a child who suffered from the effect of the lack of access to clean cooking. He noted that the summit was very timely and it would help mitigate the untimely deaths caused by the effects of the lack of access to clean cooking in Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.