“One day, in the operating theatre, there was a power cut́ in the middle of a laparotomy [opening of the abdomen] for a case of pelvic peritonitis. We had to finish the operation using a torch. It was very hard.”

Dr Franck Arnaud Ndorukwigira, doctor and deputy director at Gitega regional hospital in Burundi, has unpleasant memories from the time when the facility had to rely on diesel generators for electricity. In order to have sufficient funds for other priority needs, the hospital was compelled to limit spending on diesel and therefore endure protracted periods of power cuts.

This problem has been overcome in recent months, thanks to stable and regular supply of electricity from the 80 megawatt Rusumo hydroelectric power station, whose output is shared between Burundi, Rwanda and Tanzania.

The station was built at a cost of USD 340 million, with the African Development Bank Group (AfDB Group) providing USD 107.11 million, including USD 97.31 million from the Bank Group’s concessional lending window, the African Development Fund, and USD 9.8 million from another AfDB lending vehicle, the Nigeria Trust Fund. The World Bank and the European Union also took part in the financing.

As well as construction of the power station itself, the project also comprised the installation of transmission lines, including a 161‑kilometer cable to deliver 27 megawatts of electricity to Burundi.

The electricity supply from Rusumo means that the Gitega hospital can now devote more resources to upgrading equipment and medical teams can focus on their primary mission of saving lives. The hospital has installed an oxygen production unit that meets its own needs and supplies gas to other regional medical centres. New incubators in the hospital’s neonatal department are permanently connected to the oxygen generator, saving the lives of premature babies.

“It has made a huge difference,” Dr Ndorukwigira says. “We took in a mother who gave birth to premature triplets at six months. If these new incubators were not connected to electricity 24 hours a day, we couldn’t have cared for these babies properly and they would probably have died. Now the babies are gradually gaining weight and their mother is very happy.”

The upgrading of electricity infrastructure associated with the Rusumo project is helping local businesses and households as well, boosting the regional economy. Additional work is now underway to extend medium-voltage power lines to more rural communities, promoting inclusive economic growth.

Ezéchiel Bagayuwitunze, who coordinates Burundi’s share of the Rusumo project, described the overall impact the project is having for his country: “Previously, the town of Gitega and the surrounding districts suffered frequent and long power cuts and major drops in voltage, due to electricity shortages and low capacity of the existing transmission cables. The installation of better cables and hydroelectric power from Rusumo Falls means that we can provide a better service to people in Gitega region and the country as a whole.”

“By focusing its power supply strategy on hydroelectricity, Burundi is building a greener, more sustainable future, supporting low-carbon economic and social development,” said Jean Barakamfitiye, the engineer in charge of the Gitega and Muyinga substations. “We have a vision of a developed country in 2040 and a rich country in 2060… The Rusumo project makes a major contribution to achieving that goal.”

The power from Rusumo has also made it possible to shut down a 30-megawatt oil-fired power station, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and emissions of greenhouse gas. The closure of the thermal power station helps save USD 2 million per month, the cost of buying fuel and lubricants.

Click here (https://apo-opa.co/3Y74edp) for photos of the project.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

À propos du Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement:
Le Groupe de la Banque africaine de développement est la principale institution de financement du développement en Afrique. Il comprend trois entités distinctes : la Banque africaine de développement (BAD), le Fonds africain de développement (FAD) et le Fonds spécial du Nigeria (FSN). Représentée dans 41 pays africains, avec un bureau extérieur au Japon, la Banque contribue au développement économique et au progrès social de ses 54 États membres régionaux. Pour plus d’informations : www.AfDB.org

As part of our ‘Closer to Our Customers’ strategy, we showcased our latest advancements including the EOS R1, EOS R5 Mark II, EOS C400&EOSC80 to 25 key customers from across Africa; We aimed to equip our customers with firsthand experience of the diverse products, including Canon’s Multicam Solutions (www.Canon-CNA.com), empowering them to tailor strategies, enhance workflows, and improve efficiency.

Canon Central&North Africa returned to the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) took place at the RAI Amsterdam, 13 – 16 September 2024. At this year’s show, Canon showcased its very latest innovations in imaging technology designed to empower broadcasters and content creators to push creative boundaries and deliver exceptional visual experiences.

Following a summer of momentous launches including the Canon EOS R1, EOS R5 Mark II, and the EOS C400, and with more advancements in the pipeline, the convention offered attendees a first look at the latest products. From professional cinema and PTZ cameras to an extended VR range, the entire breadth of the Canon portfolio was showcased at IBC to explore and experience.

Rashad Ghani, B2C Business Unit Director at Canon Central&North Africa, said: Canon has had a groundbreaking year, setting a new standard for professional of all levels. As part of our ‘Closer to Our Customers’ strategy, we’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to showcase our latest advancements, including the EOS R1, EOS R5 Mark II, and EOS C400, to 25 key customers from various parts of Africa. From Kenya and Nigeria to Egypt, Morocco, Central African region and beyond, we welcomed customers representing diverse industries, including broadcast, cinema, rental houses, education, and government institutions.

Our goal was to equip our African customers with firsthand experience of our products and solutions, enabling them to tailor their strategies to meet the unique needs of the African market. By highlighting the breadth of our portfolio and the cutting-edge capabilities of our equipment, we aim to empower our customers to drive their businesses forward. Additionally, we also highlighted Canon’s Multicam Solutions, which enhance workflows by offering operational, management, and cost efficiencies, allowing users to optimize processes and improve overall efficiency.

Whether it’s virtual production, remote workflows, or other emerging trends, we remain dedicated to ensuring everyone, from individual creators to those part of large-scale productions, benefit from our advancements.

This year, we were particularly honoured to welcome the talented Nigerian cinematographer and filmmaker, Nora Awolowo, who experienced her first visit to IBC. As one of the few individuals to exclusively experience the EOS C80 prior to the event, Nora’s participation underscores our commitment to nurturing and empowering creative professionals from Africa. By providing opportunities for direct engagement with industry experts and networking with peers, we aim to foster a vibrant and innovative community within the region.”

Building on last year’s success, the stand was made up of multiple zones giving visitors the chance to get hands-on with a host of Canon products. This included a Multi-Cam zone, RF System zone, Virtual Production Workflow space and PTZ Wall. Canon’s team of experts were on hand to guide users through the experience, answer questions and showcase the full capability of the products on display. 

Empowering broadcasters to embrace the future of visual storytelling

Canon focused on key areas where its technology is helping drive the industry forward, including the latest large format cameras and lenses built to capture breathtaking visuals with incredible detail and cinematic depth of field.

The EOS C400 launched earlier this year is the first high-end RF mount Cinema EOS camera, ushering in a groundbreaking new era. The EOS C400 enables operators to access the full suite of features typically associated with larger scale production cameras without the burden of size, weight or attaching additional modules.

The PTZ area included an extensive list of products that showcased the powerful image quality and operability of the full range of indoor and outdoor PTZ products and applications from Canon. The CR-N100, CR-N300, CR-N500 and CR-X300, controllers, as well as Canon Auto Loop and Auto Tracking, will all be exhibited for visitors.

Mirrorless cameras setting new standards for performance and creativity

Canon’s flag bearers for the EOS R System – the EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II – were showcased giving attendees the chance to try out features such as the new ‘Accelerated Capture’ imaging platform and new Dual Pixel Intelligent AF.

EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II offer video in 12-bit RAW recording internally to the memory card as well as using Cinema EOS Movie Recording formats alongside Canon Log 2 and 3 with proxy video recording that is now fully supported between two cards. This takes professional video production to new heights, delivering outstanding quality and creative flexibility no matter the scenario.

Virtual production workflows

The versatile Flex Zoom lens lineup including the CN-E20-50mm T2.4 L F / FP and CN-E14-35mm T1.7 L S / SP that are future-proofed for 8K productions as well as providing greater flexibility for 4K due to the additional detail and high resolution they provide. For VR, the new RF-S 3.9mm F3.5 STM DUAL FISHEYE lens makes it easier than ever to create 3D VR footage. The compact lens boasts a wide 144-degree field of view and large depth of field, simplifying set-up and keeping the subject in focus. Also on display were the RF 5.2mm F2.8L DUAL FISHEYE and RF-S 7.8mm F4 STM DUAL lenses, further showcasing the possibilities for immersive content creation.

Cover more from studios to stadiums with expanded range of lenses

Beyond VR, over the last few months, Canon has been expanding its lens offering. The Lens Showcase Zone demonstrates Canon’s commitment to innovation and empowering users to capture stunning footage whether that’s in the great outdoors or in studio. On display were familiar lenses alongside new releases such as the CJ27ex7.3B IASE T lens which features the widest coverage and telephoto reach currently on the market in its category, along with new hybrid products such as the RF 24-105mm F2.8L IS USM Z.

For Cine lenses, the recently unveiled CN7x17 KAS T cine servo lens were on display, showcasing an upgraded drive unit that revolutionises the future of Canon’s lens offering.

For more information about IBC, visit: https://apo-opa.co/3TSO5pk

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) (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/3BuwHBd) – ‘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: Canon-CNA.com

The National Oil, Gas&Biofuels Agency (ANPG) – Angola’s concessionaire and regulator – announced that 15 new concessions will be awarded in Angola before the end of 2024. Speaking during the Angola Oil&Gas (AOG) 2024 pre-conference on Tuesday, the ANPG’s Director of Negotiations Hélder Iombo said that these additional licenses bring the total number of awarded blocks in the country to 47 since 2019.  

Angola currently offers 30 block opportunities. The country concluded its 2023 tender in January 2024, securing 53 bids from a suite of companies, and is preparing to launch its next bid round in Q1, 2025. To date, 32 concessions have been awarded since 2019, with more than 50 blocks expected to be licensed at the end of the country’s six-year licensing round next year. An investment pipeline of more than $60 billion is also planned across the upstream market within the next five years, predominately from work budgets that have already been approved.  

“We have six energy majors active in Angola, and currently, all these majors are expanding their portfolios. This is clear that the policies Angola has been implementing are effective,” said Iombo. He added that in addition to implemented decrees, “we have renegotiated all of our contracts to provide better terms for investors, to encourage companies to not only invest but increase production. This is a key pillar enabling us to maintain production at 1.1 million barrels per day. We have also approved the incremental production decree, which will be published soon.”  

Looking ahead, Angola aims to maintain production through its next bid round, permanent offer program and incremental production initiative. Up to 9 blocks are available in the 2025 bid round; 11 through the permanent offer program; 6 onshore blocks; and – for the first time ever – 4 marginal field opportunities are on offer. These opportunities aim to drive exploration and development in Angola.  

Beyond new blocks, Angola is incentivizing reinvestment across its producing assets. Victor Santos, Technician DPRO at the ANPG, explained that “most of the basins in the Lower Congo basin are mature and have produced for years, but we realised that these fields still offer potential that can be optimized, adding new oil to the production system in Angola. To increase production, we needed to change the terms, so that we incentivize operators to bring new production online.”  

The country’s incremental production initiative offers improved fiscals for oil produced above the base-production levels of the existing asset. This way, companies have the means to recover costs, invest more and produce more.  

The AOG 2024 pre-conference takes place today in Luanda, serving as a prelude to the main program on October 2-3. The pre-conference program featured a series of technical workshops and presentations covering various aspects of the oil and gas value chain in Angola.  

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

Global technology company SLB announced it will inaugurate its Integrated Performance Excellence (IPX) Center in Luanda this November during an Angola Oil&Gas (AOG) pre-conference workshop.

Set to cater to the entire lifecycle for oil and gas projects in Angola, the center will facilitate production efficiency while reducing production losses. Additionally, the center aims to maximize economic recovery from well-developed oil and gas fields in Angola while elevating local skills and developing a balanced energy system.

“This center will effectively handle and support local operators and clients [in Luanda], and in the region as well,” stated Rajesh Trivedi, Production Workflows Business Development Manager at SLB Europe and Africa. “We want a collaborative performance center to address and apply technology in local challenges in a collaborative partnership.”

Active in Angola for over 90 years, SLB supports field development as well as exploration across the country’s oil and gas basins. The company launched the Lumi Platform last September, which aims to integrate upstream and midstream applications with a seamless flow of data from AI models. The platform offers a complete lifecycle solution integrated with data management capabilities to empower data-driven decision-making for local operators and clients in Angola’s oil and gas industry.

Meanwhile, SLB has developed a comprehensive dataset covering 40,000km2 across Angola’s offshore Kwanza Basin. The company has merged 11 existing datasets to create a singular data package, thereby improving the geological understanding of the acreage. This serves to de-risk exploration ahead of Angola’s 2025 Bid Round – launching in Q1 next year.

According to SLB’s Exploration Lead Europe and Africa Sugandha Tewari, “Through the new dataset, we can now see beyond different blocks and identify issues we may encounter. We have generated coherent data, whereby we can revisit our understanding of the basin. This helps us identify potential leads and prospects across the different countries and blocks. Our regional 3D surveys have allowed us to interpret with much more confidence.”

This data has already supported major projects. According to WesternGeco’s New Ventures Manager Miles Dyton, reprocessed data across the Golfinho field – part of the Kaminho deepwater project – has supported TotalEnergies to proceed with the development of the project.

“It’s important to remember that old data is not bad data. New techniques can be applied to the data we already have,” Dyton explained.

Angola aims to increase national production through various strategies, including heightened exploration and field development. In 2024, the country launched its first-ever marginal fields for exploration and is expected to launch an incremental production program to entice reinvestment in producing assets. SLB’s comprehensive data-set and IPX Center will serve to support these objectives.

The AOG 2024 pre-conference takes place today in Luanda, serving as a prelude to the main program on October 2-3. The pre-conference program features a series of technical workshops and presentations covering various aspects of the oil and gas value chain in Angola.

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