December 31, 2022
Dutch Court ruled Shell to pay Nigerian Farmers for Oil Damage
According to AllAfrica, a Dutch Appeal court ruled that Shell's Nigerian branch must pay $16 million to four Nigerian farmers and their communities to compensate for damage caused by pollution caused by leaks in its oil pipelines. Additionally, Shell must install new pipeline equipment to prevent further devastating spills. The leaks from underground oil pipelines had cost the four farmers their livelihoods by contaminating land and waterways.
Oil Drilling Plans Put South African Fishers at Risk
According to AllAfrica, the French Energy Giant, Total Energies intends to drill up to ten exploration wells for oil and gas in the Deepwater Orange Basin along the west coast, as well as conduct sonar surveys and vertical seismic profiling, among other operations. Fishers in the small coastal town of Doringbaai say they are concerned about the impact the oil and gas explorations may have on their livelihoods. This will only add on to the many other plights fisheries already face and make a considerable impact.
Two years after AfCFTA, intra-African trade remains low
According to Femi Adekoya from The Guardian, though several African nations have started trading a trickle of goods under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, tariff and logistics challenges impact trade, with preference still for trade partners outside the continent. Tariffs are only one of the many barriers to trading across Africa. Logistics is another major hurdle. Additionally, Adekoya writes that the African Regional Integration Index does not reflect efforts to push the single market and free-movement agenda in past decades, with foreigners said to be able to move more freely in the region than Africans themselves.
Dangote requires influx of crude oil
Abuja Kingsley Jeremiah from the Guardian writes that as the push from fossil fuels continues in developed countries with reduced buyers for Nigeria and other African crude, there are indications that Dangote Refinery and about ten others across Africa may provide an immediate market for African crude oil. The 1.7 million bpd expected to be consumed by refineries on the continent could be a game changer in terms of foreign exchange crisis, stability of the continent’s economy, energy security, as well as value addition. But the ability of countries like Nigeria to pump crude oil to meet demand remains a critical concern.
ANLCA President Nwabunike tasks stakeholders to surpass Singapore maritime record
Adaku Onyenucheya from the Guardian shares that the National President of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Iju Tony Nwabunike, has charged stakeholders to contribute their quota towards attaining and surpassing the Singaporean record to become the global maritime capital. Nwabunike said Nigeria becoming a hub port is realizable to serve the needs of the country and others like Niger, Chad, and other neighboring countries. Additionally, he extolled the roles and contributions of freight forwarders and customs agents in building and growing the economy.
Another DR Congo fighter jet violates Rwandan airspace
According to Germain Nsanzimana from The New Times, another Sukhoi-25 fighter jet from DR Congo violated Rwandan airspace. As a result, the Rwandan government issued a statement saying, “These repeated violations are against the spirit of Luanda and Nairobi peace initiatives. The authorities in the DR Congo seem to be emboldened by consistent coddling by some in the international community who repeatedly heap blame on Rwanda for any and all ills in the DR Congo, while ignoring the transgressions originating from DR Congo. These provocations must stop.” Both Rwanda and DR Congo had agreed to de-escalate tension and Rwanda demanded a halt to acts of provocations from the DR Congo under the Luanda and Nairobi peace initiatives. This additional violation breaches the peace initiatives.
Chinese medics treat over 12,000 Rwandan patients
Hudson Kuteesa from The New Times shares that a team of Chinese medics sent to Rwanda by their government treated over 12,291 patients in 2022. This cooperation between the two countries started in 1982 by the Chinese government. The 22nd Chinese Medical Team is made up of about 15 medics who are deployed at Masaka and Kibungo Hospitals and work closely with Rwandan counterparts. They exchange experiences in medical practice with each other. The 22nd Team will be turning over to the 23rd soon to continue cooperation.
Kenya Airways increases daily flight routes
According to Bonface Otieno from The Business Daily, Kenya Airways resumed flights to New York due to rising demand. The airline increased their flight frequency on the route to five times per week from three last year. They have also increased frequencies on routes such as Paris, Madagascar, Comoros, Amsterdam, Johannesburg and London.
Africa could make $1.1 Trillion from sale of green hydrogen
AfricaNews shares that a new report by the European Investment Bank says Africa could make $1.1 trillion from the sale and use of green hydrogen. The report says harnessing Africa’s solar energy to produce 50 million tons of green hydrogen a year by 2035 can help secure global energy supply, create jobs, decarbonize heavy industry, and transform access to clean water and sustainable energy. The report urges countries to mobilize private sector investment and to form market-based partnerships needed to enable mass-scale domestic and international off-take and demand for green hydrogen.
EVENTS- 12.31.2022
"Africa Construction Law." African Arbitration Association. Nairobi, Kenya. 2-3 February, 2023.
"Reinventing Energy and Water Solutions for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future." Economic Commission for Africa. Niamey, Niger. 21-25 February, 2023.