Category: Africa

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Foot and mouth disease in South Africa: how a tracking system would control outbreaks

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Tania Prinsloo, Associate Professor in Applied Information Systems, University of Johannesburg

Foot and mouth disease is common in South Africa’s wildlife reserves. There are constant efforts to make sure it doesn’t spread to farmed animals. But since 2019 the country has seen repeated outbreaks on farms. In 2026 the country’s R80 billion (US$5 billion) beef industry faced a crisis as unchecked outbreaks spread to all provinces. This caused a 26% drop in exports of beef in 2025, heavily affecting trade with China in particular. The lack of a mandatory, nationwide system to trace diseases like this means they can’t be effectively managed. We asked Tania Prinsloo, who has researched disease surveillance systems, to explain what’s gone wrong.

How bad is the foot and mouth outbreak in South Africa?

There have consistently been sporadic foot and mouth disease outbreaks in the country. But the most recent outbreak of the SAT2 strain started in May 2021 in the province of KwaZulu-Natal . Foot and mouth disease has spread to all provinces, with clusters of confirmed outbreaks in different regions.

A January 2026 study by the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy estimated that South Africa’s current outbreak could cost the livestock sector R13.1 billion over the next five years. This includes R11.3 billion in lost production value and R1.8 billion in lost export revenue.

Between 2019 and 2025, three outbreaks resulted in R821 million in export losses. This figure was projected to rise to R2.6 billion by the end of 2026.

Since January 2025, key export markets, including China, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia and the United Kingdom, have remained closed to South African beef exports.

Foot and mouth disease affects cloven-hoofed animals. It is highly contagious. There are vaccines available, and the country has continuously imported vaccines, with massive campaign drives from the start of 2026.

The disease is often transferred from wildlife to domestic animals such as sheep, pigs and cattle. It spreads through contaminated animals, animal products, equipment, vehicles, human activity, and even windborne viruses. Clinical signs include blisters on the lips, tongue, palate, gums, nose, coronary band, and between the hooves.

Foot and mouth disease poses little risk to human health. But it has significant economic effects due to livestock losses, reduced productivity, and the high costs of disease control. Meat and dairy products are safe for human consumption, and the disease does not get transferred to humans. There is a common misperception: foot and mouth disease should not be confused with hand, foot and mouth disease, a common childhood illness. The two diseases are caused by different viruses.

Wildlife and livestock interactions are particularly high along the borders of protected areas like the Kruger National Park. Fallen or broken veterinary fences allow wildlife – which naturally carries the foot and mouth disease – to wander into community grazing lands, making it very difficult to prevent the spread.

Common control measures include movement restrictions, quarantines, culling of infected and exposed animals, and the cleaning and disinfection of affected facilities, vehicles and equipment.

What are traceability systems?

Livestock traceability systems are used to track food products, animals and related substances throughout the production, processing and distribution chain. They produce an accurate record of every animal throughout its lifetime, including vaccination, movement and the destination of the meat after slaughter. The animal is also uniquely identifiable according to its ear tag number.

In disease outbreaks traceability systems would play a key role in managing their spread. The only traceability system currently used widely in South Africa is from the Red Meat Industry Services. But participation is voluntary.

Livestock traceability systems identify an infected animal, which other animals it came into contact with, where water areas were shared, and which animals grazed together. This enables the quarantine of all possible infected animals, preventing any further spread of the disease.

Global markets are increasingly requiring national levels of livestock traceability. South Africa has a target for implementing one by 2030.

How functional are they in South Africa?

South Africa does not have a country-wide traceability system. There are groups of farmers who have created their own traceability systems. Karan Beef, one of the country’s leading beef producers, has stated that it would only buy animals that could be individually identified and fully traced. In addition, the farm of origin had to be registered on the Red Meat Industry Services platform and have a valid Global Location Number.

Its efforts were rewarded in June when it announced it was resuming exports after more than a year of disruptions caused by foot and mouth disease.

But the largest part of the South African beef market remains locked out.

The Red Meat Industry Services has created a traceability system that is gaining traction. This is a large industry role-player that encompasses the full value chain, including livestock producers, feedlots, auction houses, abattoirs, processors, marketers and exporters. It is the only organisation mandated to implement the Red Meat Industry Strategy 2030 on behalf of this entire sector.

But several challenges prevent South Africa from making a country-wide traceability system mandatory:

  • The Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development faces budget constraints, staff shortages and service delivery challenges. This makes nationwide enforcement difficult.

  • Agriculture is the responsibility of the provincial governments, according to the country’s constitution. So nine provincial administrations and one national one would have to work together to create a viable system. In 2017 the national government assigned the task of developing a system to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. But the project has lost traction.

  • The differences between commercial farmers and emerging, small-scale farmers make it difficult to have one traceability system that caters to all. Small-scale farmers have limited access to farmland, credit and other essential resources, and lack the newest technologies.

  • Many commercial farmers have invested in their own traceability systems, using their own technologies and infrastructure. It’s difficult and costly to integrate their data into a single central place.

What needs to happen to fix them?

The South African government is responsible for regulatory oversight, policy enforcement and disease surveillance to ensure food safety, combat livestock theft, and unlock export markets.

It has public-private partnerships such as the red meat industry platform and compliance tracking protocols that satisfy strict European Union and global import requirements.

A nationwide mandatory traceability system is vital for South Africa’s economic and agricultural future. A drive is needed to encourage farmers to develop and adopt innovative technologies by increasing their knowledge of available digital solutions, addressing affordability issues and improving internet infrastructure.

If a traceability system is implemented, every animal must be fitted with an ear tag containing a unique number. But the tags are expensive.

Neighbouring Eswatini implemented its traceability system in 2012 and made it mandatory in 2013. Communal farmers’ tags were subsidised. But Eswatini is a small country. In South Africa, the number of animals requiring free or subsidised tags is high. There are roughly 2.4 million small-scale farmers.

Still, South Africa cannot afford to wait. Access to global markets will continue to decrease if the disease is not brought under control.

Paballo Phakoe, business application junior specialist at the Auditor General of South Africa and master’s student in the Department of Applied Information Systems at the University of Johannesburg, contributed to this article.

– Foot and mouth disease in South Africa: how a tracking system would control outbreaks
– https://theconversation.com/foot-and-mouth-disease-in-south-africa-how-a-tracking-system-would-control-outbreaks-284727

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Comment l’Angola a fait du contenu local un pilier stratégique de son secteur pétrolier et gazier

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Partout en Afrique, le contenu local a longtemps été considéré comme une simple exigence de conformité, ajoutée aux projets plutôt qu’intégrée à ceux-ci. L’Angola trace une voie différente, en positionnant la participation locale comme un moteur central de la valeur à long terme. Comme l’explore NJ Ayuk dans son ouvrage récemment publié, Crude Oil: Power, Turnaround and Transformation in Angola, le pays redéfinit le rôle des entreprises locales au sein de son secteur pétrolier et gazier – et, ce faisant, remodèle l’industrie elle-même.

Cette évolution s’inscrit dans un programme de réforme plus large. Après des années de baisse de la production et de réduction des investissements en amont, l’Angola a pris des mesures pour restaurer sa compétitivité, non seulement par le biais de réformes fiscales, mais aussi en repensant la manière dont la valeur est créée et conservée au niveau national.

Un tournant a été marqué par le décret présidentiel 271/20 d’octobre 2020. Cette loi a renforcé et élargi les exigences en matière de contenu local, rendant la participation angolaise fondamentale pour l’avenir du secteur. Comme l’a souligné le président João Lourenço, ce cadre est conçu pour « contribuer à la création de richesse et à la promotion de la diversification économique » tout en renforçant le rôle des entreprises angolaises.

Au niveau institutionnel, des régulateurs tels que l’Agence nationale du pétrole, du gaz et des biocarburants (ANPG) et l’Institut de régulation des dérivés pétroliers (IRDP) ont intégré des dispositions relatives au contenu local dans les contrats, garantissant ainsi que les opérateurs internationaux intègrent des entreprises locales dans leurs activités principales.

Parallèlement, un écosystème de soutien a pris forme. Des organismes sectoriels tels que l’Association des entreprises angolaises de services pétroliers et gaziers (ASSEA) et l’Association des prestataires de services de l’industrie pétrolière et gazière angolaise (AECIPA) aident les entreprises locales à se développer et à être compétitives, tandis que la demande de services locaux continue d’augmenter. Comme l’explique Bráulio de Brito, président de l’AECIPA, dans l’ouvrage : « Plutôt que de venir chercher de la main-d’œuvre, les entreprises recherchent désormais des entreprises. » Les entreprises angolaises ne jouent plus un rôle d’intermédiaires, mais endossent un rôle plus direct et substantiel en tant que prestataires de services essentiels.

La société publique Sonangol a renforcé cette dynamique en donnant la priorité aux chaînes d’approvisionnement nationales et au renforcement des capacités. Dans l’ensemble du secteur, les parties prenantes – des régulateurs aux opérateurs – s’alignent sur un objectif commun : renforcer les capacités angolaises à grande échelle.

L’impact est de plus en plus visible. Les entreprises locales remportent des contrats tout au long de la chaîne de valeur, de la fourniture de produits chimiques et des services offshore à l’inspection et à la certification. Ces rôles témoignent d’une présence croissante des entreprises locales dans les activités principales de l’industrie.

Le rôle de la finance est tout aussi crucial, comme le note Ayuk dans Crude Oil. En étendant les exigences de contenu local au secteur bancaire, l’Angola a levé l’un des principaux obstacles à la participation : l’accès au capital. Les banques nationales peuvent désormais cofinancer des projets et soutenir les prestataires de services pétroliers. Des institutions telles que Banco BCS proposent des solutions sur mesure – de l’affacturage aux paiements en devises étrangères – permettant aux entreprises locales d’être plus compétitives.

Parallèlement, les partenariats avec les compagnies pétrolières internationales sont de plus en plus axés sur le transfert de connaissances. Les programmes de formation, les initiatives STEM et les efforts de développement de la main-d’œuvre menés par des opérateurs tels qu’ExxonMobil et TotalEnergies contribuent à constituer un vivier de talents plus qualifiés et plus inclusif, garantissant que le contenu local s’étende au-delà de la propriété pour englober l’expertise.

Comme l’a souligné Diamantino Azevedo, ministre angolais des Ressources minérales, du Pétrole et du Gaz, le contenu local consiste à intégrer les entreprises angolaises dans le secteur, à promouvoir la technologie et à favoriser des marchés compétitifs. Il s’agit, en effet, d’un outil de diversification économique plus large, avec des retombées dans tous les secteurs, de la logistique à la construction.

Selon M. Ayuk, l’essor d’entreprises comme Etu Energias – la plus grande compagnie pétrolière privée d’Angola – souligne ce que ce modèle peut apporter. Avec des objectifs de croissance ambitieux et un portefeuille en expansion, elle représente une nouvelle génération d’entreprises locales passant de la participation au leadership.

L’expérience de l’Angola offre une leçon claire : le contenu local fonctionne mieux lorsqu’il est intentionnel, appliqué et soutenu par les institutions et les capitaux. En l’intégrant au cœur de sa stratégie pétrolière et gazière, l’Angola renforce non seulement son industrie, mais redéfinit également qui en bénéficie.

Crude Oil: Power, Turnaround and Transformation in Angola est désormais disponible à la vente. Achetez le livre sur Amazon

Distribué par APO Group pour African Energy Chamber.

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PROÁGUA remporte le prix TXF « Opération de financement de l’exportation dans le secteur de l’eau de l’année 2025 »

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French

Mitrelli (https://Mitrelli.com), en collaboration avec HSBC, la Deutsche Bank, Bpifrance Assurance Export, la SERV et SUEZ, s’est vu décerner le prix TXF « Water Export Finance Deal of the Year 2025 » pour la structure de financement complexe mise en place en faveur du programme national d’infrastructures hydrauliques angolais PROÁGUA, développé en partenariat avec le ministère des Finances de l’Angola. Ce prix est l’une des distinctions les plus prestigieuses du secteur du financement des exportations et des projets, récompensant l’excellence et l’innovation dans la mise en place de solutions complexes de financement d’infrastructures.

Le prix a été remis lors de l’événement annuel TXF Global Export, Agency & Project Finance, le 10 juin à Prague, en République tchèque, l’un des principaux rassemblements de la communauté mondiale du financement des exportations et des projets.

La structure de financement primée, d’un montant de 200 millions d’euros, reflète l’étroite collaboration entre Mitrelli et des partenaires financiers et industriels de premier plan tels que HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Bpifrance, SERV et SUEZ. Elle combine un soutien au crédit à l’exportation et un financement commercial au sein d’une solution de financement complexe et innovante destinée à des infrastructures hydrauliques essentielles à grande échelle en Angola.

PROÁGUA est un programme d’infrastructures hydrauliques à l’échelle nationale conçu pour étendre l’accès à une eau propre et fiable dans tout l’Angola, soutenant ainsi les priorités de développement à long terme du pays et améliorant la qualité de vie de millions de citoyens.

Rodrigo Manso, PDG de Mitrelli, a déclaré : « Nous sommes fiers de voir PROÁGUA reconnu par la communauté mondiale du financement des exportations et d’avoir travaillé aux côtés de partenaires de renommée mondiale – HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Bpifrance Assurance Export, SERV et SUEZ – ainsi que du gouvernement angolais. Ce prix récompense la structure de financement sophistiquée qui sous-tend le projet et démontre comment la collaboration entre les acteurs des secteurs public et privé peut permettre la mise en place d’infrastructures essentielles à grande échelle. »

Tzahi Malach, vice-président chargé du financement structuré chez Mitrelli, a déclaré : « Ce prix reflète l’intensité de la collaboration nécessaire pour structurer le financement d’infrastructures à l’échelle nationale. PROÁGUA démontre comment le soutien au crédit à l’exportation, le financement commercial et des partenariats solides peuvent se conjuguer pour offrir des solutions bancables à des projets ayant un impact significatif sur le développement. »

Pour Mitrelli, cette reconnaissance souligne l’importance croissante du financement en tant que catalyseur du développement. Alors que les pays poursuivent des programmes d’infrastructure ambitieux, des solutions de financement innovantes sont de plus en plus essentielles pour aligner les priorités gouvernementales, les objectifs de développement et les réalités commerciales. PROÁGUA démontre comment un financement structuré complexe peut transformer les priorités nationales en projets réalisables ayant un impact social et économique durable.

Mitrelli tient à remercier le gouvernement angolais pour sa confiance renouvelée, ainsi que tous les partenaires ayant contribué à la réalisation de cette transaction historique.

Distribué par APO Group pour Mitrelli Group.

Contact presse Mitrelli : 
Emmanuelle Bendenoun, responsable de la communication globale
Emmanuelle.b@mitrelli.com

À propos de Mitrelli : 
Mitrelli (https://Mitrelli.com), une entreprise internationale basée en Suisse qui exerce depuis plus de dix ans une influence considérable en Afrique, collabore étroitement avec les dirigeants, les gouvernements, les entreprises et les communautés africains, investissant dans des solutions innovantes, holistiques et durables à l’échelle nationale et les mettant en œuvre. À ce jour, l’entreprise a mis en œuvre plus de 100 projets à l’échelle nationale sur tout le continent, dans les domaines du logement, de l’eau, de l’alimentation et de l’énergie, ainsi que dans des secteurs clés pour le développement de la société tels que l’éducation, la santé et la technologie. Pour en savoir plus, rendez-vous sur notre site www.Mitrelli.com et suivez-nous sur LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.co/4on86Cv).

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How Angola Made Local Content a Strategic Pillar of its Oil & Gas Sector

Source: APO


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Across Africa, local content has long been treated as a compliance requirement, added onto projects rather than built into them. Angola is charting a different course, positioning local participation as a central driver of long-term value. As NJ Ayuk explores in his newly released Crude Oil: Power, Turnaround and Transformation in Angola, the country is redefining the role of indigenous companies within its oil and gas sector – and, in doing so, reshaping the industry itself.

This shift is part of a broader reform agenda. After years of declining production and reduced upstream investment, Angola moved to restore competitiveness, not just through fiscal reforms, but by rethinking how value is created and retained domestically.

A turning point came with Presidential Decree 271/20 in October 2020. The law strengthened and expanded local content requirements, making Angolan participation fundamental to the sector’s future. As President João Lourenço emphasized, the framework is designed to “aid in wealth creation and the promotion of economic diversification” while increasing the role of Angolan-owned companies.

At the institutional level, regulators such as the National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG) and the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute (IRDP) have embedded local content provisions into contracts, ensuring that international operators integrate local firms into their core operations.

At the same time, a supporting ecosystem has taken shape. Industry bodies like Angolan Indigenous Oil & Gas Service Companies Association (ASSEA) and the Association of Service Providers of the Angolan Oil & Gas Industry (AECIPA) are helping indigenous companies scale and compete, while demand for local services continues to rise. As AECIPA President Bráulio de Brito puts it in the book, “rather than companies coming in and looking for people, they are looking for companies.” Angolan firms are no longer acting as intermediaries, but taking on a more direct and substantive role as essential service providers.

State-owned Sonangol has reinforced this trajectory by prioritizing domestic supply chains and capacity-building. Across the sector, stakeholders – from regulators to operators – are aligning around a shared goal: building Angolan capability at scale.

The impact is increasingly visible. Local companies are securing contracts across the value chain, from chemical supply and offshore services to inspection and certification. These roles point to a growing presence of local companies in the core operations of the industry.

The role of finance is equally critical, as Ayuk notes in Crude Oil. By extending local content requirements to the banking sector, Angola has addressed one of the key barriers to participation: access to capital. Domestic banks can now co-finance projects and support oilfield service providers. Institutions such as Banco BCS are offering tailored solutions – from factoring to foreign currency payments – enabling local companies to compete more effectively.

Meanwhile, partnerships with international oil companies are increasingly focused on knowledge transfer. Training programs, STEM initiatives and workforce development efforts led by operators such as ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies are helping build a more skilled, inclusive talent base, ensuring local content extends beyond ownership to expertise.

As Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil & Gas Diamantino Azevedo has emphasized, local content is about integrating Angolan businesses into the sector, promoting technology and fostering competitive markets. It is, in effect, a tool for broader economic diversification, with spillover effects across industries from logistics to construction.

According to Ayuk, the rise of companies like Etu Energias – Angola’s largest private oil company – underscores what this model can deliver. With ambitious growth targets and an expanding portfolio, it represents a new generation of indigenous firms moving from participation to leadership.

Angola’s experience offers a clear lesson: local content works best when it is intentional, enforced and backed by institutions and capital. By embedding it at the heart of its oil and gas strategy, Angola is not only strengthening its industry, but redefining who benefits from it.

Crude Oil: Power, Turnaround and Transformation in Angola is now available for purchase. Buy the book on Amazon (https://apo-opa.co/4olvqAF)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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PROÁGUA Receives TXF Water Export Finance Deal of the Year 2025 Award

Source: APO

Mitrelli (https://Mitrelli.com), together with HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Bpifrance Assurance Export, SERV, and SUEZ, has been recognized with the TXF Water Export Finance Deal of the Year 2025 award for the complex financing structure supporting Angola’s PROÁGUA national water infrastructure program, developed in partnership with the Ministry of Finance of Angola. The award is one of the export and project finance industry’s most prestigious distinctions, recognizing excellence and innovation in structuring complex infrastructure financing solutions.

The award was presented at the annual TXF Global Export, Agency & Project Finance event on June 10, in Prague, Czech Republic, one of the leading gatherings of the global export and project finance community.

The award-winning €200 million financing structure reflects the close collaboration between Mitrelli and leading financial and industrial partners of HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Bpifrance, SERV, SUEZ, combining export credit support and commercial financing into a complex, innovative financing solution for critical water infrastructure at scale in Angola.

PROÁGUA is a national-scale water infrastructure program designed to expand access to clean and reliable water across Angola, supporting the country’s long-term development priorities and improving quality of life for millions of citizens.

Rodrigo Manso, CEO of Mitrelli, said: ” We are proud to see PROÁGUA recognized by the global export finance community and to have worked alongside world-class partners – HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Bpifrance Assurance Export, SERV, and SUEZ – and the Government of Angola. This award recognizes the sophisticated financing structure behind the project and demonstrates how collaboration across public and private sector stakeholders can unlock critical infrastructure at scale.”

Tzahi Malach, VP Structured Finance at Mitrelli, said: “This award reflects the depth of collaboration required to structure financing for national-scale infrastructure. PROÁGUA demonstrates how export credit support, commercial financing and strong partnerships can come together to deliver bankable solutions for projects with significant development impact.”

For Mitrelli, the recognition highlights the growing importance of financing as a catalyst for development. As countries pursue ambitious infrastructure agendas, innovative financing solutions are increasingly essential to aligning government priorities, development objectives, and commercial realities. PROÁGUA demonstrates how complex structured finance can transform national priorities into implementable projects with lasting social and economic impact.

Mitrelli extends its appreciation to the Government of Angola for its continued trust, and to all partners involved in advancing this landmark transaction.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mitrelli Group.

Mitrelli Media Contact: 
Emmanuelle Bendenoun
Global Growth Communications Lead
Emmanuelle.b@mitrelli.com

About Mitrelli: 
Mitrelli, a Swiss-based international company with over a decade of profound impact in Africa, has been collaborating closely with African leadership, governments, businesses, and communities, investing in and implementing innovative, holistic, and sustainable national-scale solutions. To date, the company has over 100 national-scale projects implemented across the continent, spanning housing, water, food, and energy, as well as key societal accelerators such as education, healthcare, and technology. To learn more, visit us at www.Mitrelli.com and follow us on LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.co/4on86Cv).

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Fuels industry pivotal to powering SA’s economy

Source: Government of South Africa

Fuels industry pivotal to powering SA’s economy

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has called on the fuels industry to deepen collaboration with government as the State builds economic prosperity for South Africa.

The Minister was speaking at the Fuels Industry Association of South Africa Annual Imbizo held at the Sandton Convention Centre this week.

“We recognise that the fuel industry requires predictability and this means that we must build strong partnerships between government, State-owned entities, regulators, investors, infrastructure users and organised industry formations.

“The challenges facing our logistics sector cannot be addressed by government acting alone. Equally, the opportunities before us can only be fully recognised through collaboration, shared commitment and a common vision for our country’s future,” Creecy said.

The Minister noted that government is keenly aware of the fuel industry’s importance to keep the South African economy ticking.

“We understand that the fuel industry is indeed one of the most strategic sectors within our economy because it enables mobility, powers production, supports trade and logistics and contributes significantly to employment and investment.

“As government, we recognise that a resilient and sufficient fuel supply chain is fundamental to the functioning of our economy. 

“We are… committed to creating an enabling environment through effective policy regulation, infrastructure development planning and oversight of State-owned entities operating within the transport and logistics sector,” Creecy said.

She told the imbizo that the future growth of the liquid fuels industry requires “modern, efficient, safe and well regulated infrastructure and… government frameworks that provide certainty to investors, transparency to infrastructure users and confidence to the broader market”.

“The [department], working closely with Transnet and the Transnet Ports Authority is promoting several initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure planning, operation efficiency, safety and long-term investment in the Island View precinct [at the Port of Durban].

“These interventions seek to ensure that the precinct continues to meet current demand requirements, while positioning South Africa to accommodate future growth in fuel imports, storage capacity and associated logistics services,” she stated.

Creecy assured the industry leaders that government is committed to working with the industry.

“We are committed to creating a transport and logistics environment that is efficient, competitive, sustainable and capable of meeting the needs of a growing economy.

“I am sure that together, we can ensure that South Africa’s strategic infrastructure continues to support energy security, attracts investment and drive economic prosperity for many generations to come,” Creecy said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Como Angola transformou o conteúdo local num pilar estratégico do seu setor de petróleo e gás

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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Em toda a África, o conteúdo local tem sido há muito tratado como um requisito de conformidade, acrescentado aos projetos em vez de ser integrado nos mesmos. Angola está a traçar um caminho diferente, posicionando a participação local como um motor central de valor a longo prazo. Tal como NJ Ayuk explora no seu recém-lançado “Crude Oil: Power, Turnaround and Transformation in Angola”, o país está a redefinir o papel das empresas locais no seu setor do petróleo e gás – e, ao fazê-lo, a remodelar a própria indústria.

Esta mudança faz parte de uma agenda de reformas mais ampla. Após anos de produção em declínio e investimento reduzido a montante, Angola avançou para restaurar a competitividade, não apenas através de reformas fiscais, mas repensando a forma como o valor é criado e retido a nível nacional.

Um ponto de viragem surgiu com o Decreto Presidencial n.º 271/20, em outubro de 2020. A lei reforçou e alargou os requisitos de conteúdo local, tornando a participação angolana fundamental para o futuro do setor. Como salientou o Presidente João Lourenço, o quadro foi concebido para «contribuir para a criação de riqueza e a promoção da diversificação económica», aumentando simultaneamente o papel das empresas de capital angolano.

A nível institucional, entidades reguladoras como a Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás e Biocombustíveis (ANPG) e o Instituto Regulador dos Derivados do Petróleo (IRDP) incorporaram disposições de conteúdo local nos contratos, garantindo que os operadores internacionais integrem empresas locais nas suas operações principais.

Ao mesmo tempo, tomou forma um ecossistema de apoio. Organismos do setor, como a Associação das Empresas Angolanas de Serviços de Petróleo e Gás (ASSEA) e a Associação dos Prestadores de Serviços da Indústria Angolana de Petróleo e Gás (AECIPA), estão a ajudar as empresas locais a expandir-se e a competir, enquanto a procura por serviços locais continua a aumentar. Como afirma o presidente da AECIPA, Bráulio de Brito, no livro, «em vez de as empresas virem à procura de pessoas, são as pessoas que procuram as empresas». As empresas angolanas já não atuam como intermediárias, mas assumem um papel mais direto e substancial como prestadoras de serviços essenciais.

A estatal Sonangol reforçou esta trajetória ao dar prioridade às cadeias de abastecimento nacionais e ao reforço de capacidades. Em todo o setor, as partes interessadas — desde reguladores a operadores — estão a alinhar-se em torno de um objetivo comum: desenvolver a capacidade angolana em grande escala.

O impacto é cada vez mais visível. As empresas locais estão a garantir contratos em toda a cadeia de valor, desde o fornecimento de produtos químicos e serviços offshore até à inspeção e certificação. Estas funções apontam para uma presença crescente das empresas locais nas operações centrais da indústria.

O papel das finanças é igualmente crítico, como Ayuk observa na Crude Oil. Ao alargar os requisitos de conteúdo local ao setor bancário, Angola superou uma das principais barreiras à participação: o acesso ao capital. Os bancos nacionais podem agora cofinanciar projetos e apoiar prestadores de serviços petrolíferos. Instituições como o Banco BCS estão a oferecer soluções personalizadas — desde o factoring até aos pagamentos em moeda estrangeira — permitindo que as empresas locais concorram de forma mais eficaz.

Entretanto, as parcerias com empresas petrolíferas internacionais estão cada vez mais centradas na transferência de conhecimento. Programas de formação, iniciativas STEM e esforços de desenvolvimento da força de trabalho liderados por operadores como a ExxonMobil e a TotalEnergies estão a ajudar a construir uma base de talentos mais qualificada e inclusiva, garantindo que o conteúdo local se estenda para além da propriedade, abrangendo também a especialização.

Como salientou o Ministro dos Recursos Minerais, Petróleo e Gás de Angola, Diamantino Azevedo, o conteúdo local visa integrar as empresas angolanas no setor, promover a tecnologia e fomentar mercados competitivos. Trata-se, na verdade, de uma ferramenta para uma diversificação económica mais ampla, com efeitos de repercussão em todos os setores, desde a logística à construção.

Segundo Ayuk, a ascensão de empresas como a Etu Energias – a maior empresa petrolífera privada de Angola – sublinha o que este modelo pode proporcionar. Com metas de crescimento ambiciosas e um portfólio em expansão, representa uma nova geração de empresas locais que estão a passar da participação para a liderança.

A experiência de Angola oferece uma lição clara: o conteúdo local funciona melhor quando é intencional, aplicado e apoiado por instituições e capital. Ao incorporá-lo no cerne da sua estratégia de petróleo e gás, Angola não está apenas a fortalecer a sua indústria, mas a redefinir quem dela beneficia.

Crude Oil: Power, Turnaround and Transformation in Angola já está disponível para compra. Compre o livro na Amazon

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para African Energy Chamber.

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Home Affairs confirms repatriation of Nigerian nationals 

Source: Government of South Africa

Home Affairs confirms repatriation of Nigerian nationals 

The Department of Home Affairs on Thursday confirmed that it has processed 586 Nigerian nationals for repatriation after they were found to be residing in South Africa illegally. 

In its statement, the department said the first repatriation flight departed on Thursday morning, 11 June 2026, carrying 268 passengers. 

“All individuals processed for repatriation were issued with Emergency Travel Documents by the Nigerian High Commission, enabling their exit from South Africa and return to Nigeria.  In accordance with the Immigration Act, all affected individuals have been declared undesirable persons and are consequently prohibited from re-entering South Africa for a period of five years,” it said.

In addition, it acknowledged the cooperation and assistance provided by the Nigerian High Commission throughout the documentation and repatriation process.

Meanwhile, a second flight, which will transport the remaining individuals from the group of 586 processed for repatriation, is scheduled to depart on Monday, 15 June 2026. 

“The department further reminds all foreign nationals residing in South Africa that they are required to be in possession of valid visas or other authorisations that entitle them to remain in the Republic lawfully. Foreign nationals must ensure that their immigration status remains compliant with South African immigration laws at all times and to regularise their stay.”

Home Affairs Minister, Dr Leon Schreiber, said the department is irrevocably committed to enforcing South Africa’s immigration laws and restoring the rule of law. 

“Our ongoing orderly and lawful deportations and repatriations, which have increased by 46% over the past two years, is clear evidence of this,” he said.

He went on to say:  “Our reform agenda as recently affirmed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, including the ongoing scale-up of the Electronic Travel Authorisation to record biometrics for every foreigner entering our country, the replacement of the fraud-prone Green ID Book with Smart ID cards through our digital partnership with the banks, and the introduction of a cutting-edge Digital Identity system, are systematically enhancing our capacity to enforce immigration laws. 

“In this context of ongoing progress, the public is again urged to never engage in violence or take the law into their own hands.” –SAnews.gov.za 
 

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TVET pathways key to youth employment and professional inclusion

Source: Government of South Africa

TVET pathways key to youth employment and professional inclusion

Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, says Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates represent the bridge South Africa needs to connect skills development with economic opportunity.

Addressing young built-environment professionals at the Institute of Building Inspectors Youth Sector Business Breakfast on Thursday, Letsike said TVET graduates are critical to addressing skills shortages, youth unemployment and transformation within the construction and infrastructure sectors.

“They represent the bridge that South Africa desperately needs – the bridge between artisan knowledge and professional recognition, between technical skill and regulatory authority, between township and college pathways and formal professional status,” the Deputy Minister said.

Letsike’s remarks come against the backdrop of persistently high youth unemployment, with many graduates struggling to secure workplace experience and professional registration, despite completing their studies.

She argued that South Africa must stop treating TVET education as a secondary option and instead position it as a credible pathway into professional careers and leadership positions.

“If we are serious about youth development, we must stop treating TVET education as a second-class pathway.”

The Deputy Minister highlighted the success of the Gauteng-funded Youth Building Inspector Programme, which has provided workplace learning opportunities for unemployed graduates through partnerships involving municipalities, higher education institutions, and industry stakeholders.

The programme has placed 248 unemployed built-environment graduates in workplace learning opportunities, while supporting 51 young women on their journey towards professional registration.

According to Letsike, the programme demonstrates that South Africa does not lack talent but often falls short in providing the support systems needed to help young people transition from education into employment.

“Transformation fails when support systems are absent,” she said.

She noted that many of the programme participants possess TVET and technical qualifications in fields such as electrical engineering, plumbing, civil construction, building, and construction management.

Letsike said young people will only embrace TVET pathways if they can clearly see opportunities for career progression and professional advancement.

“A young woman who studies electrical engineering at a TVET college must be able to imagine herself not only as an assistant on site, but as a registered inspector, a compliance professional, an entrepreneur, a municipal official, a project manager and a leader in the built environment.”

The Deputy Minister also called on government departments, municipalities, professional councils, the private sector, and educational institutions to work together to create seamless pathways from training to employment.

She said young professionals should be able to move from recruitment and training to workplace learning, mentorship, professional registration, employment, and entrepreneurship without facing unnecessary barriers.

“Candidate categories must become bridges, not traps,” Letsike said, urging professional bodies to make registration processes more accessible while maintaining high standards.

Investing in meaningful workplace opportunities 

The Deputy Minister also challenged private companies to invest in mentorship, internships and workplace opportunities that lead to meaningful careers rather than temporary placements.

South Africa’s infrastructure development ambitions, she said, will depend on the country’s ability to attract, train, and retain a new generation of skilled professionals.

“The developmental state must behave like one state. Young people should not be left to navigate fragmented systems alone,” Letsike said.

She added that empowering TVET graduates and young professionals would not only strengthen the built-environment sector, but also contribute to economic growth, improved municipal capacity and more inclusive development.

“The youth of this generation are fighting against an economy that too often produces exclusion. Different battlefield, same demand: dignity, opportunity, recognition, and freedom,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

 

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PeWG-backed service delivery gains boost investment in eThekwini

Source: Government of South Africa

PeWG-backed service delivery gains boost investment in eThekwini

Improved service delivery and infrastructure investment, backed by the Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG), are helping restore business confidence in eThekwini, unlocking major private-sector investment and supporting job creation.

The city’s interventions in electricity, water and sanitation are strengthening industrial and manufacturing zones and positioning eThekwini as a more attractive destination for investment.

As part of this effort, eThekwini is supporting 61 designated industrial areas that are home to about 27,000 businesses.

“These businesses generate around R9 billion annually and contribute more than 50% of the City’s total revenue base,” eThekwini Municipality Mayor Cyril Xaba said on Thursday during a media roundtable outlining the progress of the PeWG.

The Presidential eThekwini Working Group was established to coordinate and accelerate interventions aimed at addressing key developmental, infrastructure, economic and service delivery challenges within the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. 

The Working Group further seeks to strengthen collaboration between national, provincial and local government, while ensuring improved communication and stakeholder engagement on progress made. 

In Prospecton, the city has undertaken major infrastructure improvements, with significant investment directed towards roads, electricity, water and sanitation.

“As a result of this work, Toyota has committed R10 billion towards expanding its investment in the area. This industrial node alone generates more than R1 billion annually in rates revenue for the city,” Xaba said.

The Mayor added that the city has also resolved several service delivery challenges in the Phoenix Industrial Park, unlocking further investment opportunities.

“A few weeks ago, I visited Tiger Brands in Umbilo, where management indicated that they will soon announce plans to expand their investment in the area,” he said.

Other industrial nodes, such as New Germany and Springfield, are also receiving focused attention.

Creating an enabling environment for investors

To accelerate the implementation of catalytic projects, the city has established a One-Stop Shop to centralise approvals related to planning, transport, infrastructure and compliance. 

This structural reform is designed to streamline processes and improve efficiency.

The One-Stop Shop will provide a single point of entry for investors; integrated approval processes and defined turnaround times to ensure certainty and predictability.

“We are confident that this initiative will accelerate the implementation of catalytic projects valued at R217 billion.

This effort will be supported by an investment of R588 million in the next financial year towards bulk infrastructure for catalytic projects,” the Mayor said.

The projects include Durban Film City, Durban Waterfront, Oceans Umhlanga, Brickworks, Westown/Shongweni and Giba Business Park.

“We are encouraged that more than two-thirds of catalytic projects across all regions are already under implementation.

“For example, in northern Durban, construction has commenced on the R25 billion Sibaya Precinct Development. This mixed-use development, comprising retail facilities, a hospital, residential units and a private college, is expected to create 70,000 sustainable jobs.

“Significant progress is also being made on the newly launched R3.6 billion Birchwood Estate development, which is expected to create 2,500 jobs,” he said.

In Cato Ridge, yellow plant including cranes are already on site at the R10 billion Insimbi Ridge Development, which forms part of the Inland Port Development aimed at decongesting the Port of Durban. 

This project is expected to create 5,000 sustainable jobs.

Governance

In terms of financial management and governance, the city has secured an unqualified audit opinion for five consecutive years.

“Consequence management continues to be implemented against individuals involved in corruption and maladministration. Irregular expenditure is showing a downward trend, while our collection rate remains within the National Treasury benchmark of 93% to 95%,” Xaba said.

The city is also among the few municipalities that are not in arrears with Eskom and Umgeni-uThukela Water for bulk electricity and water purchases.

Without the collaboration of all stakeholders through the PeWG and the District Development Model, the Mayor said these achievements would not have been possible.

“This demonstrates that when we work together as social partners, we can achieve remarkable results,” he said. –SAnews.gov.za

 

 

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