Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO – Report:

Back Contact (BC) solar technology is emerging as the cornerstone of the next industrial phase for solar photovoltaic (PV) projects by combining record-setting efficiency with lower production costs.

By 2030, PV is expected to account for more than 70% of new renewable energy capacity, making it the single largest renewable power source worldwide. By 2050, cumulative installations could reach 18,200GW, meeting nearly half of global electricity demand.

However, the industry continues to face challenges including overcapacity, falling prices, and growing pressure to innovate for higher yields and reduced carbon footprints.

BC Technology: From Laboratory Concept to Industrial Mainstream

BC solar cells position all electrical contacts on the rear surface of the cell, eliminating front-side metal shading and significantly boosting light absorption.

This design enables mass-production efficiencies above 27%, outperforming conventional tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) cells by approximately 1.6 percentage points — a gain that has historically marked major market-wide technology transitions.

Through sustained research and process innovation, BC technology has evolved from a high-cost, niche solution to a scalable, industrial mainstream option.

Three Breakthroughs Driving Industrialization

1. Laser Patterning replacing photolithography, reducing manufacturing costs by over 60% and increasing throughput fortyfold.
2. Wet-process Simplification, cutting chemical steps from ten to three and halving processing time.
3. Zero-busbar and Parallel Soldering, reducing silver usage by 30% and improving both module reliability and efficiency.

Record Efficiency and Verified Reliability

In March 2025, BC cells achieved a world-record efficiency of 27.81%, only 1.3% below the theoretical silicon limit. Field data from more than 30 demonstration projects across Asia and Europe confirm that BC modules deliver 1.2% to 3.2% higher power generation than TOPCon under clear conditions, and up to 33% higher output under partial shading.

This performance advantage, combined with lower material intensity, positions BC modules as a sustainable and cost-efficient solution for investors and developers operating under tightening carbon-footprint regulations.

The BC Decade: 2025–2035

Industry analysts forecast that BC modules will capture more than 60% of global PV market share by 2030. The technology’s superior efficiency and shading tolerance make it particularly suited for urban rooftops, floating solar installations, desert-based systems, and other high-value commercial applications.

As global energy transitions accelerate, BC solar technology is set to lead the PV sector from price-based to value-based competition — where energy yield, reliability, and lifecycle sustainability define success.

Webinar Invitation

Industry professionals, project developers, financiers, and renewable energy policymakers are invited to join a technical webinar hosted by solar technology experts.

Date: Thursday, 27 November 2025
Time: 2:00–3:00 PM SAST
Topic: Back Contact (BC) Solar Technology — Fundamentals and Practical Advantages

Register here: https://apo-opa.co/4ntstvR

– on behalf of VUKA Group.

Source: APO – Report:

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The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) confirms that the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has informed us that two of our top leaders in Sudan have been designated as persona non grata, and asked to leave the country within 72 hours, without any explanation.

This decision to expel WFP’s Country Director and Emergency Coordinator comes at a pivotal time. Humanitarian needs in Sudan have never been greater with more than 24 million people facing acute food insecurity and communities impacted by famine.

WFP and humanitarian partners have made hard-won progress in recent months, scaling up assistance to reach more than four million people monthly, and helping to push back extreme hunger conditions in the world’s largest and most complex humanitarian crisis.

At a moment when WFP and its partners need to be expanding their reach, this decision forces WFP to implement unplanned leadership changes, jeopardizing operations that support millions of vulnerable Sudanese facing extreme hunger, malnutrition, and even starvation.

WFP and senior UN officials are engaging with authorities to protest this action and seek clarification for this decision. We call on all parties to prioritize the lives and wellbeing of millions who depend on emergency food and nutrition assistance for their survival.

WFP remains unwavering in its commitment to ensure that the people of Sudan can access vital assistance during this period of unprecedented hunger, insecurity and humanitarian needs.

– on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).

Source: APO – Report:

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President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government has decided to honour former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings with a state funeral.

The President was speaking when he visited her residence at Ridge in Accra with his wife, Mrs Lordina Dramani Mahama, and the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, to commiserate with the family.

“We’re waiting for the family to meet and tell us what their desires are. But I just want to announce, as President, that we shall give her a state funeral. The family can do the traditional funeral after the state funeral,” President Mahama said.

President Mahama, on behalf of his wife, the government and the people of Ghana, extended heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the Agyeman-Rawlings family.

“I want to express my condolences, on behalf of Lordina and I, on the passing of our mother. It actually came as a shock, and the state will give her the full honours she deserves as a former First Lady and Mother of the Nation,” he pledged, adding that the government will work closely with the family.

He described the late Mrs Agyeman-Rawlings as a pacesetter whose record remains unbroken as the longest serving First Lady for 19 years.

“As founder and President of the 31st December Women’s Movement, evidence of her achievements and the impact on the masses, particularly women and children, is abundant across the country, such as oil palm extraction projects, gari production projects, which are still operational.”

Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, on behalf of the family, expressed gratitude to President Mahama for his support during the period of their bereavement.

She also thanked the President for the declaration of three days of national mourning and the announcement of the state funeral for their departed mother.

– on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

Source: APO – Report:

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President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Paris, France, to participate in the 8th edition of the Paris Peace Forum.

The two-day event, which officially opens today, 29th October 2025, is a high-profile gathering that brings together government leaders, international organisations, civil society, experts, and businesses to discuss and foster new alliances to address conflicts, climate change, harness AI and technological advancement, and other global challenges.

This year’s event coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement to reinvigorate climate action ahead of COP30.

A statement signed by the Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said that from Paris, President Mahama will travel to Cairo, Egypt, as a guest of the Egyptian President, and will attend the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum on Saturday, 1 November 2025.

He is expected back in Accra on Sunday, 2 November 2025.

– on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

Source: APO

Alexandria Gazendam, Director – Europe of engineering and construction services firm EPCM Holdings, is confirmed to speak at the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference and exhibition, taking place from December 8-10 in Dakar, Senegal. Gazendam will join regional and international leaders to discuss gas monetization, infrastructure investment and industrialization strategies driving the MSGBC region’s energy future.

EPCM Holdings has emerged as a key infrastructure partner across West Africa, notably in Mauritania and Senegal, where the company has been instrumental in advancing projects that bridge the gap between exploration and production, while enabling downstream and industrial development.

In Mauritania, EPCM Holdings was contracted by the Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière (SNIM) to conduct a feasibility study for a 750 km natural gas pipeline linking the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim and BirAllah offshore fields to the cities of Nouadhibou and Nouakchott. Encompassing both technical and commercial assessments, the study represents a pivotal step toward developing Mauritania’s gas infrastructure and ensuring the efficient transport of an estimated 100 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves to domestic and regional markets.

Additionally, EPCM Holdings has assisted the Mauritanian Ministry of Petroleum, Mines and Energy and the World Bank with developing a long-term Oil and Gas Master Plan for the country. This initiative seeks to establish clear regulatory frameworks, attract investment and build institutional capacity to advance energy security and industrial growth. Through this work, EPCM Holdings has contributed to Mauritania’s broader vision of leveraging its hydrocarbon resources to eliminate energy poverty and drive sustainable economic development.

At MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025, Gazendam is expected to provide an inside perspective on Mauritania’s evolving gas-to-power landscape, the ongoing Energy Service Zone Nouakchott (ESZN) project, and the critical role of infrastructure investment in promoting long-term industrialization. Introduced during the 2023 edition of the conference, the ESZN initiative engages EPCM Holdings alongside Meen & Meen and Jade Advisory in assessing opportunities to anchor new industrial activity around the country’s offshore gas potential.

“EPCM Holdings continues to play a leading role in advancing technical innovation and pan-African collaboration within the MSGBC energy market. Their participation will provide valuable insight into the infrastructure projects shaping Mauritania and the region’s energy future,” said Sandra Jeque, Project Director at Energy Capital & Power.

Explore opportunities, foster partnerships and stay at the forefront of the MSGBC region’s oil, gas and power sectors. Visit www.MSGBCOilGasAndPower.com to secure your participation at the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

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

Source: APO – Report:

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The Republic of Liberia has taken another significant step toward expanding its diplomatic horizons and strengthening multilateral partnerships, as the country advances its pursuit of Associate Membership of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).

In a bilateral meeting held in Paris on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mme. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, met with H.E. Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of the OIF, to reaffirm Liberia’s commitment to enhancing its global visibility and cooperation with francophone and other member nations.

The discussions were framed within the broader context of Liberia’s foreign-policy reorientation under the leadership of H.E. Joseph Nyuma Boakai, President of the Republic of Liberia, whose vision seeks to reposition Liberia on the global stage.

During the meeting, Minister Nyanti outlined Liberia’s evolving foreign-policy strategy to regain Liberia’s prominence in the world. She noted that economic diplomacy, multilateral and  regional cooperation and broader partnerships will strengthen Liberia’s relations across the globe, but will also better position Liberia to play a stronger role within ECOWAS and the AU, noting the expansive membership of OIF with sister countries in the region and on the continent.

She also underscored that Liberia’s pursuit of OIF membership aligns with the government’s broader vision to deepen engagements that promote the development agenda of the President.

In response, Secretary-General Mushikiwabo congratulated Liberia and Foreign Minister Nyanti on the historic win of the non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.  She indicated that Liberia has been off the global leadership radar for quite some time, and welcomed Liberia’s decision to seek membership in the OIF, and commended the proactive approach of the Foreign Minister.

“It is important for Liberia to become increasingly visible, present and engaged in  more global platforms in light of the evolving geo-dynamics”, stated Secretary General Mushkiwabo. Organizations like OIF present the opportunity to strengthen alignments, gain new allies, and engage across various interests that represent diverse blocs. She indicated that the OIF has over 90 members, and that Ghana just became a full-fledged member in 2025, with the OIF moving beyond francophone countries and promoting cross-continental convergence with values of democratic governance while keeping the francophone essence at the heart. The OIF boasts of countries like Ireland, Cambodia, Qatar, UAE, Romania, Austria, Serbia and many others that are non-Francophone as members of various categories.

The high-level meeting concluded with plans for Liberia to finalize her application process to be considered at the November 2026 sitting of the OIF in Camodia. The OIF also committed to training Liberian diplomats in New York and Addis Ababa in support of the UN Security Council seat, navigating the complexities of the UN, and for engagements at the AU with francophone countries.

As Liberia continues its diplomatic transformation, the pursuit of OIF Associate Membership stands as a testament to the nation’s renewed vision of openness, inclusivity, and global engagement under the Boakai-led administration.

– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.