Category: MIL-OSI

Source: APO

The Smarter Mobility Africa conference at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg began with an impactful keynote session on the Access Gauteng 2050 stage. This opening address set the tone for innovative strategies aimed at transforming Gauteng’s transport infrastructure, aligning with goals for sustainable development and economic growth.  

Tshepo Kgobe, CEO of the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) and interim CEO for the Transport Authority Gauteng (TAG), delivered the keynote speech. He emphasised the critical importance of a functional mobility system in economic advancement. “Transport is fundamental to our economic ambitions,” Kgobe stated. “By enhancing connectivity, Gauteng can achieve a growth rate of 4.5%, driving job creation and tackling our socio-economic challenges.”  

Highlighting the region’s potential, the conference noted that Gauteng’s growth rate currently surpasses national averages. With strategic enhancements, the province can significantly contribute to national economic objectives. “We envision a transport system that not only supports growth but also embraces sustainability,” Kgobe added. “Our initiatives are designed to connect people, places, and opportunities seamlessly.”  

Professor Mfanelo Ntsobi, Interim Board Chairperson of TAG, echoed the sentiment, stating, “Collaboration is vital. Public and private sectors must unite to build a resilient transport system that anticipates future demands.”  

Core insights from the keynote underscored the importance of investing in smart infrastructure and prioritising sustainable transport options, such as electric and hybrid vehicles. The session also highlighted the role of public-private partnerships in driving innovation and ensuring successful implementation of these initiatives.  

Additionally, Kgobe remarked on the necessity of forward-thinking policies and digital solutions to enhance transport efficiency. “We must explore all avenues, including smart grid technologies, to create a transport ecosystem that is both efficient and sustainable,” he said.  

The event concluded with strategic recommendations for stakeholders, encouraging the adoption of digital solutions to enhance transport efficiency. These actionable insights provide a roadmap for industry leaders aiming to implement sustainable transport solutions.  

Smarter Mobility Africa is hosted 01-02 October 2025  
Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

Contact:
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About VUKA Group:
VUKA Group connects people and organisations to information and each other, across Africa’s energy, mining, infrastructure, mobility, green economy and technology sectors through innovative events, content, and strategic networking. By integrating industry introductions, curated events, and digital engagement, the group empowers businesses to navigate complex markets, forge valuable connections, and drive sustainable success.  

Venture partners to The Global Trust Project, Founders of WomenIN empowerment platform and leaders of NPO, Go Green Africa. The VUKA Group’s diverse portfolio acts to contribute to its purpose of ‘Connecting Africa to the World’s Best, to Influence Sustainable Progress’  

Discover more at https://WeAreVUKA.com/ 

About SMA:
After 6 editions Smarter Mobility Africa has established itself as a meeting place for inspired and purpose driven transport professionals.  

A Movement With A Purpose:
African cities face significant challenges today and in the coming decades due to rapid population growth and large-scale industrialisation. Many people lack access to safe, reliable, and affordable mobility, impacting how we move people and goods.  

This situation has clear negative consequences for economic development, public health, job opportunities, and the environment. We refer to this as the ‘Old Urban Era.’ The human, environmental, and economic impacts of this era are profound, fuelling our passion to help cities across Africa transition to the ‘New Urban Era’ through smarter mobility solutions.  

We are dedicated to uniting every element of the mobility industry to tackle these challenges head-on, creating an environment where social, environmental, and economic opportunities are exponentially amplified.  

Learn more at: https://apo-opa.co/4nsDCxP

Source: APO

Three experts from the Standard Transfer Specification (STS) Association spoke openly in a new podcast episode on how its globally trusted standard continues to evolve in powering secure, reliable, and future-ready energy solutions.

What do the experts really think?
In this no-holds-barred conversation, the panel dove into the hot topics shaping the future of smart metering.

They cover:

• The IEC’s dramatic reapproval of the STS standard and why it still rules globally
• How STS made the leap into smart metering and what it means for everyday consumers
• The tug-of-war between keeping old systems alive and driving fresh innovation
• Why smart meters are the frontline in the battle against cyber threats
• How the weakest link isn’t the tech at all but the human factor
• What global adoption of STS has taught us (and the mistakes not to repeat)

Moderator Nicolette Pombo-van Zyl set the stage by highlighting the global impact of STS:

“If you have ever wondered how your electricity is kept secure, reliable and future ready, this conversation is for you.”

Framing the discussion in the context of shifting utility priorities, she observed that municipalities have been under pressure to reinvent their business models, and sees smart metering combined with STS functionality as “one of the tools available to help them achieve that.”

Lance Hawkins-Dady, Chairman of the STS Association Board, underlined the balance between innovation and continuity:

“The future of energy is smart, and STS is right at the heart of it,” he said.

“It bridges the gap between legacy infrastructure and next-generation solutions, giving utilities the confidence to modernise at their own pace.”

Building on that, Don Taylor, STS Specifications Expert, emphasised the importance of strong foundations in technology:

“It’s essential that utilities carefully consider compliance with international open standards, such as STS, to ensure interoperability and protect against supplier lock-in.”

His perspective underscores why long-term resilience depends on universal, open frameworks.

Adding to the conversation, Franco Pucci, STS Association Technical Consultant, cleared up a common misunderstanding:

“There’s a misconception that STS and smart metering are competing. They are in fact complementary, enabling utilities to integrate smart capabilities while building on a proven foundation.”

His insight points to a future where utilities can innovate without losing sight of what already works.

In closing the conversation, the three podcast guests addressed how smart metering will transform utility services and customer experiences in years to come — along with one important factor to keep top of mind.

Together, their perspectives showcase how STS has not only secured its relevance for decades but is now embedded at the very centre of smart metering evolution.

To hear the full discussion and gain deeper insights, listen to the podcast now:
https://apo-opa.co/46KrSQ8

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

Source: APO

Gabon’s Minister of Oil and Gas, Sosthène Nguema Nguema, announced that the country will introduce a dual legal framework to replace its 2019 Hydrocarbons Code. Speaking at the Invest in Gabon Energies Roundtable – sponsored by the Ministry of Oil and Gas of Gabon – at African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025, Nguema explained that by separating the code into a dedicated Oil Code and Gas Code, the country aims to strengthen transparency and regulatory oversight, thereby attracting new investment across the sector.  

“The discoveries we have had and the geological research we have undertaken are all revealing the potential that Gabon holds. The government is committed to implementing a legal framework that allows you to be comfortable in exploring,” stated Nguema.  

By separating the existing Hydrocarbons Code, the country is creating a more investment-friendly environment for foreign operators. Duplex Yockot, Director General of Economic, Legal Affairs and Petroleum Data Management, Ministry of Oil and Gas, Gabon, explained that, “The new Oil Code builds on the existing Hydrocarbons Code and will deal with legal aspects associated with the industry. The Gas Code will contain terms that allow us to secure foreign investment in the gas industry.”  

These regulatory amendments come as the country implements clear goals to reach 200,000 barrels per day in oil and gas production. Preye Angaye, Executive Director Infrastructure and New Business, Century Group, underscored the value of these objectives. He said, “The goals in the country are very clear and this is something that will encourage any potential investment. Gabon has developed a framework that is functional and supports investments.” 

In tandem with the new codes, Gabon is advancing seismic research with the aim of improving the geological understanding of the country’s basins. Michel Mouba, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Oil and Gas, Gabon, explained that “We have undertaken subsurface studies to understand the basin. When it comes to discoveries that have not been developed yet, today, we are wanting to promote these opportunities. We have data – which is key.”  

With a renewed mandate to drive Gabon’s oil and gas industry, Gabon Oil Company (GOC) continues to spearhead upstream developments. The company is advancing both mature field redevelopment as well as frontier exploration campaigns, positioning itself as the national driver of oil and gas production.  

“Gabon Oil Company has a goal to enhance production and revenue for the government. We need to look forward and that is through exploration. We have a strong advantage as the national oil company and will assist, partner and drive projects [forward] in Gabon,” stated Emery Lepo, Business Strategy Director, GOC.  

State-owned Assala Gabon, an affiliate of Assala Energy, continues to deliver stable oil production from its portfolio of onshore assets. With an emphasis on asset rejuvenation, the company has successfully extended field life through enhanced recovery methods, drilling campaigns, and infrastructure upgrades.  

Edgar Mba Ognane, Managing Director, Assala Gabon, highlighted upcoming exploration strategies, “We have an ambitious drilling and workover program. We have two workover rigs operating at our assets and we are mobilizing a second drilling unit to monetize all the resources in the ground. We are finalizing the drilling plans, and N’Gongui – a marginal field – will be producing in Q1, 2026. We will also drill an exploration well in 2025.”  

For French oil company, Maurel & Prom, Gabon represents a cornerstone of its upstream portfolio. The company produces approximately 16,000 barrels of oil per day and has invested heavily in modernizing production infrastructure. Recent efforts to optimize recovery rates at key onshore blocks underscore Maurel & Prom’s long-term commitment to Gabon’s hydrocarbon sector. 

“Gabon has a huge petroleum potential, so it’s important to develop all of this. Gas will become a very important element in the hydrocarbon mix in Gabon. You also need to include communities in the exploration and production projects. We work closely with Gabonese collaborators, bringing them into projects,” shared Olivier de Langavant, CEO, Maurel & Prom.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO

• The awards see strong turnout with 150 finalists, recording a 58% increase in entries from project owners, including key government authorities
• Over 20 countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Oman, South Africa, Kenya, Singapore, the UK, the US and Uganda, among others
• The Sustainable Initiative of the Year award recorded the highest number of entries this year

The fifth edition of Big 5 Global Impact Awards, celebrating impact in the built environment, has announced 150 finalists competing across 19 categories. The awards recognize projects, organizations, individuals and teams driving sustainable, collaborative and technology-led achievements, highlighting evolving standards of excellence across both public and private sectors in the urban development and construction landscape.

Commenting on this year’s finalists’ announcement, Josine Heijmans, Senior Vice President, dmg events, said: “This year we have seen a remarkable 58% increase in entries from project owners, including key government authorities, alongside a 63% rise in new entrants across all categories. These figures underline the importance of Big 5 Global Impact Awards and highlight the industry’s commitment to sustainable development, innovation and collaboration.”

Finalists this year come from 21 countries, including Azerbaijan, Canada, Egypt, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Kenya, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago and Uganda, the UK and the US, among others, showcasing the global reach and relevance of the awards.

Government participation highlights sector collaboration

Once again, Big 5 Global Impact Awards has drawn an exceptional number of finalists from government authorities, reflecting the increasing role of public sector leadership in promoting innovative and sustainable practices across the construction and urban development ecosystem. Among the finalists are the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) Dubai, Dubai Municipality, Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Waste Management (MWAN), County Government of Tana River, Lagos Free Zone, Fujairah Municipality, Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority, Ethiopian Electric Power,  and Sharjah Department of Town Planning and Survey.

The Sustainable Initiative of the Year award, which received the highest number of entries, highlights an initiative’s success through clear metrics, effective collaboration and tangible outcomes, including adherence to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles. Finalists include Dianne Rampadarath’s Contracting and General Services Provider for Rural Electrification Utilizing Solar Energy; ITC Limited for Mainstreaming Energy Efficiency & Thermal Comfort; Soudah Development for the Soudah Cloud Forest Reforestation Programme; Msheireb Properties for Msheireb Downtown Doha: Sustainable Downtown City; Almoosa Health for Almoosa Rehabilitation Hospital; County Government of Tana River for Maji ya Solar Initiative; Dar for Dar’s Decarbonization and Net Zero 2030 Strategy; Ethiopian Electric Power for Serving Community: Sustainable Social Impact; Fakhruddin Properties for 90:90 Waste Management Initiative; Fujairah Municipality for Green Geopolymer Concrete from Industrial Waste; Orascom Construction for Orascom Integrated ESG Excellence Program; and PEARL Homes for Hunters Point Pearl Homes and Marina.

Another award showcasing the industry’s forward-looking vision is the Liveable City Initiative of the Year, which recognizes projects that improve urban quality of life and social infrastructure. Finalists include Centum Real Estate for Two Rivers Social City; Concept Dash for Reclaiming the Edge – Public Realm Reimagined; Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure for Building Humanization Certification; and The Arab Contractors Company (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.) for Greater Cairo Monorail.

View the full list of finalists across 19 categories (https://apo-opa.co/4pO6YbD).

Every year, the awards are judged by an independent, international panel of industry experts, representing the highest standards of excellence and ensuring that winners are selected purely on merit and excellence.

Commenting on the quality of entries, Matthew Jackson, Co-Founder, ZERO Construct, said: “The calibre of submissions this year demonstrates encouraging progress, and I commend all of the submissions to this year’s awards. The projects are moving beyond ambition to demonstrate real action on sustainability, digital innovation and community impact. At the same time, we must be honest: there is still a long way to go before this becomes the norm across the industry. This shortlist proves what’s possible and sets a challenge for all of us to keep raising the bar if we are serious about building a resilient, inclusive and zero-carbon future. My congratulations to the projects and the teams who worked on them.”

Winners will be announced at a ceremony on 25 November 2025 at Address Sky View, Downtown Dubai, where more than 400 industry leaders, innovators and government representatives will gather to celebrate achievement and impact.

Big 5 Global Impact Awards is supported by Gold Sponsor, Wurth Professional Services and Carbon Net-Zero Initiative of the Year Category Sponsor, AGSI.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of dmg events.

For more information, please contact:
Ranju Warrier
Head of Communications – Construction, dmg events
ranjuwarrier@dmgevents.com

Khushie Mallya
PR Executive – Construction, dmg events
khushiemallya@dmgevents.com

About Big 5 Global:
With a 45-year legacy, Big 5 Global is the largest and most influential building and construction event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia and the annual meeting hub for the global construction industry.  Taking place from 24 – 27 November 2025, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Big 5 Global attracts more than 85,000 global attendees from over 165 countries and 2,800 exhibitors to UAE covering the full construction and urban development cycle across dedicated sectors and nine specialized events enabling industry professionals to source worldwide building solutions for every stage of construction: Heavy, Totally Concrete, Marble & Stone World, UDLE, WDF, HVACR World, LiveableCitiesX, GeoWorld and FutureFM.

For more information and to register, visit: www.Big5Global.com

Source: APO – Report:

Gabon is calling for renewed international investment in its oil and gas sector, focusing on marginal oil fields to counteract declines from aging reservoirs.

Speaking at a session titled ‘Unlocking Investment Opportunities in Gabon’s Oil & Gas Sector’ at Africa Energy Week: Invest in African Energies, Aristide P. Nyamat Bantsiva, General Director of Upstream Oil and Gas, highlighted the government’s push to revitalize production from mature fields and capitalize on untapped resources.

Gabon’s 2019 Hydrocarbon Code reforms, which include flexible production sharing contracts and tax incentives, aim to stimulate exploration. The country has more than 30 marginal discoveries across onshore and offshore blocks, which officials hope will drive sustainable production growth and economic revitalization.

“The advancement of technology has allowed us to review and discover new blocks that were previously thought inaccessible. Through our technical workshops and yearly statutory meetings, we will continue to monitor the overall performance of these assets, including safety, production, people and budget,” Bantsiva said.

Bantsiva noted that Gabon has over two billion barrels of proven oil reserves and substantial gas potential. Yet only 27.5% of its 255,104 km² total acreage is currently licensed, leaving nearly 185,000 km² open for investment.

“The government, through partnerships with operators such as Perenco, BW Energy and state-owned Gabon Oil Company, is leveraging these enhanced oil recovery technologies and redeveloping underutilized assets to maximize output from mature fields,” he added, emphasizing that tapping deepwater basins will require additional investment and technical expertise.

Meanwhile, independent energy company Perenco is investing $2 billion into the Cap Lopez LNG terminal, deploying a floating LNG vessel capable of producing 700,000 tons of LNG and 25,000 tons of LPG, with 137,000 cubic meters of storage. BW Energy also signed production sharing contracts for the Niosi Marin and Guduma Marin blocks in 2024, covering an eight-year exploration period with a two-year extension option.

“With established infrastructure, including over 225 km of gas pipelines, 7 million barrels of storage capacity, and a functioning refinery system, as well as continued commitment from government, Gabon offers a compelling opportunity for investors to be part of the next chapter in Africa’s energy story. Our oil basin is rich in history and ripe for innovation,” Bantsiva concluded.

– on behalf of African Energy Chamber.