MIL Africa Engine

Source: APO

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Guyana and Jamaica’s decision to establish a joint energy working group marks the latest step toward a more integrated Caribbean energy market, as the region’s fastest-growing oil producer expands cooperation beyond upstream investment to include infrastructure, finance and energy security. Signed in June 2026, the four bilateral agreements commit both governments to deeper collaboration across key sectors while establishing a dedicated platform to advance energy cooperation through knowledge exchange, infrastructure development and initiatives that strengthen regional energy security. The agreements come as Guyana prepares to increase crude oil production to 1.3 million barrels per day by 2027 and 1.7 million bpd by 2030, positioning regional partnerships alongside upstream investment as a key driver of its next phase of growth.

The Jamaica agreements build on a broader strategy of regional integration already taking shape across the Caribbean. In May 2026, Guyana and the Dominican Republic signed a contract for the exploration, development and eventual production of oil and gas in the Berbice Block, formalizing a strategic energy partnership first outlined in a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding. As part of the agreement, Dominican state-owned refinery Refinería Dominicana de Petróleo secured a 10% participating interest in the block, while both governments committed to expanding cooperation in refining, petrochemicals and regional energy security. The deal marks one of the Caribbean’s most significant cross-border upstream partnerships to date, extending collaboration beyond crude production into downstream industrial development.

The push for greater regional integration is also gaining traction among the Caribbean’s leading hydrocarbon producers. In February 2026, Trinidad and Tobago Energy Minister Roodal Moonilal called for deeper collaboration with Guyana and Suriname, proposing greater coordination among the region’s energy ministers to advance shared priorities across upstream development, natural gas commercialization and energy infrastructure. Discussions highlighted opportunities to leverage Guyana’s rapidly expanding production alongside Trinidad and Tobago’s established LNG, refining and petrochemical capabilities, reinforcing the case for a more connected regional energy market.

Beyond the Caribbean, Guyana is reinforcing the international partnerships underpinning its energy expansion. In March 2025, Guyana and the United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding on security cooperation during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit, strengthening collaboration to safeguard critical infrastructure and reinforce investor confidence in the country’s rapidly expanding offshore sector. Canada has also expanded its engagement through the extension of the Caribbean-Canada Trade Agreement through 2033 and the renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding between Guyana’s Ministry of Finance and the Canadian Commercial Corporation, creating additional pathways for Canadian participation in infrastructure, industrial and energy development.

These agreements signal a strategic evolution in Guyana’s energy ambitions. While international oil companies continue to unlock world-class offshore resources, government-to-government partnerships are creating the policy alignment, commercial relationships and infrastructure needed to support long-term regional growth. Rather than viewing oil and gas development through a national lens, Caribbean governments are increasingly positioning the region as a connected investment destination capable of competing for global capital across the full hydrocarbon value chain.

The role of regional partnerships in shaping the Caribbean’s next phase of energy growth will be a central focus at Caribbean Energy Week 2027, held under the theme “Unlocking the Caribbean Energy Corridor: Oil, Gas, LNG & Investment for a New Global Hub.” Bringing together governments, national oil companies, international operators, financiers and investors, the conference will examine how regional partnerships are accelerating cross-border investment, strengthening energy security and creating new commercial opportunities across the Caribbean’s upstream, midstream and downstream sectors.

Ahead of the conference, an in-country launch in Guyana in September 2026 will convene regional governments, investors and industry leaders to explore the policies, partnerships and investment strategies driving the Caribbean’s emergence as one of the world’s fastest-growing energy markets.

Caribbean Energy Week 2027 will host its in-country launch at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown on September 1, 2026, bringing together government officials, investors, operators and industry stakeholders for an early look at the opportunities, priorities and partnerships that will shape the region’s energy future. To register, please visit https://apo-opa.co/4buJqmw

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

Source: APO

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“Before FAO came, we thought this was simply how bushmeat should be sold because it was how our mothers did it. Today we know that protecting our customers also protects our families,” says Comfort Baidoo, a bushmeat trader at Kumasi’s Atwemonom Market and a participant in FAO’s training on food safety. 

Before dawn each day, the women of Atwemonom Market begin preparing for another busy trading day. Their stalls soon fill with smoked and fresh bushmeat, attracting customers from across the city. For these women, bushmeat is much more than food. It is the source of household income, school fees, healthcare, and financial security for their families.

In Ghana, bushmeat commonly includes species such as grasscutters (greater cane rats), duikers, bushbuck, porcupines, monkeys, and other small mammals. Bushmeat is generally defined as the meat of wild animals harvested from forests and other natural habitats.

Behind the vibrant marketplace in Kumasi was a challenge that many consumers never saw. Bushmeat is a valuable source of animal protein, but if it is not handled safely, it can expose both traders and consumers to foodborne illnesses and diseases that can pass between animals and people. Poor hygiene practices, limited access to clean storage facilities, and inadequate protective equipment made it difficult for traders to consistently provide safe food while protecting their own health.

Recognizing these challenges, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations partnered with local authorities and the Bushmeat Traders Association through its Better Nutrition programme to strengthen food safety practices among women traders at Atwemonom Market.

The intervention began with listening. Rather than introducing solutions from the outside, FAO spent time with the traders to understand their daily routines, the challenges they faced, and the practical realities of working in one of Ghana’s busiest bushmeat markets. The women spoke openly about transporting products over long distances, preserving meat without adequate cooling facilities, and working in demanding conditions while trying to maintain the quality of their products. These conversations shaped an intervention that responded directly to their needs.

More than fifty women participated in practical training on Good Hygiene Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices, safe meat handling, personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, and the prevention of foodborne diseases. The training combined technical knowledge with practical demonstrations that traders could immediately apply in their daily work.

Training alone, however, was not enough.  To support the adoption of safer practices, FAO provided insulated ice chests, protective aprons, gloves, and other essential equipment that allowed traders to improve the hygienic handling and storage of bushmeat throughout the trading day. The changes soon became visible across the market.

Protective clothing became more common. Traders paid greater attention to hand hygiene and the cleanliness of their working areas. Meat was handled more carefully and stored under improved conditions. Customers began noticing these improvements and expressed greater confidence in purchasing products from traders who visibly demonstrated better hygiene practices.

The women became ambassadors for food safety within their own community. They shared what they had learned with fellow traders, encouraged better hygiene practices, and recognized that food safety was not simply about complying with standards. It was about protecting their customers, strengthening their businesses, and safeguarding their own livelihoods.

The initiative also demonstrated the critical role that women play in Ghana’s food systems. Although many operate within the informal economy, they are central to supplying nutritious food to thousands of households every day. Investing in their knowledge, skills, and working conditions strengthens food security, improves public health, and creates more resilient local food systems.

The experience at Atwemonom Market shows that improving food safety does not always require expensive infrastructure or complex technologies. Sustainable change often begins with practical knowledge, appropriate equipment, and genuine partnerships with the people who are at the heart of local food systems.

One of the most memorable moments came at the end of the training. Proud of what they had learned and determined to uphold higher standards, the women spontaneously created their own slogan in Twi. With smiles and applause, they chanted, “FAO, Yɛ Yɛ Neat!” literally meaning “FAO, We Are Neat!” The chant quickly became a shared commitment to cleanliness, safe food handling, and professional pride.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.

Source: APO

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As global demand for minerals grows, African governments and industry are accelerating efforts to formalize artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) through new regulations, digital platforms, financing mechanisms and cooperative models. These initiatives aim to increase government revenues, strengthen mineral traceability, curb illicit mining and attract responsible investment.

These reforms will take center stage at African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, taking place in Cape Town from October 14–16, through a dedicated Accelerating the Formalization of ASM panel, where policymakers, mining companies and industry leaders will examine the policies, partnerships and technologies driving ASM formalization across the continent.

The discussion comes as artisanal mining assumes an increasingly strategic role in the global minerals industry. ASM accounts for more than 20% of global gold and critical minerals production. The sector supports the livelihoods of more than 40 million people and indirectly benefits an estimated 150 million people across sub-Saharan Africa, yet between 70% and 80% of operations remain informal, highlighting a significant opportunity to drive economic growth through formalization.

Ghana is demonstrating how formalization can strengthen both production and investment. The country now sources more than 52% of its gold output from ASM operators and continues to formalize the sector through the Ghana Gold Board and expanded community mining programs. Typhoon Greenfield Development is supporting these efforts through an in-house initiative that provides technical assistance to neighboring artisanal miners. At AMW 2026, Kwaku Nsiah-Asare, CEO of Typhoon Greenfield Development, is expected to share insights into the company’s ASM integration model and how partnerships between industrial and artisanal miners can strengthen production while promoting sustainable sector development.

Meanwhile, Rand Refinery is supporting Ghana’s ASM formalization through a partnership with Gold Coast Refinery to strengthen local gold purchasing and beneficiation. By providing technical, operational and commercial oversight, the company is helping the refinery achieve internationally recognized assaying and refining standards for ASM gold. As African producers accelerate downstream mineral processing and value addition, Jason McPherson, Head of Sourcing and Business Development at Rand Refinery, will discuss the refinery’s regional expansion strategy and role in advancing Africa’s gold beneficiation industry.

Zambia is similarly expanding formalization initiatives as part of its strategy to diversify beyond copper and build a stronger domestic gold industry. Government-led programs such as the planetGOLD Zambia initiative and Community Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Committees are improving access to training, finance, cooperative structures and responsible mining practices for artisanal producers.

Complementing these efforts, Makor Resources has developed MineHive, a digital platform that provides artisanal miners with technical knowledge, community engagement tools and access to responsible mining practices. Makor Resources CEO Brooke Bibeault is expected to discuss how digital innovation can accelerate ASM formalization while improving productivity, environmental performance and investor confidence across the sector.

Uganda is also advancing reforms to unlock greater value from its artisanal mining industry. Approximately 500,000 artisanal miners operate across the country, including around 90,000 gold miners, with much of the sector still operating informally. To improve mineral traceability and strengthen domestic value capture, the Bank of Uganda has launched a national gold purchasing program designed to support artisanal miners while expanding the country’s official gold reserves.

The Uganda Chamber of Energy and Minerals, working alongside GIZ Uganda and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, is also implementing the TENT Grant Initiative, a UGX 800 million program running through October 2026 that aims to formalize at least 20 artisanal mining cooperatives through improved market access. At AMW 2026, Chamber CEO Humphrey Asiimwe is expected to provide an update on Uganda’s formalization agenda and how the country is positioning its gold, graphite and rare earth sectors to meet rising global demand.

As governments and industry work to unlock greater value from artisanal mining, AMW 2026 will spotlight the partnerships, technologies and policy reforms shaping the sector’s transition into the formal economy.

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