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In the industrial zones of northwestern Tunisia, a quiet revolution is transforming how businesses operate and communities live

Where heavy fuel oil (HFO) once dominated the energy landscape, natural gas now flows through newly constructed pipelines, bringing cleaner air and economic opportunity to a region that has long waited for such progress.

The contrast is striking when you visit facilities like SICAM, an agri-food company specialising in canned tomatoes, which has switched its plant from HFO to natural gas.

“With gas, we have eliminated pollution, reduced production costs and increased our efficiency. We save up to 500,000 Tunisian dinars per season,” said Kamel Trabelsi, SICAM’s deputy director general.

This transformation was made possible by the Natural Gas Transport and Distribution Network Development Project in Western Tunisia, implemented by state power utility, Société Tunisienne de l'Électricité et du Gaz (STEG), with €49.39mn (US$56.5mn) in financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The STEG project has expanded access to natural gas in historically underserved regions, including Béja Sud and Mjez Elbeb, connecting over 1,250 households to the network so far.

Eventually, the infrastructure will serve 13,500 subscribers across 19 municipalities in Tunisia's northwest, including 2,500 additional connections by the end of this year.

The roll out is already bringing material benefits to local industries, with SICAM connecting to the gas grid in October 2024.

"Thanks to natural gas, our boilers now reach 95% capacity in record time. Efficiency is up, maintenance is easier, and pollution has dropped significantly," added Trabelsi.

According to Mehdi Khoali, AfDB chief operations officer, “one of the project's most transformative outcomes is the gradual industrialisation of the serviced zones. Around 10 new industrial units — including brickyards and cement plants — have been established thanks to the gas supply. Others have expanded their operations. This is helping create jobs and strengthen regional economic resilience."

Mohamed Riadh Hellal, lead department head at STEG, and the project's coordinator, said the initiative “not only heats homes, but also boosts local economic activity.”

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With a robust fleet of Volvo machines provided and supported by Al-Futtaim Auto & Machinery Company (FAMCO), MAR Marine & Building Contracting is taking on technically demanding marine and civil construction projects across the Middle East and Africa, delivering efficiency and minimising downtime

Founded in 2018, MAR Marine & Building Contracting has rapidly established itself as a regional leader in marine and civil infrastructure. Headquartered in both the UAE and Lebanon, with projects spanning multiple countries, MAR has completed more than 200 contracts for over 340 clients, an impressive feat for a relatively new player.

Central to MAR’s success is its focus on quality, timely project delivery and customer satisfaction. The company operates across a wide scope—marine works, steel structures, civil construction, dredging, and sea pipeline installations, serving both public and private clients. Each project poses its own set of challenges, especially in harsh coastal settings where machinery must be both durable and reliable.

Engineering excellence in tough marine conditions

Marine and coastal construction is one of the most complex sectors in the industry, requiring resilience against environmental variables such as saltwater corrosion, fluctuating tides and tight regulatory requirements. To meet these challenges, MAR has invested in more than 40 crawler excavators and articulated haulers from Volvo Construction Equipment.

The Volvo machines have become vital assets in operations such as breakwater construction and sand backfilling. Their corrosion-resistant materials, sealed electrical systems and protected hydraulic components are well suited to marine environments. According to MAR, Volvo’s reputation for robust engineering and performance has been instrumental in their ability to deliver on time.

Partnership rooted in trust

FAMCO, Volvo CE’s long-standing dealer in the UAE, supplies and services MAR’s fleet. This relationship is underpinned by shared values of reliability and service excellence.

“Today we take a moment to thank our trusted partner FAMCO for all their support,” said Marwan Nakhoul, project site engineer at MAR. “In our work, success depends on strong partnerships. FAMCO, together with Volvo Construction Equipment, has always been one of our most trusted partners.”

Nakhoul also pointed to how Volvo’s equipment delivers measurable benefits: “Thanks to the high quality of their machines, we’ve had less downtime and finished our work faster and more efficiently. Our partnership with FAMCO is a big reason for our success.”

Supporting growth across borders

As the demand for marine infrastructure grows across the Middle East and Africa, companies like MAR are playing a key role in driving economic development and coastal resilience. With FAMCO and Volvo CE as dependable partners, MAR is well equipped to expand its footprint—one marine project at a time.

In a decisive move to tackle the challenges of illicit gold trade and formalise its artisanal mining sector, Côte d’Ivoire has partnered with the World Bank and the World Gold Council in a new initiative aimed at transforming small-scale gold mining into a safer, more transparent, and economically beneficial industry

The Multistakeholder Partnership for Sustainable and Responsible Small-Scale Mining (MSPI), launched today, brings together major players including Endeavor Mining, Perseus Mining, and the Chamber of Mines of Côte d’Ivoire. The initiative seeks to integrate artisanal and small-scale miners into a regulated, traceable gold supply chain.

“Côte d’Ivoire is leading the way in transforming artisanal and small-scale mining into a more professional, regulated sector,” said Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, minister of mines, petroleum, and energy of Côte d’Ivoire. He described the partnership as a “crucial step” toward making small-scale mining “safer, more transparent, and a driver of development, growth, and job creation.”

The reform comes in response to the sector’s longstanding issues with smuggling, environmental degradation, and weak regulation. In 2022 alone, the country lost an estimated 40 tons of gold—worth more than US$2bn at the time—due to illegal exports.

The MSPI initiative aims to address these challenges by improving mine sites, processing infrastructure, and legal market access for small-scale miners. It also outlines collaborative mechanisms between large-scale industrial operators and artisanal miners. These include training, assistance with adopting international environmental and social standards, and support in accessing legitimate trading channels.

“Artisanal mining holds enormous potential to add tremendous value to Côte d’Ivoire’s economy and to lift people out of poverty, but only if it is made safe, legal, and sustainable,” said Marie-Chantal Uwanyiligira, World Bank Division Director for Côte d'Ivoire, Benin, Guinea, and Togo. “This is a truly innovative mechanism for bringing together large mining companies and small artisanal miners, providing opportunities for additional domestic resources to support development and create decent jobs for youth and women.”

The World Bank will assist the Ivorian government in aligning its practices with international gold production standards. Meanwhile, the World Gold Council will work with companies to establish model small-scale mines, improve supply chain infrastructure, and ensure traceability through partnerships with institutions like the London Bullion Market Association.

Terry Heymann, chief strategy officer of the World Gold Council, called the agreement “a groundbreaking and innovative approach” to responsible mining. “By fostering collaboration between industrial and artisanal miners, we can raise environmental and social standards, exclude illicit actors, and deliver shared benefits for governments, communities, miners, and the global gold market.”

Although Barrick Mining Corporation has contributed to the initiative’s development through its Tongon mine, it is not currently a participant due to ongoing sale negotiations. However, Barrick has stated it will encourage the new owner to engage with the partnership.

As countries across West Africa continue to navigate the complexities of artisanal mining, Côte d’Ivoire’s MSPI could serve as a regional blueprint for integrating informal mining into the formal economy while supporting the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands.

In a major step forward for East and Southern African aviation, Kenya Airways and Air Tanzania have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen strategic collaboration and improve regional air connectivity

The agreement lays the groundwork for expanded cooperation between the two national carriers, with a focus on building regional and international partnerships that favour cooperation over competition. Both airlines will combine resources and expertise to support sustainable, cost-effective growth in the aviation sector.

The MoU highlights key areas of collaboration including the exchange of knowledge and best practices in human resource training, aircraft maintenance, engineering, cargo services, technical cooperation, MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul), safety, and innovation. This joint approach aims to deliver more integrated travel options and improve service efficiency across the region.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Allan Kilavuka, group managing director and CEO of Kenya Airways, said, "This partnership underscores our commitment to building regional capacity to support economic growth, trade, and tourism across East Africa. By collaborating closely with Air Tanzania, we can jointly offer our passengers and cargo clients more flexible and efficient travel solutions."

Air Tanzania CEO Peter Ulanga added, "This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our efforts to expand our regional presence and better serve the growing demand for air travel in Africa. Together with Kenya Airways, we are creating a stronger, more connected aviation landscape that will benefit our economies and our people."

The MoU was formalised during a ceremony at the Johari Rotana Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where both CEOs signed the agreement.

This strategic partnership is expected to foster a more integrated, competitive, and sustainable aviation environment across Africa, opening new market opportunities and strengthening the economic fabric of the communities served by both airlines.

South Africa has entered into a US$1.5bn loan agreement with the World Bank to support the revitalisation of its transport and energy infrastructure and stimulate economic recovery, the National Treasury announced recently

For over ten years, Africa’s most industrialised economy has faced stagnation, hindered by ongoing power outages that have reduced productivity and deteriorating rail systems and port congestion that have impacted key industries like mining and automotive manufacturing.

The government expects the loan to help alleviate transport constraints and bolster energy security, although it has not disclosed which specific projects the World Bank funds will support.

The loan is expected to help manage the country’s rising debt-service burden by offering more favourable conditions than those available in commercial markets, including a three-year grace period.

State-run utilities Eskom and Transnet, responsible for energy and transport respectively, have faced long-standing operational and financial difficulties, contributing to the country’s sluggish growth, which stood at only 0.1% in the first quarter.

The Treasury stated that the interest rate on the 16-year loan from the World Bank is the six-month Secured Overnight Financing Rate plus 1.49%.

This facility is distinct from another US$500mn in funding that the World Bank Group is considering to help mobilise private investment in South Africa’s electricity transmission infrastructure, which needs to be expanded to accommodate more renewable energy projects.

Last month, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana outlined a budget that includes over 1 trillion rand (US$55.5bn) in investment across sectors including transport, energy, water and sanitation, aimed at driving growth and improving public services.

It aimed for public debt to peak at 77.4% of gross domestic product in the current fiscal year, slowly declining after that.

Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) has invested R365mn (US$20mn) in a new state-of-the-art bottling line at its Midrand plant in South Africa

The high-speed production line is capable of producing 72,000 bottles per hour and marks a South African first, producing Bonaqua Pump Still 750ml and Powerade 500ml packs with a sports bottle cap.

It marks the next step in the global drinks corporation’s ambitions for Africa, where it has pledged to massively hike investment in the coming years.

“By launching this new line, we strengthen our ability to meet growing consumer demand and create shared value across the local value chain, including for our customers and communities,” said Moses Lubisi, manufacturing and technical director at Coca-Cola Beverages South Africa (CCBSA), a company in the CCBA group.

He said the new production line represents a key step in the group’s growth plans across all its African markets in the years ahead, including deepening its commitment to bolster local production and distribution efforts.

“Importantly, this investment reaffirms the Coca-Cola system’s local approach – we produce locally, distribute locally and, where possible, source locally.”

The group is expanding its footprint in other key markets as well.

Last year, Nigeria’s presidency disclosed that the US-based corporation planned to invest US$1bn in the West African state over five years following meetings between President Bola Tinubu and senior executives of the soft drinks company.

In April, CCBA invested US$15mn in a new state-of-the art production line in Lilongwe through its subsidiary Coca-Cola Beverages Malawi Limited (CCBM).

In South Africa, the new production line will also produce Bonaqua Still in 330ml and 500ml packs, further driving the company’s efforts to expand its hydration category.

It will additionally produce the recently launched Powerade Springboks Edition.

To support environmental goals, the new production line features technology to optimise water and energy use.

“At CCBA, our passion for refreshing the continent drives everything we do,” said Sunil Gupta, chief executive officer at CCBA.

“This new production line in South Africa represents a key step in our ambitious growth plans in all our markets on the continent. It enhances our ability to meet consumer needs while reinforcing our commitment to delivering reliability and top-quality beverages across Africa.”

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