GE Vernova Inc. demonstrated its commitment to the continent’s economic transformation at the Africa Energy Forum, held in Cape Town, South Africa, on 17 June 2026

Aligning with the event’s central theme, ‘Building Africa's industrialized Future’, the company showcased a comprehensive portfolio of advanced technologies. These innovations are engineered to translate large-scale infrastructure ambitions into tangible operational realities, thereby accelerating Africa's industrialisation and long-term economic growth.

GE Vernova maintains that achieving success in this new industrial era requires a strictly holistic approach, bridging the existing gap between power generation and industrial application. The company aims to enable African industries to scale with absolute precision by integrating sustainable energy generation, advanced electrification systems, and sophisticated digital decarbonisation tools. This integrated strategy ensures that energy provision remains a reliable, affordable, and sustainable foundation for economic transformation.

A key focal point was demonstrating how digital intelligence is accelerating the energy transition. In North Africa, the Tunisian state utility, STEG, identified a strategic opportunity to evaluate GE Vernova's CERius platform. This sophisticated solution integrates artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and digital twin technology to create a comprehensive digital framework for emissions management. By transitioning from hardware-heavy monitoring towards a streamlined, software-driven framework, STEG is gaining the real-time, auditable emissions data critical for aligning with stringent international standards.

This innovative digital approach has undergone validation at the Sousse B power plant, confirming its operational effectiveness. Beyond achieving a high degree of consistency in emissions monitoring, STEG anticipates this software-driven shift will reduce related investment and maintenance costs by up to fifty per cent. By enhancing traceability, this initiative directly supports Tunisia's ambitious electricity export strategy to Europe. It proves compliance with the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and demonstrates that data-driven decarbonisation is a powerful catalyst for regional economic growth.

Alongside digital innovation, GE Vernova strongly emphasised that as the African continent accelerates its energy transition, the focus must shift from merely adding capacity to confirming that grid infrastructure is inherently stable and resilient. To support this argument, the company released a new whitepaper entitled, “Spain's 2025 Blackout Experience: Grid Firming Needs for Developing Power Systems with High-Renewable Penetration”. The paper's core recommendation is that future grids must be engineered specifically for fundamental resilience, rather than just basic energy delivery.

GE Vernova encourages African nations to prioritise grid stability from the outset. By applying lessons learned from the Iberian Peninsula, developing power systems can become as reliable as they are sustainable. The company advocates for integrating flexible, grid-forming technologies, such as aeroderivative gas turbines, synchronous condensers, and advanced power electronics. By explicitly valuing grid-support services, Africa can leapfrog traditional infrastructure hurdles. Strategic guidance is further mapped out in another whitepaper, “Ensuring Power System Stability in an Evolving Electrical Grid”.

Joseph Anis, president and CEO of GE Vernova's Gas Power business in Europe, Middle East, and Africa, stated, "Building Africa's industrial future starts with getting the fundamentals right: power that is reliable, sustainable, and ready to scale. A modern, stable grid is the backbone of this vision. Our goal is to provide a complete toolkit - from the AI that manages decarbonization to the grid technology that keeps the system stable - and to partner with African leaders to make that future a reality."

Building upon over 125 years of collaboration across the continent, GE Vernova continues to support Africa's energy evolution. The business is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and supported by approximately 85,000 employees globally, and brings over 130 years of broader experience to tackling global challenges. Through its deep-rooted continental presence, the purpose-built global energy company remains actively committed to fostering the technical self-sufficiency required to power the next generation of industrial growth.

The African Development Fund (ADF) has approved a US$59.8mn loan to support the rehabilitation of a key transborder road section linking Benin and Togo

The project forms part of efforts to boost regional trade and economic integration across West Africa.

The financing will fund the rehabilitation of 78.8 kilometres of road between Kara and Kabou along the Benin-Togo border as part of the first phase of the Transit Roads and Transport Facilitation Project on the CU18 corridor.

The project is co-financed by the ADF, the concessional lending arm of the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and the governments of Togo and Benin.

“This vital corridor will help strengthen economic competitiveness, accelerate the opening up of the inland areas of Benin and Togo, and consolidate sub-regional integration,” said Lamin Barrow, director general for West Africa at the AfDB.

The project includes the upgrading of the corridor stretching from the Benin border at Ouaké through Kémérida, Soundjina, Kara, Djamdé and Kabou into a 3.5-metre dual carriageway, with a six-lane section through the city of Kara.

It will also support the construction and rehabilitation of socio-economic and educational infrastructure, strengthen transport services and logistics along the corridor and introduce measures to reduce trade barriers and improve traffic flow.

Of the total ADF funding, US$50.3mn has been allocated to the Togolese section of the corridor, while the Beninese section will receive US$9.5mn.

Capacity-building programmes for various project implementing agencies and other groups are also planned.

Poor road conditions and high transport costs have long constrained economic activity and mobility in the region, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, particularly women engaged in cross-border commerce and market gardening.

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Sandvik Rock Processing is supplying the first Sandvik CH662 cone crushers to a platinum mining project in South Africa’s Limpopo province, highlighting the increasing adoption of advanced mining technologies across Africa

The delivery reflects growing demand for modern crushing solutions as mining operations across the continent increasingly invest in electrification, automation, and remote monitoring technologies. The Sandvik CH662 represents an upgraded version of the established CH660 platform, featuring mechanical and digital enhancements designed to improve productivity, reliability, and maintenance performance.

PC Kruger, business line manager Crushing at Sandvik Rock Processing, said the milestone order demonstrates changing attitudes towards technology adoption in African mining.

“This is creating an environment where advanced crushing systems such as the CH662 are becoming more attractive,” commented Kruger. “This milestone order challenges longstanding perceptions that African mining operations are slow to adopt new technologies.”

The two Sandvik CH662 crushers will be installed in a secondary crushing application as part of an underground mining expansion project. Factory acceptance testing was completed in Sweden during the second quarter of 2026 before the equipment was transported to South Africa.

The order was placed through a major engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor, with one crusher assigned as the primary operating unit and the second serving as a standby machine. The configuration highlights the importance of dependable crushing equipment in modern mineral processing operations.

Yashik Anand, Capital Sales Engineer for Sandvik Rock Processing’s static crushing business, said the project reflects the increasing focus among customers on efficiency, reliability, and digital capabilities when selecting crushing equipment.

The CH662 incorporates a redesigned top shell and main shaft, which improve durability and operational stability. The upgraded top shell enhances material distribution and structural strength, while the new main shaft improves reliability during high-capacity operations.

“The upgraded top shell provides improved material distribution and greater structural strength, while the new main shaft enhances reliability under high-capacity conditions,” stated Kruger. “The spider bushing has also been re-engineered to improve wear resistance and extend service life.”

Another key improvement is the removal of backing compound requirements during liner replacement. Traditional cone crusher liners often require curing time before equipment can return to operation, while the CH662’s steel-to-steel design eliminates this delay.

“By removing the backing compound from the design, we can save customers up to 24 hours of waiting time during liner replacement procedures,” he said.

Digital capabilities improve performance

Automation and digital integration are central features of the Sandvik CH662 upgrade. The crusher includes Sandvik’s ACS-c 5 ASRi control system, which combines previous crusher control functions into a more advanced automation platform.

The system enables automated setting adjustment, improved monitoring, and integration with digital services platforms for real-time performance analysis and remote diagnostics.

“Especially for mining operations that are located far from major service centres, these capabilities can deliver substantial operational advantages,” Anand says. “Proactive monitoring of the crusher allows operators to identify issues earlier and prevent unplanned stoppages.”

Kruger added that remote monitoring also improves the efficiency of Sandvik Rock Processing’s field service teams, particularly when supporting customers located far from service centres.

“We can remotely support the machine and start fault-finding immediately when there is an issue,” he explains. “By the time a technician reaches site, we already have a good understanding of what needs to be repaired or replaced.”

The project also highlights the importance of collaboration between original equipment manufacturers and EPC contractors during plant design and equipment selection. Sandvik’s PlantDesigner simulation software was used to conduct process simulations and flowsheet evaluations to optimise the crushing circuit according to the customer’s metallurgical requirements.

Looking ahead, Kruger expects the Sandvik CH662 to gain wider adoption across Africa’s mining and aggregates industries, particularly within mid-range processing operations.

“Mining operations in Africa generally do not require the ultra-large crushing systems that are more common in regions like South America,” he notes. “The CH662 fits well into the African market’s production range of 400 to 1000 t/h.”

Sandvik’s upgrade strategy includes retrofit solutions, rebuild options, and fully integrated smart crusher offerings, all supported by the company’s three-year standard warranty.

Gabon’s president and head of state, Brice Clotaire OLIGUI NGUEMA, has officially launched construction works for the Kobe-Kobe deep-water port in Nyonie, located in the Komo-Ocean department

The inauguration ceremony marked a significant milestone for the country’s infrastructure development agenda and brought together government officials, administrative authorities, legislative representatives, traditional leaders, and members of the diplomatic community accredited to Gabon.

The deep-water mineral port project follows a tripartite agreement signed on 23 April 2026 between the Gabonese State, Africa Global Logistics (AGL), and the Algest Investment Bank group. With the commencement of construction, the project has moved into its implementation phase.

Located along the Atlantic coast in the Estuary province, the large-scale development will cover approximately 500 hectares. The project includes a mineral port with four berths, a 535 km mineral railway line, the 400 MW Booué hydroelectric dam, and infrastructure supporting the Belinga iron mine, which is expected to reach a production capacity of 100 million tonnes of iron annually.

The integrated infrastructure network will provide a connection between mining production areas, railway facilities, and the port platform, enabling the transport and export of processed mineral products to international markets.

The Kobe-Kobe project reflects Gabon’s broader ambition to develop, process, and maximise the value of its natural resources at a regional level. It aligns with the Head of State’s vision of creating strategic infrastructure that supports resource extraction, industrial processing, and exports while promoting economic transformation, employment creation, territorial development, and greater industrial sovereignty.

Through the development of these interconnected infrastructures, the project is expected to generate more than 9,000 direct jobs and 100,000 indirect jobs by 2030.

The initiative has attracted investment and expertise from partners across multiple regions, bringing together companies involved in infrastructure, rail development, energy, mining, and mineral marketing. Key partners include AGL for infrastructure, China Railway for railway development, EDF Synohydro for energy infrastructure, Tragigura for international marketing of minerals and processed products, and Fortescue for mining and industrial expertise.

The project further reinforces Gabon’s position as an attractive investment destination supported by strong institutions, political stability, and openness to international partnerships.

The development of these strategic projects represents the implementation of the Head of State’s vision for Gabon’s economic and industrial transformation, with the objective of creating value, generating employment, strengthening competitiveness, and positioning the country as a centre of excellence in Central Africa and beyond.

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has reached financial close and disbursed €43mn under the Poro Power Green Bond, to be used to fund construction of a 66 MW solar power plant in the northern Korhogo region in Cote d’Ivoire

Structured as a €65mn dual-currency facility in euros and CFA francs, it marks the first project finance green bond in Cote d’Ivoire and across the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).

The solar power plant, developed by Poro Power, is expected to be operational in 2027 and will become the country’s largest solar plant.

The solar plant is expected to provide electricity to more than 100,000 households and avoid over 72,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually, contributing to greater energy access and the country’s target of increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix to 45% by 2030.

AFC acted as lead underwriter and co-arranger, helping to structure the innovative dual-currency green bond that creates what it called a ‘replicable model’ for mobilising African capital into bankable infrastructure.

It also called the transaction a milestone for Côte d’Ivoire’s capital markets and for African infrastructure more broadly.

Historically, long-term infrastructure financing in the country has depended heavily on international capital.

By contrast, the Poro Power Green Bond was African-led, structured, and fully funded by African institutions.

Samaila Zubairu, president and CEO of AFC, said the Poro Power Green Bond sets a new benchmark for sustainable infrastructure financing in Africa.

“This landmark transaction demonstrates the growing capacity of African institutions to mobilise domestic capital and expertise to deliver transformative infrastructure projects,” said said Zubairu.

“We are not only helping to close the infrastructure gap, but also creating scalable, homegrown financing models that can be replicated across the continent.”

The transaction builds on AFC’s track record in Côte d’Ivoire across the power and transport sectors.

In the energy sector, it includes the 44MW Singrobo-Ahouaty hydropower project, Côte d’Ivoire’s first private hydro independent power producer.

Its investments in the country also include the 1.5km Henri Konan Bédié Bridge, which has eased congestion by 30% since commissioning and improved mobility in Abidjan.

In 2024, AFC also supported the Ivorian government in awarding six road development contracts worth €691.6mn.

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At the heart of IVECO’s industrial operations is its Madrid facility, the only manufacturing site in Spain dedicated to heavy-duty industrial vehicles

The plant produces the company’s complete heavy truck range for international markets including Italy, Germany, Spain and Turkey.

Covering 374,000 m², the facility is built around a 1 km main assembly line and is capable of delivering close to 40,000 different vehicle configurations. With 267 core models and more than 2,800 customisation options available, production is designed around highly specific customer demands. On average, the same truck configuration is assembled just three times annually.

“Every truck we build is essentially a one-off, custom-made to meet specific requirements,” commented José Manuel Jaquotot, director of IVECO’s Madrid and Valladolid plants.

“Each vehicle has a unique identifier that allows us to track it from cab production in Valladolid to final assembly in Madrid, ensuring full traceability and quality.”

Manufacturing operations at the Madrid site rely on a flexible and tightly coordinated production system supported by automation and intelligent logistics. Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) transport units across the line, enabling takt times to shift according to the complexity of each build while maintaining uninterrupted workflow across the plant.

Truck cabs arrive from the IVECO Valladolid Plant already painted and welded before being fully equipped in Madrid with dashboards, seats, bunks and airbags. The dashboard assembly process alone includes more than 100 electrical checks and is managed on a separate production line because of its technical complexity.

A major milestone in the process is the integration of the chassis and cab, commonly referred to as the “marriage” stage. Once combined, the vehicle progresses through the fitting of exterior parts, wheel installation and a series of final inspections. These include leak detection, geometry calibration and full functional testing before completion.

The site’s workforce remains central to its operational success. More than 2,700 employees support production activities, bringing the expertise and adaptability required to manage constant product evolution. During 2025, the plant successfully introduced ten new launches.

Sustainability also plays a defining role across operations. The Madrid facility operates entirely on renewable electricity and, in 2025, recycled almost 90% of the water used throughout production processes. Alongside the Valladolid plant, the site forms part of Iveco Group’s broader sustainability strategy and participates in a solar self-consumption initiative with Edison Next Spain, a project expected to help prevent around 500 tons of CO₂ emissions every year.

IVECO’s focus on decarbonisation extends beyond the vehicles themselves to the manufacturing ecosystem behind them. The Madrid plant reflects this broader ambition by combining advanced production technologies, large-scale customisation and sustainable industrial practices in one integrated operation.