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.

Standard Chartered and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) have announced a new risk sharing facility aimed at strengthening supply chains across Africa

The partnership will introduce supply chain finance solutions in eight markets – Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia – supporting companies in key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare and manufacturing.

The facility aims to help ensure suppliers get faster payments, freeing up working capital to improve production, pay wages and hire.

The risk-sharing facility will cover up to US$300mn in supply chain and trade finance assets originated by Standard Chartered in Africa.

It comprises a range of underlying supply chain financing instruments – such as payables finance, receivables discounting and pre-shipment finance programmes – to help smaller firms get paid earlier, reduce the cost of working capital, and invest in growth.

“This US$300mn facility with IFC underscores our shared commitment to strengthening Africa's supply chains and enabling sustainable business growth,” said Dalu Ajene, chief executive and head of coverage, Standard Chartered Africa.

“As a super-connector bank with deep expertise across key trade corridors linking Africa to Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas, we are uniquely positioned to channel capital and innovation into the real economy. By expanding access to supply chain finance, we are helping African companies unlock liquidity, manage risk, and invest with confidence.”

Ajene said the collaboration unites Standard Chartered’s cross-border expertise with IFC’s development mandate to empower businesses – from major corporations to smaller local suppliers – “to engage more actively in regional and global trade, fostering job creation and promoting inclusive growth.”

IFC will provide guarantees for up to US$150mn from its own account, with US$100mn committed as the first tranche under the scheme, to support transactions in both US dollars and selected local currencies.

Over the next three years, the partnership is projected to enable about US$1.9bn in supply chain finance transactions, providing access to finance for firms across Africa.

It aims to support more than 500 suppliers, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in both domestic and global value chains, with the potential to indirectly benefit over 1 million farmers.

“Supply chain finance is among the fastest ways to narrow the growing finance gap that businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises, are facing in emerging economies,” said Mohamed Gouled, IFC’s vice president, products & clients.

“By partnering with Standard Chartered to support companies at the center of strategic value chains, we can unlock much-needed working capital at scale for businesses across Africa, including smaller firms and farmers, making supply chains more competitive and boosting job creation.”

According to IFC, global demand for supply chain finance has surged – in 2025, the estimated volume reached about US$2.7trn, showing an 8% increase year-on-year.

Yet supply chain finance has not scaled at the same pace in emerging markets, it says, especially in lower income and fragile contexts, largely because commercial banks tend to focus on developed markets.

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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.