When energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said recently that “coal is going nowhere” and that scientists were perfecting technology to burn it cleanly, he was making two promises at once. The first is political: that South Africa will not abandon the resource that still keeps the lights on, nor the communities that mine it. The second…
Energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa Energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa told a Unisa audience recently that South Africa would keep coal in its mix as the backbone of its cheap energy assets, and that scientists are working on technology that will solve the environmental concerns around coal. “Because we have a duty and a responsibility to the…
What if the infrastructure needed to fight climate change could also help repair the land beneath it? At a UN desertification conference this week in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, experts at a side-event examined how renewable energy expansion can co-exist with land protection and restoration, spotlighting examples from around the world. To name a few, degraded mining…
For centuries, useful metals have been developed by starting with one core element and adding small amounts of other elements. Steel, for example, is composed primarily of iron; carbon is added in varied amounts to produce different grades of steel. Bronze is made up of copper and tin. These mixtures are known as alloys. Africa…
Why are critical minerals suddenly at the centre of global politics? The story in 60 seconds Every electric vehicle, wind turbine, solar panel, smart phone; they all depend on minerals extracted from the earth. As countries accelerate the transition to clean (non-fossil fuel) energy, demand for minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, copper and graphite…
Strawberries are one of those fruits that you can almost always expect to be in abundance at your local grocery store. But as much as stores handle and process strawberries and other fresh produce, they still need to be thoroughly washed and cleaned when you bring them home. This is particularly important with cases of…
Alebtong, Uganda – When Lucy Everlyn Atim returned home after six years working as a child rights activist in South Sudan’s refugee settlements, her favourite shea tree was gone. Known locally as moyao, the tree had shaped her childhood. Every morning, she and her friends gathered beneath its branches to eat its sweet, creamy fruit…
Spiro, one of Africa’s leading electric vehicle (EV) and clean energy infrastructure platform, has announced the successful completion of its latest funding round, raising $270 million to support the expansion of its e-mobility and energy ecosystem across the continent. The milestone follows the closure of a $55 million investment from NewTrails Capital, a Chinese growth-stage…
Nairobi — The 2026 Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa, which was expected to bring together African heads of state, financiers, development partners and energy stakeholders in Nairobi in July has been postponed. Organisers cited “ongoing uncertainties and evolving circumstances” affecting international travel and participation. In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the summit’s co-chairs…
Nairobi — Entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and development partners gathered in Nairobi last week to discuss how East Africa can accelerate access to clean and sustainable energy solutions amid growing climate and economic pressures. The meeting, held under the Social and Inclusive Business Camp (SIBC) East Africa Programme, focused on supporting businesses working in renewable energy,…
