Day: July 30, 2023

Kwale-based Australian mining firm Base Titanium says its efforts to prospect and explore for minerals in Kwale East dunes are being slowed down by a section of residents opposed to its activities.

The mining company says the new exploration activities in Kwale East represent an opportunity to extend Kwale Operation’s mine life beyond December 2024.

In an effort to extend its operations, Base Titanium is seeking to identify additional mineral deposits that may lie in proximity to the existing operational zones.

Exploration involves a range of activities to help determine if there are potentially lucrative minerals under the earth.

Base Titanium owns and manages Kwale Operation, a high-grade mineral sands mine rich in rutile, ilmenite and zircon that commenced production in 2013.

The fresh drilling campaign seeks to fully harness the commercially viable mineral deposits in the area and evaluate the merits of a long-life mining operation.

The Kwale Operation currently accounts for approximately 65 percent of Kenya’s mining industry by mineral output value and the Central and South Dunes currently form part of the Kwale Project.

Base Titanium General Manager External Affairs Simon Wall says if the exploration process identifies critical minerals that could be commercially extracted, then mining may begin.

Wall says the mining company has so far undertaken 1100 exploration drill holes in the first phase but is narrowing down to about 400 to 500 targeted drill holes before embarking on a full-scale mining operation.

‘The resource upgrade drilling programme underway in the Kwale East region represents our best opportunity for further mine life extension, with over 11,000 holes drilled to date,’ Wall noted.

He says mineral sands exploration represents an opportunity to extend Kwale’s mine life and, with it, bring further employment, economic output, development and community benefits.

Wall says based on current reserves, the Kwale sand mine has a limited operational life and estimates show that at the end of 2024, the reserve would be depleted and the mine would close.

He says initial exploration activities, such as mapping, would start over a large area and then target smaller and smaller areas.

‘The aim is to see if mineralization is at levels large enough to be commercially extracted,’ he said.

In order to obtain the most accurate sampling for determining grade, drill holes will normally be aimed at intersecting a potential ore body at a high angle.

The hole will also be targeted to intersect mineralization at a depth where a good core or cutting return can be expected.

Wall says the exploration drilling is planned in a pattern to be conducted in sequence to facilitate midterm assessment of quality, quantity, and reliability of the estimates.

He says mineral prospecting and exploration proceed step by step, taking into account geological and geophysical maps to delineate areas of interest.

Wall revealed that a bad blood situation is now brewing between those who favour and those who are opposed to the ongoing mining exploration.

‘As a responsible company, Base Titanium consults local communities before carrying out prospecting, exploration and mining activities,’ he said.

He says the majority of the local community welcomed the expanding exploration and mining activities but a handful were resisting the programme.

‘Mineral exploration is the process of searching for evidence with the goal of identifying exploitable mineral deposits and is always performed on someone’s land, for which we must seek consent,’ he said.

Wall was speaking when Base Titanium met with representatives from the National and Kwale County governments, elected leaders from the County, community representatives and members of the civil society to provide a status update of Base’s exploration activities in Kwale East.

Kwale County Commissioner Meru Mwangi underscored the need for the local leadership to engage the residents to change their negative attitudes and values to mineral exploration and mining.

The top mining official says a few households have refused permission for the company to dig their land for drilling, thus threatening to stall the entire exercise that has gobbled up a fortune as the ‘mineral exploration phase is long and costly’.

Some of the villagers in the area who are dependent on agriculture and opposed to the mineral exploration activities are not sure what the future holds.

‘If the few families within the immediate vicinity of the mining sites prove uncooperative, then we will have no option but to suspend the mineral exploration activities, threatening hundreds of jobs,’ he said.

Wall says the company, which is accredited as a Kenya Vision 2030 flagship mining project, holds mineral exploration and mining licences but that managing the expectations of the local communities in the minerals sector is proving cumbersome.

He says the exploration licence gives the flagship company sole rights to search for a specific mineral within the specified areas.

In order for companies to be able to carry out ore exploration and mining activities, they must obtain the approval of the local community, often referred to as the social licence to operate (SLO).

‘We are cognizant of the fact that social licence demands transparency and accountability, which we are going out of our way to meet as community engagement is an important element in our mining operations,’ said Wall.

He says the local community, who are the key stakeholders, is demanding stronger engagement and transparency, so much so that a social licence would soon be akin to a mining permit, without which mining companies would find it impossible to operate.

Kwale County Commissioner (CC) Meru Mwangi says the SLO provides engagement opportunities between companies and the communities in which they work.

Mwangi says social licence is the acceptance of the mining company by its employees, its community stakeholders and the general public.

The CC says the local leadership would meet and convince the reluctant community members opposing the mining exploration to agree to the continuation of the mineral exploration activities.

‘There is no question that investment in mining will continue to be needed for the betterment of the country,’ he said, adding that the mineral resource dilemma is how to balance competing interests.

He added The local leadership should also engage the residents to change their negative attitudes and values towards mineral exploration and mining’.

Kwale County Executive Committee Member for Environment and Natural Resources Saumu Beja says the devolved unit seeks to support investors and enhance investment in the mining sector.

Ms. Beja says the county will allow the company to carry out the drilling programme for mineral exploration in schools, health facilities and other social amenities.

‘As a devolved government, we are ready to collaborate with Base Titanium and ask all stakeholders to support the mineral exploration activities,’ she said, adding that mining is one of Kwale’s most important economic sectors.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has given 222,000 bags to subsidised farmers to be used by farmers in Busia County during this second planting season.

Speaking during the launch of the fertiliser distribution at Amukura in Teso South Sub County on Friday, UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala said that the price of the commodity has been reduced further from Sh3,500 per 50 kg bag to Sh2,500.

‘When the president was being sworn in last year, fertiliser was sold at Sh7,000, but it was later reduced to Sh3,500,’ he said, adding that it has now been reduced further to Sh2,500.

Malala added that the President directed that the fertiliser be given to counties that have two planting seasons.

‘We have 30 counties that experience short rains countrywide,’ he said, adding that priority was given to counties within Western Kenya.

He further stated that farmers will get the fertilisers from stores within each sub-county instead of travelling long distances to the National Cereals and Produce Board.

‘Next season, the President has said that he will ensure that Kenyan seed also reduces the price of certified seeds,’ he said, adding that the government will also provide lime so that farmers can use it to neutralise the acidic soil in the area.

The official warned cartels against repackaging the subsidised fertiliser with the aim of selling it to unsuspecting farmers at a higher price.

‘All farmers must be registered by Assistant chiefs and the subsidised fertiliser will be sold to farmers depending on the number of acres,’ he said.

Principal Secretary in the State Department of Crops Kello Harsama addressing residents and leaders at Amukura in Teso South Sub County.

The Principal Secretary in the State Department of Crops, Kello Harsama, said that distribution of fertiliser will start in counties within Western Kenya.

Harsama noted that farmers in the region received the fertiliser late during the last planting season, thereby negatively impacting their harvest.

‘The President has also directed that the commodity will be distributed from various stores created by the local leadership in collaboration with the Cereal Board.

Busia Governor Paul Otuoma said that his government will work closely with the National Government to deploy 10 more Agricultural extension officers to assist farmers.

Otuoma added that the county had ordered over 42,000 metric tonnes of cotton to be given to farmers for planting.

‘That is why we have advised farmers to form Cooperatives consisting of 1,000 per ward so that we can give them farm inputs and monitor their productivity,’ he said.

Busia County Commissioner Kipchumba Ruto said that Busia has a very high Agricultural potential and only needs farm inputs to be food secure.

Ruto added that around 113,000 farmers have been registered through the assistance of chiefs and assistant chiefs in less than 10 days, which was organised by the National government in preparation for subsidised fertiliser last year.

Teso South MP Mary Emase reiterated that farmers will not have to travel long distances to get the subsidised fertiliser.

Emase also urged the government to establish depots in every sub-county where farmers can purchase subsidised certified seeds for planting.

Last season, Busia received 23,000 bags of fertiliser and sold 12,140 bags, adding that around 10,925 are still in the stores.

Source: Kenya News Agency

A 39-year-old man living with bullets lodged in his chest for the last 16 years in Telanet village within Kericho County is appealing to well-wishers and the government to help him raise money in a bid to seek medical attention.

Collins Kiprono was hit by stray bullets in Kericho town as police were dispersing demonstrators in the wake of the 2007/2008 post-election violence and his life has never been the same since December 26, 2007.

He senses that the bullets, which are lead, may have leaked into the bloodstream, causing his ill health and wants to confirm the extent of damage they have caused.

In an interview with KNA at his home, Kiprono testified that his health began to deteriorate in 2020.

‘I am always worried about my fate and it is not easy to live with bullets in your body,’ adds Kiprono, who needs a CT scan to help him determine his next course of medical action.

A look at his back confirms the same, with two distinct permanent marks clearly showing the bullets had been directed from behind before being embedded inside his chest cavity.

The father of three earns a living by roasting maize at Kapsoit Market, a venture he opted to take up due to his deteriorating health.

‘I used to engage in farming and sell my maize and bean crops to the surrounding markets within my area, but now, due to my failing health, I have stopped all this. I buy maize from other farmers from the different sub-counties within Kericho and manage to roast and sell it within Kapsoit Market. I am committed to this business, having started it in 2015 and the monies I earn go to provide for all the basic needs of my family,’ added Kiprono.

With fear in his eyes, he says he understands that, with the bullets still lodged in his body, time is ticking away and he is living on borrowed time.

Collins Kiprono shows his back where the bullets ripped into him before being embedded inside his chest cavity.

‘For the last three years, each time I engage myself in heavy tasks like digging my shamba or carrying heavy loads, I always cough blood and my breathing system is not okay because I experience laboured breathing. I cannot stand up straight each time I wake up in the morning. I have to wait several minutes for my back muscles to relax on their own before I can stand up and walk. I now walk with a slight hunch,’ a teary Kiprono narrates.

Having defaulted on his NHIF contributions as the proceeds from his maize roasting business are inadequate to cater for all his family’s needs, the class eight dropout now appeals for medical and financial assistance to aid his deteriorating health.

‘From July 2013, I have defaulted on my Sh500 per month National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) contributions. I used to engage in casual work but the money I would get paid would all go to feeding my young family of three. Currently, my two daughters are in primary school, my eldest is in Class 8 and I am not able to go for another CT scan to confirm my health status,’ added a worried Kiprono.

Kiprono, the first born in a family of three, narrates how on that day he had paid a visit to his grandmother’s home at Kipchimchim village on the outskirts of Kericho town and decided to walk to the town while heading back to his home.

On reaching Kericho town, he met a crowd of people and was unsure what was going on. Though curious, the sight of police officers brought him to the reality that all was not well, and he immediately started running with no clear direction for where he was going.

Kiprono adds that he suddenly started sweating profusely with sudden body weakness, like having cold water poured on him without a warning.

He was not sure whether he was alive or dead but the sight of blood on his torn shorts made him cry for help while lying on the stone pavement near the Kericho County Referral Hospital Mortuary.

Passersby rushed him to the Kericho County Referral Hospital using the mortuary entrance, where he was immediately taken for an operation and later admitted to a ward at the facility.

He remained there for three days before being discharged, but with bullets still lodged in his chest, as doctors maintained that any operation would result in his death.

‘I came to know that I was shot and two bullets were lodged in my chest. I only got to know about this from the doctors attending to me while I was admitted at the Kericho County referral hospital,’ he added.

His family members took him to Tenwek Mission Hospital, where an x-ray opinion confirmed his worst fears. Any operation conducted to remove the bullets would be very risky.

A medical discharge summary dated January 17, 2008, from the medical facility confirms that he has bullets lodged in his body. It states ‘that a gunshot wound to the right chest retained the bullet.’

The doctors advised him to attend medical checkups on a regular basis, a thing Kiprono admits he has not been committed to due to his low income.

‘Being a class 8 dropout, I have dreams of my children growing up to be better than I was.’ I have never disclosed to them my condition,’ adds Kiprono.

His 31-year-old wife, Caroline Chepkoech, revealed that he met Kiprono in 2010 and decided to spend the rest of her life with him, knowing too well that life with him would be full of challenges as he has two bullets lodged in his body.

Chepkoech is worried as her husband, the family’s breadwinner, has been coughing up a lot of blood and has given up all hope that he will get any assistance.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Kenya and Uganda have agreed to collaborate in the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

In a joint communiqué signed at the Mombasa SGR terminus Friday, Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and his Ugandan counterpart, General (Rtd) Katumba Wamala, said the construction will start in December this year, depending on availability of funds.

The two said they were desirous of achieving seamless railway transport from Mombasa to Kampala to fully open up the Northern Corridor and ensure its competitiveness.

The deal was signed after a lengthy meeting at the Mombasa Port, where it was agreed that Kenya will extend the SGR line from Naivasha to Malaba, covering a distance of about 368 kilometres, while Uganda will do its part, stretching 272 kilometres from the Malaba border to Kampala.

The two countries plan to raise resources from the Middle East, China and other development partners as a team to ensure that they start the SGR project as a team.

Murkomen said the plan was to extend the SGR line to the Democratic Republic of Congo and open up the region for economic growth.

He said the East African Community (EAC) had agreed in 2014 to have the SGR extended to connect and open up the region.

‘We want to achieve seamless transportation of goods from Mombasa to Kampala by SGR. Kenya will extend the SGR line from Naivasha to Malaba, while Uganda will construct the line from Malaba to Kampala,’ he said.

‘It is of great benefit for both countries if we extend the SGR to Kampala. We are working as a team and we will ensure that goods are not stuck at the Malaba border,’ Murkomen said.

The two ministers said the project was undergoing a feasibility study that would inform the cost of construction.

Wamala said that although Uganda had delayed the SGR project, it was now determined to implement it and achieve seamless movement of goods and services from Mombasa.

‘We may have delayed, but we are going to get it done. This project will also support tourism. We think it is viable,’ he said.

He said the two countries have their doors open to funders, but they will focus on financing terms that give value for money.

‘We are going to keep our doors open; we have to get value for money; the funds have to benefit us and not only the funders,’ he stated.

Wamala said that the two countries will also rehabilitate the Metre Gauge Railway and put it to good use, particularly in support of the construction of the SGR line.

‘We cannot forget the meter-gauge railway, which has served us for a long time,’ he said.

The team also inspected the ongoing construction of the Dongo Kundu Highway Bypass, also referred to as Mombasa Southern Bypass, which is a highway under construction in Mombasa County.

The Sh25 billion project is expected to be the solution to congestion at the Likoni Ferry crossing channel, which has largely been blamed for slowing the growth of the South Coast region.

Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the project is within the timeline and will be completed by March 2024.

Source: Kenya News Agency

al training seriously, saying it is the future of the world.

‘You have to be patient, persistent, consistent and pursue digital training to logical conclusion,’ he said.

The CS was accompanied by Florence Bore, CS for Labour and Social Protection; William Oduol, Deputy Governor Siaya County; Dr. Evans Kidero, Former Nairobi Governor and CAS nominee; Elizabeth Ongoro, former Nominated Senator; Rose Nyamumbo, Chairperson, Teleposta Corporation; Jared Kopiyo, Chairperson, Sony Sugar Company; Suba South Legislator; Caroli Omondi, Rangwe Deputy County Commissioner (DCC); Madam Alfet Jilo, among others.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Shiite (Shia) Muslims from Mombasa yesterday took part in a procession to mark the 10th day of Muharram, known as Ashura.

Muharram holds immense importance among Muslims because the day is a commemoration of the death of Prophet Muhammed’s grandson, Hussein Ibn Ali.

Muharram is also a time of remembrance for the Muslim Ummah.

The Shiite (Shia) Muslim Community in Mombasa marks the 10th day of Muharram, known as Ashura, to commemorate the death of the prophet Muhammed’s grandson, Hussein Ibn Ali.

Dressed in customary black, men, women, and children made processions in the streets commemorating the Martyrdom of Hussein.

Chanting elegies, the faithful walked through Mombasa’s Central Business District (CBD) in the morning, from Masjid Ali-Jaffery Islamic Centre to Khoja Shia Ithnaasheri graveyard, amid a heavy security arrangement.

Over the years, the day has also symbolised unity among Shiite and Sunni Muslims.

To Shiite Muslims, Ashura Day is a major occasion, commemorating the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hussein ibn Ali, and all his companions in Karbala, located in modern-day Iraq.

The Battle of Karbala occurred in A.D. 680 and is regarded as a major strife among the Muslim faithful.

Hussein Ibn Ali and his companions were slaughtered in the battle after they refused to pay allegiance to Yazid, the Umayyad caliph of the time, after negotiations between the two sides failed.

It was a seminal incident that is viewed as paving the way for the separation of the Muslim faith between Shiites and Sunnis.

Sheikh Mohamed Dumila, a Muslim Scholar and preacher, says for many Muslims, the day symbolises non-violence and reflection and it’s common for Muslims to try to avoid negativity during this time in order to promote peace.

He says it’s also a period of mourning to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the son of Hazart Ali and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

‘Mourning of a tragic episode in Islamic history was marked in the whole world where there is a Shia Muslim community in remembrance of the Battle of Karbala, where the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein, was martyred,’ Dumila said.

The cleric also called on Kenyans to promote peace, avoid violence and remember the importance of dialogue and understanding between different schools of thought while standing united to uphold their values.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Kenya Agricultural Livestock and Research Organization (KALRO) has introduced a cross breed Sheep that matures early with higher productivity ratings that is expected to turn around the livestock sector.

The Dorper sheep which was developed in South Africa and well adopted in Kenyan environment was a high breed of the Dorset Horn and local black head Persian sheep and was proven to produce more meat rather than fat during the case study on the ration technology.

The new technology is expected to be a game changer in the sector that has for years seen pastoralists rear traditional breeds for ages without notable improvement in their well-being as the ravages of climate change takes a toll on their livelihoods.

The new concepts however offers hope for farmers after studies indicated that it had shorten the rearing period from two years to seven months and proved that the fattening of sheep under feedlot systems will not only save time and space but will also post better returns.

Speaking during a Dorper sheep trade fair and a field day on the validation and adoption of the new technology by end users at Nturumeti Sub location in Narok County, KALRO Director General Dr. Eliud Kireger said the feedlot technology will see the sheep acquire weight and mature early.

Dr. Margaret Syomiti , AgriFi Kenya CAPP Principal Investigator explaining the feeding programme for the Dorper sheep.

‘The rearing period from birth to marketing of Dorper sheep will now be shortened from 3years old to 6.5 months only and this will automatically increase the rate of returns and farm enterprise profitable and sustainable’, he added

The DG noted that farmers with large stock were grappling with challenges of feeding the local sheep for close to three years before maturity to attain around 45 kilograms of their weight incurring huge losses.

‘The feedlot finishing rations given to the Dorper sheep are able to attain market weights above 40kgs within two and half months post weaning at four months of age beyond which there is no economic incentive for continuing keeping the animal’, he said

He acknowledged that most technologies were developed and available for use but reaching the targeted farmers has always been a challenge despite the fact that the sector was more promising than ever with reports indicating that the consumption of livestock products was growing in developing countries hence the urgency to scale up production.

‘The secret is the high quality of these forage-legume based finisher rations which are well formulated to meet the nutrient requirements of the young growing animals and enhanced management systems’, he added

Kenya is currently a net importer of meat and related products and the situation is projected to get worse as income and urbanization grows. Under the existing production systems the slaughter weight of sheep in the country is low.

Dr. Kireger decried that for the youth in agriculture were not interested in long term investment of waiting for 3 years for their sheep to mature but had an option of buying stock from the market and fatten the sheep within 3 months and make sales within the a short time.

He added that they can also be able to develop and sell farmers rations by learning from the technology which constitutes the formulation of the rations of high quality forage -legume based to manage their flocks for early marketing and not just embrace one part of the chain of production.

‘There is high demand particularly from the youth for market oriented production systems for meat products that reduces the age of slaughter which increases the market weight of marketed animals ‘, Dr. Kireger said

Dr. George Keya, the National coordinator of the AgriFi Kenya Climate Smart Agricultural Productivity Project (CS-APP) funded by the European Union and the Government of Kenya said the development of the sheep ration technology was critical in developing finishing ration that can finish small ruminants of sheep and goat in a short period of time so that they can reach the market weight within the shortest possible time.

He noted that the development of the rations at the KALRO Bachuma centre has so far shown encouraging results with farmers able to sell their Dorper sheep within 7 months from the time of birth at a market weight of between 45 and 55kgs.

Dr. Keya confirmed that a lot of children especially from the pastoralists communities are now going to school and land is also becoming marginal thus requiring use of new technologies systems to utilize small land and use a shortened period to market which was found to be cost effective and encouraged commercialization of the production system.

‘ Through this technology we have seen that for it to be profitable, one needs a minimum of around 40 sheep and we can estimate that within three months if you have between 40 or even 100 Dorper sheep you can make Ksh 1 million ‘, he asserted.

Dr. Margaret Syomiti , the Principal Investigator of the project said the Dorper sheep are usually fed 1.5 kgs of the feeds every day for three months for them to hit the 45 kg weight recommended

‘Farmers were initially releasing their cows to graze from 6 a.m. in the morning to 6 p.m in the evening taking almost 10 hours to feed their animals, but under the new system, the nutrient concentrations in the feeds give the animals the critical components to develop faster unlike when those found in pastures which had deficiency gaps’, she said

Dr. Syomiti explained that the high nutrition given to the early maturing Dorper sheep which has a fast growth rate, has been tested scientifically and with various treatments of crude protein and energy levels in comparison to the farmers traditional methods, they have been able to see for themselves with data analyzed showing traditional ones weighing around 32 kgs while the ones fed on rations weighing 55 kgs.

‘The benefits of using Rations is that it shortens the rearing period , increases rates of returns of investment for the farmer and is also a good opportunity for the unemployed youths’, she said.

The feed grass rations ready for feeding animals. Pictures by Wangari Ndirangu

Dr. Syomoti called on more partnerships to further upscale the technology which she said can be commercialized.

Jackson Naikuni, the livestock farmer from Nturumeti village while embracing the new technology said that pastoralists now have a reason for keeping Dorper sheep that will see them save space and resources required under convention systems.

‘I stopped taking my sheep out to grazing fields since April after realizing difference and the returns because am able to sell three times in a year unlike before when I used to toil for around three years in order to fetch better price’, he said .

Naikuni said with the profitable grass based feeds which they can now grow within their farms, the security of the animals from attacks from wild animals was settled and now the family enjoys better returns within three months with less risks and efforts.

He called upon other pastoralists to embrace the KALRO technology and also change the breeds to the Dorper sheep which could survive in dry climates adding ‘We need to change our breed from the red maasai sheep we have had overtime and which has not been bringing good income and embrace the Dorper sheep breed whose market is ready’.

AgriFi Kenya Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies productivity project is a 5 year government of Kenya project co-funded through a grant from the European Union and is being implemented by KALRO with partners.

Sheep rearing contributes to food production, rural employment and GDP by converting roughage into meat, wool and skin. The project embarked on developing the technology and the validation trial was implemented between May and July 2023 in Narok County.

The theme for the Trade fair was ‘Enhancing rural livelihoods in ASALs through finishing ration to tap fast growth in Dorper Sheep for early markets’.

Source: Kenya News Agency

Emílio Miguel de Carvalho Sobrinho recently handed over his credentials to the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, who accredited him as Angolan ambassador to that country.

At the meeting, the Serbian president reiterated his country’s commitment to maintain friendly relations with Angola, based on mutual understanding, respect, support and common values.

Aleksandar Vucic said there is significant potential to improve the economy and cooperation in various areas, such as agriculture and food industry, metallurgical and electrical industry, construction, tourism and ICT.

At the end of the meeting, President Vucic thanked Angola for its consistent position based on the principles of respect for Serbia’s territorial integrity.

On the occasion, the Angolan ambassador reiterated Angola’s commitment to closer relations and proposed the creation of a team to work on speedup of cooperation between Serbia and Angola.

The diplomat also requested an increase in the number of scholarships for Angolan students, under the “World in Serbia” programme.

Agreements signed

Angola and Serbia signed in March 2022 in Belgrade a total of four legal instruments, as part of strengthening the state of bilateral cooperation in the most varied domains between the two states

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Angolan minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Social Communication Mário Oliveira stressed on Sunday in Luanda the Government’s commitment to infrastructure to ensure the technological future of the country.

The minister said this at the landing ceremony of 2 Africa subsea cable on the waterfront of the Cacuaco municipality in Luanda on Sunday.

He said the connection will enable Angola’s improvements in various aspects, such as knowledge, development, science, digital economy, improved employment and “a better future for all”.

“A country can only be built with knowledge, awareness, development and also with great leadership. Our country has great leadership and proof of that is the support we gave to Unitel, wisely guided by the President of the Republic, in order to embrace 2Africa project”, he said.

He also noted that with infrastructure, the sector is putting into practice what is set out in the white paper on telecommunications and information technology, “namely, when we are ready to transform Angola into an important hub for telecommunications in African.

He highlighted that with the aforementioned cable, the country will make its contribution to improving communications with the countries bordering Angola.

The official recalled that in this month of July “we inaugurated yet another fiber optic connection to Zambia and the DRC.

Links already exist with Namibia, with this infrastructure we will be able to improve links with these countries and also give substance to an African network that is being built in collaboration with all African countries”.

More than 45,000 km long, the submarine cable system is designed to provide continuous international connectivity for approximately 3 billion people, representing 36% of the global population, and connecting three continents, Africa, Europe and Asia.

The system is expected to come on stream in 2024, and is expected to deliver more than the total combined capacity of all submarine cables currently serving Africa, with a design capacity of up to 180 Tbps (Terabits per second) in the main segments of the system.

The project is a consortium with Vodafone, WIOCC, China Mobile International, MTN, Orange, Telecom Egypt, STC and Meta (Facebook).

UNITEL is the only Angolan operator to join the consortium, with an investment of USD 52 million, being responsible for creating conditions for mooring and operating the 2Africa cable connection to Angola.

Through its national fiber optic network, UNITEL will be able to provide access to national telecommunications operators and to telecommunications operators in neighbouring countries, like Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Namibia

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)