John Muchira

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John Muchira

Uganda aims to accelerate refinery construction as bidders are unveiled

28th March 2014 Uganda has announced plans to accelerate the construction of a planned petroleum refinery following the unveiling of six international companies bidding for the role of lead investor in the project. State Minister for Energy Simon D’Ujanga says the process of evaluating bids and conducting due... →

Indian group follows Kenyan energy withdrawal with telecoms exit

28th March 2014 Barely six months after Indian conglomerate Essar announced it was exiting Kenya’s energy sector, the company has decided to pull out of the country’s telecommunications sector as well. The Indian giant, which has been operating in Kenya’s telecommunications sector as Essar Telecom Kenya, has... →

Kenya moves to secure finance for new fuel pipeline

14th March 2014 Kenya is hoping to surmount the financing obstacles bedevilling a new pipeline that is vital in facilitating the easy transportation of petroleum products. The new line, which was conceived about four years ago, is intended to replace the derelict Mombasa–Nairobi pipeline. →

Japanese firm awarded Kenya fertiliser plant contract

14th March 2014 Japanese conglomerate Toyota Tsusho has been awarded a contract to invest in a fertilizer plant in Kenya. Toyota Tsusho, which shrugged off competition from three other companies, is expected to invest $1.2-billion in the plant, which is intended to guarantee a reliable supply of fertiliser to... →

Regional interconnector back on track after AfDB steps in with $40m

7th March 2014 Construction of transmission lines to evacuate power from a regional hydroelectric project in East Africa, which was hanging on the balance following the withdrawal of financing by key partners, is now back on track. After six months of uncertainty, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has agreed... →

Photo by Duane Daws
Power Evacuation 220 kV transmission lines will evacuate electricity from the Rusumo Falls hydroelectric plant

Kenya coal project hoping to start production in 2016

7th March 2014 Commercial production of coal in Kenya will start in the next two years. This follows Chinese company Fenxi Mining's announcement that it plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in the Mui Basin project. Just two months after signing a concession accord with the Kenya government, Fenxi... →

Base dispatches first consignment from Kenya titanium mine

28th February 2014 Kenya has finally joined the league of mineral exporting countries after the first shipment of titanium left the Port of Mombasa – destined for China – earlier this month, following nearly two decades of turmoil and false starts surrounding the titanium mining project in Kwale. The mine's owner,... →

Construction poised to begin at last on Tanzania’s new airport terminal

7th February 2014 The construction of a new mega terminal at Tanzania's Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA) in Tanzania is finally set start, after a delay of more than six years. The authorities in the East African nation announced the contractor would move on site before the end of January to implement... →

Egypt to approach UN Security Council as it seeks to block Ethiopia mega dam project

31st January 2014 The protracted dispute between Ethiopia and Egypt over the construction of a mega dam on Nile river might be headed to the UN Security Council. After weeks of negotiations to resolve the dispute, ignited by Ethiopia’s determination to construct the Grand Renaissance dam, ended in a standoff,... →

Kenya reports strong investor interest in power station projects

6th December 2013 The authorities in Kenya are opmistic about adding 5 000 MW of power to the national grind in four years, after a tender for the construction of a coal-powered plant generation significant interest. Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir says 62 local, regional and international... →

120 MW Ethiopia wind farm commissioned

6th December 2013 Ethiopia has moved a notch higher in its quest to become a regional powerhouse in electricity generation, following the commissioning of the 120 MW Ashegoda wind farm. Commissioned more than a year behind schedule, the plant, the first of numerous wind power plants the Horn of Africa nation is... →

Ethiopia awards solar projects with combined generation capacity of 300 MW

29th November 2013 Ethiopia has awarded a contract for solar energy projects with a combined generation capacity of 300 MW to US company Global Trade & Development Consulting (GTDC) and its partner, Energy Ventures, as part of efforts to accelerate investments in energy generation projects. GTDC and Energy Ventures... →

Plans unveiled for Africa’s largest geothermal power plant

29th November 2013 Ethiopia has unveiled plans to construct Africa’s largest geothermal power plant, which will generate 1 000 MW. →

Tanzania’s new gas policy awaits Cabinet approval

29th November 2013 Tanzania has moved to streamline operations in the lucrative natural gas sector with the finalisation of a policy whose core objective is to ensure Tanzanians become the prime beneficiaries of the resource. The Natural Gas Policy document now awaits Cabinet approval to become effective. →

East African countries weighing superhighway investment

29th November 2013 Three East African countries are contemplating investing in a superhighway as part of efforts to boost trade and deepen integration. The governments of Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda say they are looking into the construction of a six-lane superhighway from Mombasa to Kampala and onwards to Kigali. The... →

Kenyan miners unhappy about government decision to increase royalties

29th November 2013 Investors in Kenya’s mining sector are up in arms over a decision by government to increase royalties in the nascent sector. The investors, under the banner of the Kenya Chamber of Mines (KCM), contend the move is not appropriate for the sector, is still establishing itself, and could scare away... →

Key Rusumo Falls transmission lines thrown into doubt as funders withdraw

22nd November 2013 Construction of a transmission lines to evacuate power from the Rusumo Falls hydroelectric plant, on the Rwanda-Tanzania border, could be thrown into jeopardy after two key financiers pulled out. →

Indian group withdraws from Mombasa refinery on economic concerns

18th October 2013 “Another privatisation deal gone soar.” This is how Kwame Owino, CEO of the Institute of Economic Affairs, describes the impending exit of India’s giant Essar Energy from Kenya Petroleum Refinery Limited (KPRL). →

Kenya turns to coal as cost of geothermal projects proves prohibitive

11th October 2013 A lack of funds to implement capital-intensive geothermal projects has forced the authorities in Kenya to shift to coal-powered plants in an effort to achieve a generation target of 5 000 MW by 2017. →

Tension between Egypt, Ethiopia diffused as review gives dam project the thumbs up

4th October 2013 A confrontation between Ethiopia and Egypt over Nile river waters has been averted after an expert review of the controversial Grand Ethiopia Renaissance Dam project showed it would not have any adverse impacts on riparian countries. →

Nairobi traffic-decongestion hopes rest on double-decker road plan

27th September 2013 Traffic gridlocks in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, are expected to ease significantly when construction of a planned double-decker road, the city's first, is completed in about three years. Kenya National Highways Authority director-general Meshack Kidenda says government will soon float a tender for... →

Uganda’s neighbours agree to participate in refinery project

27th September 2013 The planned construction of a controversial refinery in Uganda has received crucial boost after neighbouring countries were incorporated into the project. →

Kenya’s Kwale embarks on production this month after two decades of false starts

27th September 2013 Mineral sands developer Base Resources is to finally embark on titanium extraction at its Kwale project, in Kenya, following the completion of the operation's processing plant. After close to two decades of false starts, the company has announced that production will this month, with the first... →

Bank approves funding for Rusumo Falls hydroelectric project

20th September 2013 The push for regional power sharing in East Africa has received a major boost after the World Bank approved funding for the Rusumo Falls hydroelectric project, on the Rwanda-Tanzania border. →

$1.6bn contract to expand Ethiopian mobile-phone network awarded

20th September 2013 Ethiopia has contracted China's Huawei and ZTE to undertake a $1.6-billion expansion and upgrade of State-owned telecoms company Ethio Telecom's mobile-phone network. The project will see the introduction of a 4G mobile phone network in the capital, Addis Ababa, as well as expansion of the 3G... →

Dangote Cement unveils $400m Kenya investment

20th September 2013 Pan-African company Dangote Cement has announced plans for a $400-million, two-million-ton-a-year cement plant in Kenya. The company is part of the Dangote group, owned by Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, who says of the planned investment: “We have realised that, if we really want to do... →

New $60m berth part of plan to build Mombasa into gateway port

13th September 2013 Kenya achieved a significant milestone in efforts to make the Port of Mombasa the gateway for East Africa with the recent commissioning of a new berth constructed at a cost of $60-million. Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta, flanked by his Ugandan and Rwandan counterparts, Yoweri Museveni and Paul... →

Uganda finally embarks on 700 MW Karuma hydropower construction

6th September 2013 After years of delays and controversies, Uganda has finally embarked on the construction of the 700 MW Karuma hydropower project. Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni, officiated at the ground-breaking ceremony, where he warned local professionals, who have largely been responsible for... →

Kenya making moves to liberalise electricity distribution

6th September 2013 Kenya is set to end the monopoly on power distribution that has been long held by State-owned entity Kenya Power. In a move aimed to encourage competi-tion, improve efficiency and reduce the high cost of power in the East Africa nation, Parliament has set in motion a process to liberalise... →

Uganda finally embarks on 700 MW Karuma hydropower construction

6th September 2013 After years of delays and controversies, Uganda has finally embarked on the construction of the 700 MW Karuma hydropower project. →

Kenya making moves to liberalise electricity distribution

6th September 2013 Kenya is set to end the monopoly on power distribution that has been long held by State-owned entity Kenya Power. →

Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda approach China on funding for rail project

9th August 2013 In what is bound to tighten China's grip on the region’s major infrastructure projects in East Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have agreed to approach China to fund and build a $13.4-bllion standard-gauge railway line connecting the three countries. The decision to work with China and lock out... →

Ethiopia unveils plans for new hydropower project

9th August 2013 Ethiopia has unveiled plans to invest in a new hydropower project in a bid to become an electricility powerhouse in the wider East African region. →

Dutch firm poised to invest in Rwanda solar plant

9th August 2013 Efforts by Rwanda to tackle power challenges have received a major boost from Dutch renewable-energy firm GigaWatt Global, which is poised to invest $23-million in a solar power plant. →

Kenya’s geothermal aspirations face big financing hurdle

9th August 2013 The quest by Kenya to invest in geothermal power projects to address perennial power challenges now stands on the precipice owing to a financing crunch. East Africa’s biggest economy has identified geothermal energy as the solution for a protracted energy crisis that has slowed down economic... →

Tanzania issues tender for fertiliser plant as it seeks to boost farm output

9th August 2013 Tanzania seeks investors to set up a fertilizer plant By John Muchira Following the unravelling of plans to establish a common fertiliser manufacturing plant in East Africa, the race is now on as Kenya and Tanzania compete to invest in separate factories. As Kenya seeks to bring on board an... →

Tanzania in bid to establish strategic petroleum reserve

9th August 2013 After more than five years of procrastination, Tanzania is finally set to establish a strategic petroleum reserve to cushion the country from unpredictable international prices and supply disruptions, despite controversies hanging over the procurement process. Tanzania Energy and Minerals Deputy... →

Uganda announces $400m plan to modernise Entebbe Airport

26th July 2013 Rivalry among East Africa’s major airports is set to intensify after Uganda announced a $400-million project to expand and modernise Entebbe International Airport. The announcement comes at a time when neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania are expanding their main airports, Jomo Kenyatta International... →

Tanzania to be tough on minerals smugglers

26th July 2013 Tanzania has declared war on illegal minerals smugglers after it emerged the East African nation is losing more than $15-million a year from the illicit trade. Tanzania Minerals Audit Agency (TMAA) CEO Paul Masanja says smuggling has been on the rise in recent years, particularly involving small-... →

Go-ahead granted for Kenya niobium mining project

26th July 2013 Cortec Mining, a subsidiary of Canada's Pacific Wildcat Resources, is poised to embark on niobium mining in Kenya after being granted the final approval by the environment body. →

Uganda announces $400m plan to modernise Entebbe Airport

26th July 2013 Rivalry among East Africa’s major airports is set to intensify after Uganda announced a $400-million project to expand and modernise Entebbe International Airport. →

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