Observer Money

Staff Writer  Kulani Energy has acquired key assets from Optipower, a former division of Murray & Roberts Limited, which is currently in business rescue. The deal was concluded at the end of January 2026 through Kulani Energy’s subsidiary, OptiProjects. The subsidiary focuses on power transmission and distribution, as well as renewable energy infrastructure. Kulani Energy is a wholly Black women-owned engineering and energy infrastructure company. The acquisition strengthens its engineering, procurement and construction capacity to support grid expansion in South Africa. The transaction was completed while Murray & Roberts was in business rescue. Kulani said this preserved skills and capability…

Staff Writer Africa holds an estimated US$29.5 trillion in mine-site mineral value, equal to about 20% of global mineral wealth, but captures only a small share of the economic value linked to these resources, according to a new study by the Africa Finance Corporation. The study shows that US$8.6 trillion of this value remains undeveloped, pointing to the continent’s under-explored status. It identifies fragmented geological data, uneven coverage and limited transparency as factors that increase risk perception and reduce investment.  The Africa Finance Corporation recommends improving the availability and quality of geological data to attract more exploration capital. The report…

South Africans are once again seeing relief at the pump, with the latest fuel price cuts delivering the cheapest petrol in roughly four years. The reductions, around 65 cents per litre for petrol and more than 50 cents for diesel, continue a downward trend that began earlier in 2026, when falling crude prices and currency strength combined to lower pump prices nationwide. While the immediate benefits are tangible – cheaper transport, easing inflationary pressure and support for businesses – the underlying drivers reveal a more fragile reality. South Africa’s fuel costs remain shaped primarily by global oil markets and exchange-rate…

Staff Writer Africa holds an estimated US$29.5 trillion in mine-site mineral value, equal to about 20% of global mineral wealth, but captures only a small share of the economic value linked to these resources, according to a new study by the Africa Finance Corporation. The study shows that US$8.6 trillion of this value remains undeveloped, pointing to the continent’s under-explored status. It identifies fragmented geological data, uneven coverage and limited transparency as factors that increase risk perception and reduce investment.  The Africa Finance Corporation recommends improving the availability and quality of geological data to attract more exploration capital. The report…

Chamwe Kaira Construction of Namibia’s first biomass power plant is progressing with the recent arrival of steam drums from China. The N$2.64 billion project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2027. NamPower said this week that the Otjikoto Biomass Power Station reached a major milestone with the delivery of two steam drums. The components are required for the plant’s two 20 MW boilers. The steam drums were manufactured in China and transported through Walvis Bay to Tsumeb as abnormal loads. NamPower said the delivery involved detailed planning, specialised transport and coordination over long distances. The company…

Staff Writer The Bank of Namibia (BoN) has appointed two new members to its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to support its mandate of setting and implementing monetary policy aimed at maintaining price stability. Dr John Steytler has been appointed as the first independent member of the committee for a three-year term. He previously served at the Bank of Namibia in senior roles, including chief economist and director of research. Steytler brings more than 30 years of experience in national and international economic policy.  He has served as chief executive officer of the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), economic advisor to…

Chamwe Kaira Anglo American has started an impairment review of De Beers’ carrying value, citing prolonged weakness in global diamond market conditions and continued pressure on the business’s financial performance. De Beers is a 50/50 partner with the Namibian government in Debmarine, Namdeb and the Namibia Diamond Trading Company. In a preliminary update for the second half of the 2025 financial year, Anglo American said underlying EBITDA from De Beers is expected to be negative for the full year. The group said this is due to difficult rough diamond trading conditions and lower realised prices. “As a result, the impairment…

Chamwe Kaira Botswana is moving ahead with major power generation projects to improve energy security and support economic growth, finance minister Ndaba Nkosinathi Gaolathe said in the 2026 budget speech. Gaolathe said implementation of the 600 MW Mmamabula coal-fired power plant is on track. The first 150 MW is expected by December 2026, with the full 600 MW scheduled for completion by June 2029. The government has commissioned a 100 MW solar photovoltaic plant in Mmadinare, along with three smaller grid-tied solar projects in Bobonong, Shakawe and Ghanzi. The 100 MW Jwaneng solar PV plant is expected to be commissioned…

Staff Writer Paratus Group has switched on a new fibre route in East Africa, linking Mombasa on Kenya’s coast to Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through a terrestrial network. The 2 000-kilometre Goma-to-Mombasa route runs through Kigali in Rwanda, Kampala in Uganda and Nairobi in Kenya. It connects directly to data centers in each city and is already transporting traffic for wholesale customers. Paratus said the route offers high-capacity and reliable connectivity for carriers, internet service providers and enterprise clients operating across borders. The launch expands the group’s East African network and creates a continuous regional…

Staff Writer Sasol Limited has warned shareholders to expect a sharp drop in earnings for the six months ended 31 December 2025, citing weaker commodity prices and higher impairments. The impact was partly offset by operational improvements and cost control. In a trading statement, Sasol said earnings per share are expected to fall to between 10 cents and 80 cents, from R7.22 in the previous period. This represents a decline of between 89% and 99%. Headline earnings per share are forecast at between R8.50 and R10.00, down from R14.13, a decrease of between 29% and 40%. Adjusted earnings before interest,…