Private power producers are set to increase Kenya’s electricity generation capacity by 285 megawatts to spur economic growth and improve competitiveness, the World Bank has announced.

Various agreements for the first project, Thika Power, were signed yesterday by Kenya’s government, Kenya Power, Citibank, and the World Bank. The project will add 87 megawatts of capacity and the electricity produced will be purchased and distributed by Kenya Power.

Australia’s Sundance Resources has accepted a takeover offer from China’s Hanlong (Africa) Mining Investment.

Hanlong will acquire 100 per cent of the company for A$0.45 per share, a lower price than previously offered last October.

India’s GVK has been granted environmental approval for its Alpha Mine and Rail Project in Queensland, Australia.

Following a four-year long assessment process, Australia’s federal environment minister Tony Burke has given an approval decision to construct and operate the Alpha Coal Mine and a railway line between the mine and the port at Abbot Point, near Bowen.

Ireland’s Greencore Group has acquired International Cuisine Limited, a private label chilled ready meal business, from the Hain Daniels Group in the UK.

International Cuisine Limited’s ready meal facility is based in Consett, County Durham and the majority of its revenue (approximately £45 million) is derived from several existing Greencore ready meal customers.

Alongside the severe energy crises currently being experienced by most African countries comes a huge opportunity to direct investments into clean, efficient, renewable energy for the growth of a green economy in Africa.

Dr Tawanda Mushuku, managing director of UAC Foods, is putting in place a firm strategy for creating a world class manufacturing, sales and marketing business in Nigeria.

The role of junior exploration companies is to find something to mine; but there is one such company planning to use the finds it has made to transform into a major mining operation.