Despite being Africa’s biggest oil producer, Nigeria lacks refining capacity. It is Dangote’s belief that in building what will be Africa’s largest refinery the country will be transformed into an importance petroleum exporter.

Dangote, who made his estimated $16 billion fortune in cement, flour and sugar, claims that the refinery will eventually go on to create thousands of jobs, something that is desperately needed in Nigeria’s oil-producing southern Niger Delta region, whose people are among the its poorest.

The $130 billion deal represents the third biggest corporate transaction, behind Vodafone's 1999 deal to buy Germany's Mannesmann and AOL's purchase of Time Warner in 2000.

A large percentage of the money made from the deal will be used by Vodafone to invest in its business, with funds earmarked for high speed mobile phone networks.

The news comes after the world’s second largest economy has taken significant steps to boost its economy after its growth rate slowed for two quarters in a row.

"We are seeing clearer signs of economic conditions improving," said Haibin Zhu, chief China economist at JP Morgan in Hong Kong.  "The recent shift in policy stance and more concrete policy announcements have been key reasons behind the recovery in the sector.”

Located 23 kilometres south of Perth, on the coast of Western Australia, is the Australian Marine Complex (AMC), the Southern Hemisphere’s premier integrated marine industrial facility. A world-class centre for excellence in manufacturing, fabrication, assembly, maintenance and technology development, it is home to more than 150 businesses. These businesses are separated into four main precincts; fabrication, support industry, technology and shipbuilding.

Running along the western coast of South America, the Andes is the longest continental mountain range in the world. At around 7,000 kilometres in length, between 200 and 700 kilometres wide, and with an average height of approximately 4,000 metres, the Andes extends through seven countries, one of which is Peru.

Right at the geographical centre of Turkey sits the industrial town of Kayseri (called after Caesar Augustus as it happens). It is 120 kilometres north of Kayseri that the principal project of Canadian mining junior Aldridge Minerals can be found. The polymetallic Yenipazar project occupies a ten square kilometre site on a volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) body that hosts a gold-silver-copper-lead-zinc mineral deposit.

For the last several decades Africa’s vast mineral wealth has been intrinsically linked with its economic growth. The continents’ mineral industry is unquestionably one of the largest in the world and for many African countries mineral exploration and production constitute significant parts of their economies.

Indeed mining and mines in Africa continue to play a fundamental role in its future socio-economic and sustainable development, with over 1,800 mining projects currently in various stages of development.

A European leader when it comes to the distribution of wear resistant and high yield strength steels, it is a hugely important belief within Abraservice that it should be seen to be more than just a supplier of such products. Rather it has successfully fashioned itself into a specialised provider of its customers’ complete solutions, from the analysis of their needs to the supply of finished and machined parts, ready for assembly.

The deal, which will see Sinopec pay $3.1 billion in cash, represents the latest in a series of similar transactions by Chinese oil firms who are looking to secure energy supplies in order to meet growing domestic demand.

"Sinopec is an ideal partner for us, and we look forward to the growth and value generation ahead for both companies through the expansion of our collaboration to other projects," Steven Farris, chief executive of Apache, said in a statement.