Africa-focused oil company Afren has announced strong interim results on the back of higher oil prices, and looks set to double production this year.

The London-based company recorded pre-tax profits for the six months to 30 June of $75.4 million (approximately €59.2 million).

Egypt’s retail scene has barely changed in decades; but that hasn’t stopped Procter & Gamble from trying to help modernise from within, as Alan Swaby learns.

In recent times Ghana has emerged as a potential major new oil player in West Africa’s resource-rich region. Tullow Oil Ghana’s Stuart Wheaton tells Andrew Pelis of the challenges at the forefront of discovery.

Andy Haslam, managing director of iron ore producer Territory Resources, is delighted to be mirroring the growth of Asia’s resurgent economies. Jayne Flannery reports.

As governments around the world invest in power infrastructure, competition has become rife within this specialist construction sector. Mr V. Balasubramanian talks to Andrew Pelis about the strategy that has helped KEC International Ltd to make the most of the opportunity.

Strategic clarity is the key to unlocking the treasures of South Africa’s shallow gold resources for the country’s most dynamic recent market entrant. Neal Froneman, CEO of Gold One International (Africa), talks to Jayne Flannery.

The global economic downturn has meant opportunity for AMEC Minproc to expand its activities in Africa, as Ruari McCallion learns from Colin Kubank.

Gifford’s Ice Cream, central Maine’s third-generation family ice cream business, has been acclaimed “Grade A & Ice Cream Grand Champion” at the 2010 World Dairy Expo. Gifford’s also earned the title of “World’s Best Chocolate” for the third time.

The only international judging contest of its kind, the World Dairy Expo is considered the industry’s most important dairy competition. The awards will be presented to winners at this year’s five-day Expo in Madison, to take place September 28 – October 2.

Westlake Chemical Corporation announced today it is proceeding with the delayed construction of a new chlor-alkali plant to be located at its vinyls manufacturing complex in Geismar, Louisiana. The new unit is expected to double the company’s production from250,000 electrochemical units (ECUs) annually, to 520,000 ECUs.

Westlake, headquartered in Houston, Texas, manufactures and supplies petrochemicals, polymers and fabricated products including ethylene, polyethylene, styrene, propylene, caustic, VCM, PVC and PVC pipe, windows and fence.

UK oil and gas explorer EnCore Oil has announced a new North Sea oil find at its Cladhan field.

Cladhan is located 225 miles north-east of Aberdeen, in 536 feet water depth. It is thought that the field may hold reserves of between 100 million and 200 million barrels.

The Cladhan announcement follows the discovery of the 300 million barrel Catcher field, which was identified in June and in which EnCore also has a stake.

EnCore, which started drilling at the Cladhan site in August, will now drill horizontally to determine the size of the field.