Africa is on track to be declared polio-free
It has been three years since the continent’s last reported case of the virus.
North Africa
Egypt to lead solar energy projects in seven African countries
The Arab Industrialization Organization, owned by the Egyptian government, will develop renewable energies and reduce energy shortages in Uganda, Congo, Tanzania, Eritrea, Somalia and South Sudan.
Middle East & Africa to install more than 83 gigawatts of solar by 2023
New research focusing on the Middle East and Africa has forecast solar installations to skyrocket by 170% this year and continue accelerating to install more than 83 GW of new solar capacity between 2018 and 2023, nearly 40 times current capacity.
Google’s new Africa app aims to beat slow internet speeds, high data costs
Google is releasing an app in Africa that will help internet users overcome obstacles such as the lack of high-speed connectivity and the cost of data on the continent.
Morocco unveils a massive solar power plant in the Sahara
Morocco has officially turned on a massive solar power plant in the Sahara Desert, kicking off the first phase of a planned project to provide renewable energy to more than a million Moroccans.
Walmart boosts minimum wage to $11, hands out bonuses up to $1,000 for hourly workers
The increase for the nation’s largest private employer also comes amid political pressure to bolster minimum wages and comes amid a hot streak for the retailer.
The African Union is founded by 55 member states
The AU has many key objectives, including fostering greater unity, cohesion and solidarity between the African countries and African nations.
Egypt commissions its first large-scale wind farm
The state-owned Zafarana wind farm is located in Suez and was built in eight phases between 2000 and 2010. The farm is 120km2 in size and boasts 700 turbines with a combined capacity of 545 MW. The €110 million wind farm was supported by soft loans from Denmark, Spain, Japan, and Germany.
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria form the League of Arab States
The League’s main goal is to “draw closer the relations between member states and co-ordinate collaboration between them, to safeguard their independence and sovereignty, and to consider in a general way the affairs and interests of the Arab countries”.
Frank Shuman builds the world’s first solar thermal power plant in Egypt
Frank Shuman was an American inventor, engineer, and solar energy pioneer known for his work on solar engines. Shuman built the world’s first solar thermal power station in Maadi, Egypt in 1913, using used semi circle shaped troughs to power a 60-70 horsepower engine that pumped 6,000 gallons of water per minute from the Nile River to adjacent cotton fields.