Kenya: Use of Solar Lanterns Grows By 300 Per Cent
THE fast growth in use of solar lanterns in Kenya and other African countries at 300 per cent is piling supply pressure on manufacturers and importers, a new report shows.
The Lighting Africa Market Trends Report by the International Finance Corporation indicates that in Kenya, about 2.5 million people are using off-grid lighting products that are solar powered surpassing the one million target set for last year.
"A trade finance facility for 17 local importers is being organised in partnership with a local bank," said IFC head of the Lighting Africa Program Arthur Njagi.
He said the corporation will not offer funds for on-lending to local banks but rather offer a guarantee to the banks for their trade finance service to the importers.
Athi River Mining to double production
Athi River Mining (ARM) will spend over US$400m on the construction of new cement plants in Tanzania and Kenya.
Pradeep Paunrana, the company's chief executive, said a new plant in Tanga, Tanzania, would have a capacity of 1.2Mt/yr and will be completed within five months.
Growth in Use of Solar Lanterns Overwhelms Importers
THE fast growth in use of solar lanterns in Kenya and other African countries at 300 per cent is piling supply pressure on manufacturers and importers, a new report shows.
The Lighting Africa Market Trends Report by the International Finance Corporation indicates that in Kenya, about 2.5 million people are using off-grid lighting products that are solar powered surpassing the one million target set for last year. "A trade finance facility for 17 local importers is being organised in partnership with a local bank," said IFC head of the Lighting Africa Program Arthur Njagi.
He said the corporation will not offer funds for on-lending to local banks but rather offer a guarantee to the banks for their trade finance service to the importers.
Jobs boom in Kisumu county due to influx of cash for projects
The ongoing multi-million shilling projects in Kisumu County have seen a number of unemployed youth gain meaningful sources of income.
Heightened property development has attracted stone masons and transporters of building materials who have pitched camp next to Kondele Police Station to exploit the opportunity.
