Latest news with #Zambia
Zawya
15 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
African Development Bank's Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) supports electric cooking expansion across three African nations
The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA), managed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) ( is tackling charcoal dependence in Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia with a $4 million reimbursable grant. This grant will fund the Burn Electric Cooking Expansion Program (BEEP), deploying 115,000 Burn ECOA Electric Induction Cookers to provide clean cooking solutions for low-income, grid-connected households currently relying on charcoal. Burn, a Kenya-based clean cookstove company and carbon developer with operations in over 10 African countries, will implement BEEP. This program makes clean cooking appliances more affordable and accessible by prefinancing induction cookers and recovering costs through carbon credit sales in the voluntary market. This innovative model combines carbon-backed subsidies with pay-as-you-go payment plans, significantly lowering upfront costs for end-users. Capitalised through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), the Program is funded by a $5 million senior loan from the Spark+ Africa Fund, a $4 million reimbursable grant from SEFA, and $1 million in equity from Burn Manufacturing Company. This SPV will partner with Burn to manage sales, distribution, and servicing of the cookers. The appliances will generate carbon credits, owned by the SPV, with revenues shared among investors. Dr. Daniel Schroth, Director for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the African Development Bank Group, stated, 'This marks the Bank's first carbon finance transaction of its kind, with SEFA playing a critical role in mitigating carbon market risks and enhancing the Program's financial sustainability.' The program aligns with SEFA's thematic area on Energy Efficiency, catalysing private sector investments in efficient appliances and promoting scale-up of clean cooking technologies. It also supports the Mission 300 Initiative and the Bank's New Deal on Energy for Africa, which aim to deliver universal energy access through low-carbon solutions. 'We are honoured to receive this catalytic investment from the African Development Bank's Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa—their first-ever investment in carbon projects focused on electric cooking. This milestone enables BURN to rapidly scale our IoT-enabled induction stove across Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia, providing low-income households with a zero-emission, digitally monitored alternative to charcoal and wood,' said Peter Scott, Founder and CEO, BURN. 'By integrating cutting-edge technology, carbon financing, and mobile-enabled Pay-As-You-Cook models, we are demonstrating that electric cooking can be clean, affordable, and scalable across the continent.' In addition to environmental and health benefits, the program will stimulate job creation and fortify local supply chains within the three target countries, paving the way for a cleaner, more prosperous future for communities across Kenya, Uganda, and Zambia. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). ABOUT SEFA: SEFA is a multi-donor Special Fund that provides catalytic finance to unlock private sector investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. SEFA offers technical assistance and concessional finance instruments to remove market barriers, build a more robust pipeline of projects and improve the risk-return profile of individual investments. The Fund's overarching goal is to contribute to universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy services for all in Africa, in line with the New Deal on Energy for Africa and the M300. About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group is Africa's leading development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). Represented in 41 African countries, with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member countries. For more information:
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Egyptian Drug Authority discusses plans for joint pharmaceutical plant in Zambia
Egypt - Ali El-Ghamrawi, head of the Egyptian Drug Authority, held talks with a joint delegation from Egyptian firm Wadi El-Nile and Zambian developer Pendulum Estates Ltd as part of Egypt's strategy to expand into African markets and strengthen international pharmaceutical partnerships. Discussions centred on plans to establish a joint drug manufacturing plant in Zambia. The initiative aligns with Egypt's broader vision to deepen industrial integration across Africa, transfer expertise and technology, boost regional production capacity, encourage pharmaceutical investment, and enhance regulatory cooperation with African counterparts. It also aims to reinforce Egypt's position as a regional pharmaceutical hub and contribute to securing medicine supplies across the continent. During the meeting, El-Ghamrawi highlighted that localising pharmaceutical production in African countries remains a strategic priority for the Authority. He described the African market as a key target for Egyptian pharmaceutical expansion, both to improve access to essential medicines and support local industry development. Mohamed Dabour, Chairperson of Wadi El-Nile, emphasised the importance of the partnership with the Zambian side, describing the project as a major milestone in the company's plans to expand across Africa and help localise pharmaceutical production on a continental scale. John Zulu, Chairperson of Pendulum Estates Ltd, welcomed the cooperation with Egypt and described the partnership as transformative for Zambia's healthcare system, enabling the domestic production of high-quality medicines to meet local demand. The delegation praised the Drug Authority's strategic leadership and its advanced regulatory and technical expertise, which they said has helped elevate Egypt's pharmaceutical sector both regionally and internationally. They noted that collaboration with the Authority would provide vital technical support, advisory services, and regulatory facilitation needed for the success of the proposed joint plant in Zambia — ultimately enhancing access to quality medicines and supporting health security across Africa. The partnership reflects the Drug Authority's commitment to fostering deeper cooperation with African nations and backing pharmaceutical investments that promote industry growth and deliver tangible health benefits across the continent. © 2024 Daily News Egypt. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Dentist Said Wife's Death on Safari Was a Tragic Mishap — But His Affair and Insurance Claims Raised Red Flags
When Bianca Rudolph died from a shotgun blast in Zambia, her husband, Larry Rudolph — a Pittsburgh-area dentist — claimed it was a tragic accident that occurred during a dream hunting vacation in Africa. But more than five years later, bombshell revelations turned that narrative upside down. Bianca's death, initially ruled accidental by local authorities in October 2016, sparked a years-long international investigation that uncovered lies, a secret workplace affair, and a hefty financial motive for murder — and the case is now the subject of a new three-part docuseries, Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari premiering July 21 on Hulu. (A trailer can be seen below.) The ABC News Studios series features exclusive interviews from federal prison with Larry and his former dental hygienist and mistress, Lori Milliron, offering rare insight into their relationship. "Plus, new interviews with an eclectic cast of characters including [Larry]'s former business partner, Milliron's daughter, the Rudolphs' insurance broker, FBI agents close to the case, the former U.S. ambassador to Zambia and more," a synopsis from ABC Studios reads. "Members of Safari Club International and several of [Larry]'s former dental office employees also speak out, painting a disturbing picture of the man at the center of this shocking case." The married couple was getting ready to leave their hunting camp in Kafue National Park on the morning of Oct. 11, 2016, when Bianca was fatally shot with a 12-gauge shotgun. Larry told the Zambian police that he heard the gunshot while he was taking a shower and that he found his wife of 34 years on the bedroom floor bleeding from the chest. He said he suspected that the shotgun had been left loaded from the hunt the previous day and that the gun went off while Bianca was trying to pack it into its case, according to a federal complaint previously obtained by PEOPLE. However, federal authorities in the U.S. believed that Bianca was shot from 6.5 to 8 feet, and determined that it was not likely she pulled the shotgun's trigger based on a reconstruction of the incident, per The New York Times. U.S. officials later accused Larry of killing his wife in order to collect millions of dollars in life insurance and continue his relationship with Milliron. He filed fraudulent claims on nine separate life insurance policies to obtain about $4.9 million, federal prosecutors said. In August 2022, less than a year after his arrest, Larry was convicted in U.S. federal court of foreign murder and mail fraud. He was sentenced to life in prison. During Larry's trial in Denver, Colo., a federal prosecutor said that Larry admitted to the shooting while dining with Milliron upon hearing in 2020 that the FBI was probing into the death of Bianca, per the Associated Press. Larry told jurors that "I did not kill my wife. I could not murder my wife. I would not murder my wife," the AP reported. Milliron, who had been romantically involved with Larry for years, was also found guilty in connection with the case. In June 2023, she was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for perjury, obstruction of justice, and being an accessory after the fact. Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari is produced by XTR in association with Rolling Stone Films and ABC News Studios for Hulu. The series is directed and executive produced by Dani Sloane. Trophy Wife is based on the Rolling Stone article 'Before the Dentist Knows You're Dead' by Matt Sullivan, who also serves as executive producer. Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari premieres July 21 on Hulu. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Dentist Said Wife's Safari Death Was a Freak Accident — Then His Girlfriend Heard a Very Different Story
When Bianca Rudolph died from a shotgun blast in Zambia, her husband, Larry Rudolph — a Pittsburgh-area dentist — claimed it was a tragic accident that occurred during a dream hunting vacation in Africa. But more than five years later, bombshell revelations turned that narrative upside down. Bianca's death, initially ruled accidental by local authorities in October 2016, sparked a years-long international investigation that uncovered lies, a secret workplace affair, and a hefty financial motive for murder — and the case is now the subject of a new three-part docuseries, Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari premiering July 21 on Hulu. (A trailer can be seen below.) The ABC News Studios series features exclusive interviews from federal prison with Larry and his former dental hygienist and mistress, Lori Milliron, offering rare insight into their relationship. "Plus, new interviews with an eclectic cast of characters including [Larry]'s former business partner, Milliron's daughter, the Rudolphs' insurance broker, FBI agents close to the case, the former U.S. ambassador to Zambia and more," a synopsis from ABC Studios reads. "Members of Safari Club International and several of [Larry]'s former dental office employees also speak out, painting a disturbing picture of the man at the center of this shocking case." The married couple was getting ready to leave their hunting camp in Kafue National Park on the morning of Oct. 11, 2016, when Bianca was fatally shot with a 12-gauge shotgun. Larry told the Zambian police that he heard the gunshot while he was taking a shower and that he found his wife of 34 years on the bedroom floor bleeding from the chest. He said he suspected that the shotgun had been left loaded from the hunt the previous day and that the gun went off while Bianca was trying to pack it into its case, according to a federal complaint previously obtained by PEOPLE. However, federal authorities in the U.S. believed that Bianca was shot from 6.5 to 8 feet, and determined that it was not likely she pulled the shotgun's trigger based on a reconstruction of the incident, per The New York Times. U.S. officials later accused Larry of killing his wife in order to collect millions of dollars in life insurance and continue his relationship with Milliron. He filed fraudulent claims on nine separate life insurance policies to obtain about $4.9 million, federal prosecutors said. In August 2022, less than a year after his arrest, Larry was convicted in U.S. federal court of foreign murder and mail fraud. He was sentenced to life in prison. During Larry's trial in Denver, Colo., a federal prosecutor said that Larry admitted to the shooting while dining with Milliron upon hearing in 2020 that the FBI was probing into the death of Bianca, per the Associated Press. Larry told jurors that "I did not kill my wife. I could not murder my wife. I would not murder my wife," the AP reported. Milliron, who had been romantically involved with Larry for years, was also found guilty in connection with the case. In June 2023, she was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for perjury, obstruction of justice, and being an accessory after the fact. Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari is produced by XTR in association with Rolling Stone Films and ABC News Studios for Hulu. The series is directed and executive produced by Dani Sloane. Trophy Wife is based on the Rolling Stone article 'Before the Dentist Knows You're Dead' by Matt Sullivan, who also serves as executive producer. Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari premieres July 21 on Hulu. Read the original article on People
Reuters
2 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Zambia plans 60,000 barrels per day oil refinery in copperbelt
LUSAKA, July 21 (Reuters) - Zambia's government has signed an agreement that paves the way for the development of a $1.1 billion crude oil refinery and energy complex in Ndola in the country's copperbelt, it said on Monday. The planned facility will process about 60,000 barrels per day of crude oil, providing enough refined products to satisfy the Southern African nation's entire current fuel demand and potentially allowing for future exports to neighbouring countries, a government statement said. It will save the nation millions of dollars annually in fuel imports once complete, the statement added. Officials hope construction will start in the third quarter of 2025, with a first phase of commercial operations planned for 2026. The agreement was between Zambia's Industrial Development Corporation and Fujian Xiang Xin Corporation of China. An IDC spokesperson told Reuters the refinery would source crude from the Middle East and that it would be imported through the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam. As well as fuel production, the planned energy complex will include units for liquefied petroleum gas bottling, bitumen production, lubricants blending and a 130-megawatt power plant, Zambia's government said.
