Latest news with #industrialisation
Mail & Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
Clean energy must extend beyond megawatts and minerals
The energy transition itself carries human rights risks. If clean energy is built on compromised rights, it will not be sustainable in the long term. Photo: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg/Getty Images As Africa enters a critical decade of energy development and industrialisation, the demand for reliable power, sustainable infrastructure and clean energy sources is reshaping the investment landscape. At the same time, the imperative to transition responsibly — without infringing on the rights of people — is more urgent than ever. Business and Human Rights (BHR) offers a framework for managing this tension. Rooted in the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, it sets out how businesses should respect human rights throughout their operations and supply chains and how states must protect those rights through regulation, enforcement and access to remedy. For energy stakeholders — governments, investors, developers and people — BHR is no longer a peripheral concern. It is a core driver of responsible growth, risk management and legitimacy in a rapidly evolving global and African energy ecosystem. BHR is anchored in three foundational pillars of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: The state duty to protect human rights through policies, regulation and enforcement; The corporate responsibility to respect human rights by, among other things, conducting human rights due diligence; and Access to remedy for individuals and communities affected by business-related harm. While once viewed as a voluntary commitment, these principles are increasingly being entrenched in binding legal frameworks. Recent instruments such as the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, Germany's Supply Chain Act, and France's Duty of Vigilance Law impose legal obligations on companies (including private enterprises) to identify, prevent and mitigate human rights and environmental risks across global value chains — and create liability for failing to do so. Energy projects — whether related to oil, gas, renewables or critical mineral extraction — have a high human rights risk profile. Common risks include: Displacement of communities through land acquisition or infrastructure expansion; Adverse impacts on indigenous peoples' cultural rights; Inadequate stakeholder engagement and lack of free, prior and informed consent; Labour rights violations in construction and mineral supply chains; Environmental degradation affecting water, health and livelihoods; and The use of excessive security forces or militarisation of project zones. In an age of rising stakeholder activism, environmental, social, and governance litigation and reputational exposure, energy companies that fail to integrate BHR into their business models risk project delays, financing constraints, legal liability and community opposition. Conversely, companies that lead on BHR create resilience, de-risk investments and foster enduring partnerships with governments and communities. Africa is poised to become one of the most dynamic frontiers for energy investment globally. The continent's population is growing rapidly, with urbanisation and industrialisation driving exponential energy demand. At the same time, Africa is richly endowed with renewable resources and critical minerals that are essential to the global clean energy transition. Energy investment opportunities include: Utility-scale solar, wind and hydro projects powering urban growth; Off-grid and mini-grid solutions bringing electricity to underserved rural areas; Cross-border energy infrastructure that links regional power pools and boosts energy security; Hydrogen, green ammonia and energy storage ventures attracting global partnerships; and Local beneficiation and value addition of critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium and graphite. Countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Egypt and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are already hubs of activity. Projects such as South Africa's Renewable Energy Independent Power Procurement Programme, Kenya's Lake Turkana Wind Power Project and Namibia's ambitions in green hydrogen are reshaping the narrative. However, several of these projects have encountered friction regarding land use, community engagement and benefit sharing. African energy development often intersects with vulnerable communities, informal land tenure, historical marginalisation and weak governance environments. Failing to address these dynamics invites risk; integrating BHR (the duty to respect human rights as distinct from state obligations) offers a pathway to do better. It can help companies build and maintain a social licence to operate; secure funding from development finance institutions and ethical lenders that mandate human rights due diligence; prevent litigation, protests and reputational harm and align with host government development goals and Africa's Agenda 2063. Agenda 2063 seeks to position Africa as a global powerhouse, one committed to inclusive and sustainable development. This mirrors the core language and aims of BHR. For African states, embedding BHR into national energy policy enhances investor confidence and future-proofs infrastructure development. It also empowers governments to regulate more effectively and ensure that energy development is not only fast — but fair. While Africa is on the cusp of major energy and infrastructure development, recent legal developments in the Global North offer cautionary insights: Shell vs Okpabi (UK): The UK Supreme Court confirmed that parent companies can be held liable for human rights harms caused by foreign subsidiaries. Although the case arose from alleged environmental damage in the Niger Delta, the precedent may apply well beyond that context. TotalEnergies climate litigation (France): NGOs sued the oil major under France's Duty of Vigilance Law, which creates binding obligations on entities (including parent companies) to identify, prevent, mitigate and redress human rights and environmental impacts resulting from their own activities, as well as those companies under their control, subcontractors and suppliers. Fosen Wind Farm case (Norway): The Norwegian Supreme Court ruled that land expropriation and licensing for certain wind farms violated the rights of Sámi indigenous reindeer herders under international law, highlighting the importance of free, prior and informed consent, even in the context of renewable energy development. These cases reinforce that the energy transition itself carries human rights risks. Whether in the Global North or South, renewable does not automatically mean responsible. If clean energy is built on compromised rights, it will not be sustainable in the long term. By embedding Business and Human Rights into the DNA of energy projects, the continent can avoid replicating extractive models of the past and build an energy future that is clean, inclusive and equitable. Pooja Dela and Dylan Cron are partners at Webber Wentzel.
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Himatrix Group inaugurates $9mln phase one of advanced training centre
Himatrix Group has inaugurated phase one of its first application laboratory, research, and training centre, with a total investment value of AED33 million. Spanning 45,000 the facility at Dubai Industrial City, part of TECOM Group PJSC, will support Himatrix Group's vision for growth and expansion during 2024 in regional and international markets by leveraging the district's strategic geographic location and links to regional and global transportation hubs, including Jebel Ali seaport, Al Maktoum International Airport, intra-regional highway networks and soon, an Etihad Rail freight terminal. Himatrix Group is the parent company of entities including Himatrix Measurements Equipment's, Himatrix Measurement Laboratory, Matrix Packing Materials Manufacturing, and Icpro Technologies. With state-of-the-art technology installed at the facility, the new hub is designed to accommodate Himatrix Group's planned recruitment of additional specialists to support its 100-strong workforce, which will be based at the new centre. 'Industrialisation-led economic growth requires that manufacturers have access to an environment that not only encourages innovation but also empowers local production,' said Saud Abu Alshawareb, on behalf of Dubai Industrial City. 'Himatrix Group's inauguration at Dubai Industrial City is a testament to market confidence in our ecosystem, which embodies the goals of the Operation 300bn, Make it in the Emirates, and Dubai Economic Agenda 'D33' strategies to promote the manufacturing sector's expansion in the UAE and beyond. Such specialised laboratories strengthen the industrial cycle that our ecosystem offers to its customers, and we welcome Himatrix Group to unlock opportunities and target further growth from its new base at our district.' The company plans to expand its partnerships with global leaders in the field of instrumentation engineering, such as Radwag, Sciex, Ametek, Kruss and Wipotec, and present them with new technology opportunities, through the facility. Nadeer Ali, Founder and Managing Director of Himatrix Group, said, 'Innovative ventures such as our new facility at Dubai Industrial City will provide our Middle East customers with unparalleled service quality, setting new benchmarks in customer service not only for the pharmaceutical sector but also for other industries requiring advanced measurement technologies. 'We are proud to unveil our new establishment in the heart of Dubai. For us, it represents not just a space for further innovation but more significantly, another step toward excellence. This facility is a crucial part of our mission to deliver exceptional solutions for our clients and guide them through the latest trends and updates in the realm of mass measurement metrology, analytical science, and physical testing.' Established in 2004, Dubai Industrial City is among the region's leading industrial manufacturing and logistics hubs, serving as a catalyst for the strengthening of the UAE's industrial sector as the home of more than 800 customers including global industry leaders such as Himalaya, A P Moeller-Maersk, and Unilever, and over 300 operational factories. Dubai Industrial City is part of TECOM Group's portfolio of 10 business districts, including Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, Dubai Studio City, Dubai Production City, Dubai Science Park, Dubai Knowledge Park, Dubai International Academic City, and Dubai Design District (d3).
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China eyes Africa as it shifts EV gears in face of US, EU tariffs
China is redirecting its electric vehicle (EV) strategy in the face of mounting tariffs from the US and EU, gradually pivoting from these established export markets towards emerging ones such as Africa The Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, revealed plans earlier this month for EV and battery plants in the West African country. This is expected to boost local industrialisation as well as help Nigeria to capitalise on its rich deposits of lithium, a critical material for EV batteries and other electronics. Chinese firms mining lithium in the country were seeking full-cycle local manufacturing, Yu told Dele Alake, Nigeria's solid minerals development minister, in the capital Abuja on May 15. '[Chinese] President Xi [Jinping] prioritises African industrialisation,' Yu added, as he outlined the plans under way for the EV and battery plants in Nigeria. Alake welcomed Beijing's moves, citing Nigeria's new focus on local value addition in leveraging natural resources, especially lithium, by encouraging local processing and EV manufacturing. This drive is clear in Nasarawa state, a solid minerals hub in Nigeria's north-central region that has attracted huge Chinese investment in the mining and processing of lithium. Chinese firm Avatar New Energy Materials launched Nigeria's largest lithium processing plant in Nasarawa last May, with annual revenue estimated at US$500 million.
Zawya
19-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Powering Africa's economy begins with energy sovereignty
At this year's Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, heads of state, investors, and business leaders converged to confront a central question: Can Africa build a competitive economy without first securing its energy future?The answer was unanimous. The continent cannot industrialise, digitalise, or modernise without power. And without energy sovereignty, every other ambition becomes a deferred promise. Africa's economic future will not be shaped by declarations or blueprints alone. It will be defined by our ability to electrify factories, power hospitals, connect schools, run data centres, refrigerate vaccines, and support the informal enterprises that keep communities afloat. Without reliable and affordable energy, even the most promising youth-led initiatives will remain stalled in potential. Today, more than 600 million Africans live without consistent electricity. This is not merely a development issue. It is a structural barrier to economic transformation. It explains why industrial parks sit half idle, why manufacturing remains shallow, why tech entrepreneurs burn out trying to scale on diesel, and why investors continue to hedge their bets elsewhere. Without energy, there is no modern economy. Energy is not a sector. It is the first multiplier, the baseline requirement for productivity, and the foundation of sovereignty. Yet across much of the continent, energy has been treated as a secondary concern, left to fragmented ministries, short-term donor programmes, and reactive utility companies. If Africa's youth are to lead the next wave of economic growth, then energy must be recast as a national and continental priority. Not simply as infrastructure, but as the bedrock of any serious strategy for jobs, competitiveness, and self-reliance. The shift to renewable sources must not be seen only through the lens of climate response. It must be viewed as a strategic opportunity. Africa is rich in solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal potential. These are not just green solutions. They are economic assets. Yet too often, the conversation stops at potential. What Africa lacks is not potential, but the seriousness to turn that potential into power. Natural endowments alone mean nothing without long-term planning, bold investment at scale, and the political alignment to deliver results. Energy must move from the realm of rhetoric to that of execution. A growing number of African countries are beginning to recognize this. Countries like Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa are no longer just talking about energy gaps. They are negotiating nuclear power as a strategic necessity. It is a clear signal that meeting industrial demand, stabilizing fragile grids, and breaking dependence on imported fuels requires more than solar panels and donor funded pilots. It demands serious power and the political will to build it. This signals a continental recognition that energy security cannot rely on one source alone. A diversified strategy, tailored to each country's needs and managed with strict safeguards, is essential. But whatever the mix of solar, hydro, wind, gas, or nuclear, governments must lead with clarity. Energy policy must be elevated beyond technical silos and placed squarely within the domain of economic strategy. Public investment must target grid expansion, rural access, and decentralized generation. Youth must not only benefit from new energy markets but be trained to build, maintain, and lead them. The future of Africa's economy will not be built solely in capital cities. It will rise in secondary towns, border zones, agro-processing hubs, and informal settlements where millions of young people already work and trade. These spaces need smart grids, mini-grids, and off-grid solutions that are adaptable, scalable, and locally managed. To truly unlock economies of scale, African countries must trade power across borders, align their regulations, and work together to finance shared infrastructure. Regional energy markets must move from theory to reality. No country can go it alone. Integration is not just a political ideal. It is an economic necessity. The private sector must be at the table, particularly African firms that understand local needs and contexts. But the burden cannot fall on them alone. Energy is not just about access. It is about agency. It defines whether Africa remains a continent of extraction and dependency or shifts into one of production, value addition, and strategic autonomy. It defines whether we continue managing poverty or begin building wealth. This is the moment to stop outsourcing our future and start powering it from within. The next chapter of African prosperity will not be built in darkness. It will require light, voltage, bandwidth, machines, and courage, driven by the youth but made possible by energy. Real energy. Strategic energy. Sovereign energy. Africa's economic renaissance begins with power and now is the time to turn the switch. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
South China Morning Post
09-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
‘Made-in-Hong Kong' goods can shine with right tech, funding: industry group
'Made-in-Hong Kong' products ranging from mooncakes to garments can shine with the help of technology, automation, subsidies and even artificial intelligence (AI), one of the city's largest industry groups has said. Advertisement The Federation of Hong Kong Industries revealed the findings of its recent study on Friday, saying that the city's industrial sector added HK$127.1 billion (US$16.4 billion) in value to the economy in 2023, or 4.4 per cent of gross domestic product. The study also mapped out strategies to further promote made-in-Hong Kong products and harness the power of technology. 'Hong Kong is currently at a crossroads in its economic transformation. The new industrialisation will be the main engine for our future economic growth,' said Ricky Chan Wai-chung, executive deputy chairman of the federation. The federation commissioned the Hong Kong Institute of Economics and Business Strategy at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to conduct the study, which began in June last year. Advertisement Chan and federation chairman Steve Chuang Tzu-hsiung also gave examples of how companies had used the government's HK$10 billion subsidy initiative, the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme.
