Category: Environment

South African Coal Plant Closure Delayed Amid Energy Crisis

22May

By adminNo Comments

African Development, Environment, Infrastructure, News, Power, South Africa

South African Coal Plant Closure Delayed Amid Energy Crisis

South Africa's public power utility, Eskom, has announced a delay in the closure of several coal-fired power plants, citing the ongoing electricity crisis as the primary reason. The Eskom board has approved the continued operation of the Camden, Grootvlei, and Hendrina power stations until 2030, local media outlet Engineering News reported on Monday, May 20. Originally, these power stations were scheduled to be retired between 2023 and 2027. However, South Africa experienced one of its worst electricity crises last year, with daily power cuts lasting up to ten hours. These outages severely impacted the country’s economy, which is Africa's most developed. The decision to keep these plants operational is a direct response to the urgent need to stabilize the national grid. “The electri...

ADB Commits $2 Billion to Clean Cooking Access in Africa

16May

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Africa, African Development, Environment, Finance, Infrastructure, News, Safety

ADB Commits $2 Billion to Clean Cooking Access in Africa

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has pledged a monumental $2 billion over the next decade towards enhancing access to clean cooking solutions in Africa. This commitment was announced during a landmark summit on Clean Cooking in Africa held in Paris, where the Bank's President, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, emphasized the critical importance of safe cooking alternatives beyond just culinary needs, highlighting the profound impact on dignity. The significance of this commitment lies in its potential to save the lives of approximately 600,000 individuals annually, predominantly women and children. The AfDB plans to allocate 20% of its energy project financing towards promoting safe cooking alternatives, aiming to address the prevalent use of charcoal, wood, and biomass for cooking in Africa. ...

Nairobi Building Collapses Due to Heavy Rains

15May

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Environment, Kenya, Safety

Nairobi Building Collapses Due to Heavy Rains

In a devastating incident amidst heavy rains and flooding in Nairobi, a building collapsed in the Mathare neighborhood, injuring several individuals. The structure, situated perilously close to a river, was among those marked for evacuation and demolition due to safety concerns prompted by the inclement weather. Rescue efforts were swiftly initiated, leading to the rescue of at least four individuals from the debris. Unfortunately, three of them sustained critical injuries, while one person suffered minor injuries. The Kenya Red Cross has expressed concerns that additional individuals may be trapped under the rubble. The collapse occurred while the building was undergoing demolition, as confirmed by the Red Cross. See Also: Kenya: Government and WHO Spearhead Emergency Response ...

Desperate Search Continues in South Africa After Building Collapse

7May

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Environment, Infrastructure, News, Safety, Security, South Africa

Desperate Search Continues in South Africa After Building Collapse

Death toll rises to 7 11 trapped workers rescued. In George, South Africa, a frantic rescue effort persists into the night as over 30 individuals remain trapped beneath the wreckage of a collapsed apartment building. The construction site, bustling with 75 workers, suffered a catastrophic collapse on Monday afternoon, claiming at least 7 lives. Colin Deiner, leading the provincial Western Cape disaster management services, conveyed the intensity of the rescue operation, expecting it to extend for at least three days. "We are going to give it the absolute maximum time to see how many people we can rescue," Deiner emphasized during a press briefing, highlighting the immense challenges faced by rescue teams maneuvering heavy machinery near trapped individuals. Earlier assessmen...

5 Dead and 49 Missing as Building Collapses in South Africa

7May

By adminNo Comments

Environment, Infrastructure, News, Safety, South Africa

5 Dead and 49 Missing as Building Collapses in South Africa

In a devastating turn of events, a multi-story apartment complex under construction collapsed in a coastal city in South Africa, leaving 5 persons confirmed dead and dozens of construction workers trapped under the debris for over 12 hours. The incident occurred in George, a city located about 400 kilometers east of Cape Town on the south coast. "Rescue teams have been working tirelessly through the night to reach those trapped under the rubble," stated Colin Deiner, the chief director of the provincial Western Cape Disaster Management and Fire and Rescue Services. "It's a very tough operation… There's a lot of concrete… so we think it will still take quite a while." According to authorities, the collapse, which transpired on Monday afternoon, has resulted in a tragic death toll of ...

Kenya Floods Claim 228 Lives: Search for 72 Missing Intensifies

6May

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Environment, Kenya, News, Safety

Kenya Floods Claim 228 Lives: Search for 72 Missing Intensifies

In a tragic update, the death toll from Kenya's devastating floods has surged to at least 228, with 72 individuals currently reported as missing and 164 wounded, Government Spokesman Isaac Mwaura announced on Sunday (May 5). The floods, triggered by weeks of heavier than usual seasonal rains compounded by natural weather phenomena like El-Nino and the Indian Ocean Dipole, have wreaked havoc across East Africa. See Also: Reopening of Kenyan Schools Postponed Amid Ongoing Flood Crisis Mwaura revealed that over 223,000 people have been affected by the catastrophic floods, prompting authorities to enforce evacuation orders issued on May 2nd. In Nairobi County alone, 163,210 residents have been evacuated from vulnerable areas along riverbanks, with the government arranging alternative...

Rampaging Cyclone Hidaya Wreaks Havoc in Tanzania

6May

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Environment, Kenya, News, Safety, Tanzania

Rampaging Cyclone Hidaya Wreaks Havoc in Tanzania

Torrential rains and fierce winds wreaked havoc and exacerbated flooding as Cyclone Hidaya battered Tanzania over the weekend. The country grappled with a widespread power outage on Saturday as it braced itself for the tropical cyclone's impact, which followed weeks of relentless flooding that claimed the lives of over 150 people. Ferry services connecting Tanzania's bustling commercial center, Dar es Salaam, with Zanzibar were halted as the cyclone approached the coastline, packing winds comparable to a Category 1 hurricane. https://twitter.com/tma_services/status/1786894813138235655 According to meteorological authorities, coastal areas experienced an unprecedented deluge overnight Friday, prompting forecasters to issue warnings of further flooding across the region, anticipa...

Reopening of Kenyan Schools Postponed Amid Ongoing Flood Crisis

4May

By adminNo Comments

Education, Environment, Kenya, News, Safety

Reopening of Kenyan Schools Postponed Amid Ongoing Flood Crisis

Kenyan President William Ruto has postponed next week’s planned reopening of schools until further notice, as heavy rains and floods that have killed more than 200 people continue. The president in his state of the nation address on Friday said that “meteorological reports paint a dire picture,” citing the possibility of Cyclone Hidaya hitting coastal Kenya in coming days. Kenya and other parts of East Africa have been overwhelmed by flooding, with more than 150,000 displaced people living in camps across the country. Schools were to reopen this week, but the education ministry postponed that by a week. Students will now wait for the announcement of new reopening dates as some schools remain flooded and others have been damaged. Some displaced people have been living in schools whil...

Flood Prevention – President Buhari Gives Minister 90 Days to Produce a Plan

25Oct

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Environment, News, Nigeria

Flood Prevention – President Buhari Gives Minister 90 Days to Produce a Plan

Following the flooding that has ravaged many parts of the country with the attendant loss of lives, President Buhari has given the Minister of Water Resources 90 days to produce a plan on Flood prevention. In a statement released by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, he made it known that the president has given the Minister of Water Resources 90 days to produce a plan on flood prevention. https://twitter.com/GarShehu/status/1584599398201581568 Details of the post can be found below: "President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Water Resources to lead and coordinate with the Ministries of Environment and Transportation as well as State Governments to develop a Comprehensive Plan of Action for Preventing Flood Disaster i...

Five Barrels of Crude Oil Discharged into Rivers Environs, Shell Reveals

15Aug

By Osaretin BalogbanNo Comments

Environment, News, Nigeria, Petroleum

Five Barrels of Crude Oil Discharged into Rivers Environs, Shell Reveals

The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) Limited revealed that five barrels of crude oil were discharged into environments of the Bodo community in Gokana Local Government Area, Rivers State. The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Rivers State Ministry of Environment, SPDC, and the host community signed a Joint Investigation (JIV) report that disclosed the development. See Also: Reactions as Asa performs “Fire on The Mountain” at The Unveiling of NNPC LTD According to the report, Shell’s Trans Niger Pipeline discharged residue containing 98% water and 2% crude amounting to five barrels as the Trans Niger Pipeline was flushed. A representative of SPDC, Micheal Adande said the spill's impact was minimal as the Trans Niger Pipeline has ...