June 14, 2021

Le projet solaire PV + stockage d’énergie de Cuamba démarre au Mozambique

MAPUTO, Mozambique, 14 juin 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Étape importante pour l’avenir énergétique propre, Globeleq, une compagnie d’électricité indépendante leader en Afrique, et ses partenaires de projet, Source Energia et Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) ont célébré le début de la construction de la centrale solaire photovoltaïque de 19 MWp (15 MWac) de Cuamba et d’un système de stockage d’énergie de 2 MW (7 MWh).

Le ministre des ressources minérales et de l’énergie, le Dr. Ernesto Max Tonela, était l’invité officiel sur le site de la centrale électrique à Cuamba où s’est déroulée la cérémonie. Le projet contribuera à la stratégie « Énergie pour tous » du gouvernement, qui vise à assurer l’accès universel à l’énergie d’ici 2030.

Le projet, s’élevant à un montant de 32 millions de dollars, est situé dans le district de Tetereane de la ville de Cuamba, dans la province de Niassa, à environ 550 km à l’ouest de la ville côtière de Nacala. Le projet est le premier IPP (producteur d’électricité indépendant) au Mozambique à intégrer un système de stockage d’énergie à l’échelle du service public et comprend une mise à niveau de la sous-station existante de Cuamba. L’électricité sera vendue dans le cadre d’un contrat d’achat d’électricité de 25 ans avec EDM.

Le projet devrait bénéficier d’un financement par emprunt de 19 millions de dollars de la part du Fonds d’Infrastructure pour l’Afrique Émergente (« EAIF »), membre du Groupe Privé de Développement des Infrastructures (« PIDG »). En outre, le projet bénéficiera d’une subvention de 7 millions de dollars de la part du mécanisme de financement des déficits de viabilité (« VGF ») de PIDG et d’une subvention de 1 million de dollars de CDC Plus afin de permettre un tarif abordable et le système de stockage d’énergie.

Jonathan Hoffman, directeur du développement de Globeleq, a commenté : « Ce projet est précurseur en matière de stockage d’énergie à l’échelle industrielle au Mozambique et dans la région. Cuamba Solar, ainsi que tous les projets énergétiques sur lesquels nous travaillons, sont des preuves de notre engagement permanent à contribuer à la sécurité énergétique à long terme et au développement du pays sur une voie à faible émission de carbone. »

Globeleq et Source Energia développent également l’un des premiers projets éoliens au Mozambique, situé près de la ville de Namaacha, à 40 km à l’ouest de Maputo. En outre, Globeleq s’est récemment préqualifié pour être en charge du projet d’énergie solaire de 40 MWp de Dondo dans la province de Sofala et a été sélectionné pour deux projets solaires de 15 MWp dans l’Eswatini voisin.

Pedro Coutinho, partenaire fondateur et directeur général de Source Energia, a ajouté : « Source se réjouit d’avoir franchi cette étape importante au Mozambique et dans la province de Niassa avec le projet photovoltaïque et de stockage d’énergie de Cuamba. Nous nous engageons à travailler en restant orientés vers le développement de projets conformes aux objectifs énergétiques du Mozambique en matière d’accès universel, sous la direction d’EDM. »

Marcelino Gil, le président d’EDM a expliqué l’engagement d’EDM en faveur du mix énergétique du pays, fondé sur l’abondance des ressources du Mozambique, avec la volonté de promouvoir les énergies propres et renouvelables en vue de l’accès universel à l’énergie pour tous les Mozambicains d’ici 2030.

Selon les prévisions, le projet nécessitera environ 100 travailleurs pendant la construction, dont un grand nombre proviendront de la collectivité locale. La société espagnole TSK a été désignée comme entrepreneur EPC (Ingénierie, Approvisionnement et Construction) du projet. Globeleq, avec le soutien de Source Energia, supervisera la construction et l’exploitation de la centrale électrique.

À propos de Globeleq

Globeleq est un leader en matière de développement, promotion et gestion de production d’électricité en Afrique. La société dispose d’une capacité de production d’électricité de plus de 1400 MW dans le cadre de 28 projets au Cameroun, en Côte d’Ivoire, au Kenya, au Nigeria, en Afrique du Sud et en Tanzanie. Avec 305 MW supplémentaires en cours de construction au Kenya (52 MWp solaire) et en Côte d’Ivoire (253 MW), et 2000 MW de projets en cours de développement, Globeleq a un engagement à long terme dans le secteur de l’électricité en Afrique. www.globeleq.com

À propos de Source Energia :

Source Capital est une société indépendante de capital-investissement fondée en 2015, qui recherche des actifs investissables dans l’immobilier, l’énergie et le capital-investissement en général à travers l’Afrique lusophone, principalement au Mozambique et en Angola. L’énergie est un secteur stratégique et Source Energia a été créée en tant que plateforme diversifiée d’énergie renouvelable axée sur le développement, la gestion, l’exploitation et la maintenance de projets à grande et petite échelle en réseau et hors réseau. www.source.capital

À propos d’EDM

Electricidade de Moçambique E.P. (EDM) est la compagnie d’électricité appartenant à l’état créée en 1977, deux ans après l’indépendance du Mozambique. EDM est l’acheteur central d’électricité, l’opérateur du système, le gestionnaire du réseau de transport et de notation et l’exploitant de l’infrastructure de distribution de l’énergie au Mozambique. EDM produit, transporte, distribue et vend de l’électricité au Mozambique. www.edm.co.mz

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/612609/GLobeleq_Logo.jpg

June 14, 2021

Cuamba Solar PV + Energy Storage Project Breaks Ground In Mozambique

MAPUTO, Mozambique, June 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — In a significant step toward a clean energy future, Globeleq, a leading independent power company in Africa and its project partners, Source Energia and Electricidade de Moçambique (EDM) have celebrated the start of construction of the 19MWp (15MWac) Cuamba Solar PV plant and a 2 MW (7MWh) energy storage system.

The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Dr Ernesto Max Tonela, was the official guest at the power plant site in Cuamba where the ground breaking ceremony was held. The project will contribute to the Government’s “Energy for All” strategy, aiming to have universal energy access by 2030.

The US$32 million project is located in the Tetereane District of the city of Cuamba, Niassa province, about 550 kms west of the coastal town Nacala. The project is the first IPP in Mozambique to integrate a utility scale energy storage system and includes an upgrade to the existing Cuamba substation. Electricity will be sold through a 25-year power purchase agreement with EDM.

The project is expected to receive US$19m of debt funding from The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (“EAIF”), a member of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (“PIDG”). Furthermore, the project will receive US$7m in grant funding from PIDG’s Viability Gap Funding (“VGF”) grant facility and a US$ 1m grant from CDC Plus to enable an affordable tariff and the energy storage system.

Jonathan Hoffman, Globeleq’s Chief Development Officer commented: “This project is a trailblazer for future utility-scale energy storage in Mozambique and the region. Cuamba Solar, along with all our energy projects we are working on, cements our ongoing commitment to contribute to the long-term energy security and development of the country on a low carbon pathway.”

Globeleq and Source Energia are also developing one of the first wind projects in Mozambique located near the town of Namaacha 40km west of Maputo. In addition, Globeleq has recently pre-qualified to compete for the 40 MWp Dondo solar power project in Sofala Province and has been selected for two 15MWp solar projects in neighbouring Eswatini.

Pedro Coutinho, Source Energia’s Founding Partner and Managing Director added: “Source is excited to have reached this significant milestone to Mozambique and the Niassa Province with the Cuamba Solar PV and energy storage project. We are committed to work towards developing projects that are in line with the Mozambique energy goals for universal access that are led by EDM.”

Marcelino Gil, EDM Chairman explained EDM’s commitment to the country energy mix based on the abundance of resources in Mozambique, with the visibility to promote clean and renewable energy toward the commitment of universal access to energy to all Mozambicans by 2030.

It is expected the project will need around 100 workers during construction, many of which will be hired from the local community. The Spanish company, TSK, has been appointed as the project EPC contractor. Globeleq will oversee the construction and operations of the power plant, supported by Source Energia.

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June 14, 2021

Embarrassed Malawi recalls ‘bad apples’ from foreign missions

MALAWI is realigning the process to select envoys to represent the country in foreign countries.

This is to avoid the embarrassment similar to the one suffered after some of its officials were expelled from South Africa for involvement in the peddling duty-free alcohol by some foreign diplomats.

President Lazarus Chakwera disclosed he had relayed a message to his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa, condemning “the despicable behaviour of a group of Malawians who have been expelled from South Africa for abusing their democratic privileges.”

“I assured him that the conduct of these individuals does not represent the values of my administration and the Malawian people nor does it reflect the warm and cordial bilateral relations between our two countries,” Chakwera told the nation in a televised address.

“In the meantime, I am pleased to report that even before this unfortunate incident, all the bad apples in our foreign missions have already been served with letters of recall to come back home,” the president disclosed.

It could not be ascertained how many officials would be recalled.

Chakwera said Parliament’s Public Appointments Committee was in the process of confirming the professionals his administration would send to replace those recalled.

“I expect those we have chosen to deploy as Malawi’s representatives around the world will do this country proud by the integrity of their conduct,” he said.

Chakwera said the selection process was “thorough, legal, meticulous and objective, prioritising our national interest.”

“This is a departure from the past practice of filling our embassies with cronies without due process or due diligence,” he said.

“As such, I assure you all that the stain that has been brought on our country by these underserving and unprofessional individuals will soon be a thing of the past.”

Last week, the foreign ministry assured the disgraced diplomats would face disciplinary action upon return.

It is reported they sold duty-free alcohol to bars and restaurants.

South Africa also expelled Lesotho diplomats involved in the same scandal.

In 2019, an audit report exposed irregularities in some of Malawi’s foreign missions, where some funds could not be accounted for.

The audit report for the period from 2013 to 2017 and shows fraudulent payments into personal accounts, advances and external allowances- these amounting to billions in the local Kwacha currency.

Source: CAJ News Agency

June 14, 2021

RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. RevoluPAY And U.S Bank PNC Initiate Relationship

RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. (TSX-V: REVO), (Frankfurt: IJA2) (the “Company”) is pleased to announce that on the 11th of June 2021, it received notification from (NYSE: PNC) PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (Hereinafter “PNC.”) concerning the continuation of the commercial relationship with RevoluPAY EP S.L. subsequent to the regulatory approved PNC acquisition of BBVA USA. The Company further provides a corporate update.

About PNC

PNC is one of the largest banks in the United States by assets. It is the 4th largest bank by the number of branches, surpassing Suntrust (Truist) Bank since the BBVA USA acquisition. In addition, it is 6th largest by deposits and 4th largest in number of ATM.s. On June 1st, 2021, its merger with BBVA USA closed, and it became the 7th largest U.S bank by assets. PNC Bank offers consumer and business banking services via 2,945 branches in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, & Wisconsin.

Company CEO Steve Marshall commented: “We are excited about our future relationship with our new partners PNC. Our U.S subsidiary RevoluGROUP U.S.A. Inc. has been preparing to take full advantage of this synergy since news broke concerning the possible acquisition of our partner BBVA USA late last year. While business begins immediately with PNC, we further expect that the eventual regulatory approval of our pending U.S financial license should greatly enhance this partnership, both fomenting and cultivating our relationship with PNC towards broader horizons. In the meantime, RevoluPAY is adapting the BBVA USA legacy-linked financial systems to the now amplified PNC U.S coverage that this contractual partnership has provided. RevoluPAY services are unaffected throughout this technical transition. I want to remind shareholders that all other agreements with BBVA worldwide remain active and are unaffected by the disposition of their U.S subsidiary BBVA USA. In my view, we have gained a huge U.S partner while maintaining international exposure through BBVA. “

MSB License USA

Further to the news release dated the 1st of June 2021, the Company is pleased to announce that CEO Steve Marshall attended the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) office to capture biometrics and fingerprint live-scan. Said data was successfully uploaded to the FDLE’s encrypted system. Since FDLE approval was the only remaining requisite, the Company expects to receive word from the Floridian Financial Regulator concerning the pending financial license shortly.

RevoluGROUP USA Inc. New Corporate Headquarters

The Company is pleased to announce that the wholly-owned subsidiary RevoluGROUP U.S.A. Inc. entered into a new office lease on the 4th of June 2021. The larger and more centrally located offices in the Financial District of Miami, 444 Brickell Avenue, have been leased to prepare for the commencement of financial activities related to the planned enhanced synergy with PNC allied to the MSB (“Money Service Business”) currently awaiting Floridian Financial Regulator approval.

Bitcoin 2021 Miami

Company CEO Steve Marshall attended the world’s largest Bitcoin event held in Miami, Florida, between June 4th and 5th. Featuring prominently at the event were the proposed plans for El Salvador to introduce a bill to make Bitcoin legal tender, allied to the Mayor of Miami, Francis Xavier Suarez, plans to allow many of the city’s services and taxes to be paid in CryptoCurrency. Additionally, the Company’s proprietary Crytpo to Fiat platform RevoluEX was widely embraced, with numerous supplementary Digital Currency Exchange (“DCE”) partner synergies tentatively emerging from the principally decentralized finance-focused encounters.

Top Tier Card Issuer Negotiations

Further to the news release dated the 1st of June 2021, the Company is pleased to announce that negotiations with one of the world’s top four payment card issuers have intensified. As previously stated, the relationship could allow RevoluPAY to issue a new multicurrency payment card supplanting the current Euro-based RevoluPAY debit card. In addition, talks include an eventual liaison with various previously announced DCE partners, in which RevoluPAY would be the principally licensed card issuing party. RevoluPAY could also be authorized to administer and manage all financial matters for internationally branded cards issued to third parties. These negotiations remain subject to a binding non-disclosure agreement (“NDA”). The Company expects a final deal to be inked in short order.

RevoluSEND Increased Country Integration

The Company is pleased to announce that the following countries were activated for bilateral remittance flows through RevoluSEND on 7th June 2021: Australia, Chile, Ethiopia, Malawi, Myanmar, Singapore, Somalia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.

Management COVID19 Vaccinated

The Company wishes to advise shareholders that all executive Directors and most senior staff have been successfully vaccinated against the global pandemic known as COVID19. In addition, CEO Steve Marshall, having contracted COVID19 in February 2020, testing positively for natural anti-bodies, has further received Pfizer shots to obtain the more internationally recognized sanitary passport allied to vaccinations, including the recently introduced EU sanitary passport. Mr. Marshall has thus rescheduled his trip to the United Kingdom to commence early July with numerous planned meetings with certain financial institutions located in the London Financial Center of Canary Wharf. Since prospects for travel under the new vaccinated rules seem promising, Mr. Marshall expects to recommence international televised media appearances in the fall.

Links Used in this News Release.

NYSE: PNC. https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/stocks/pnc

PNC Bank https://www.pnc.com/en/about-pnc.html

RevoluEX https://www.revoluex.com/

About RevoluPAY®

The Company’s flagship Neobanking technology is RevoluPAY®, the Apple and Android multinational payment app. Conceived entirely in-house, RevoluPAY features proprietary, sector-specific technology of which the resulting source code is the Company’s intellectual property. RevoluPAY’s built-in features include Remittance Payments, Forex, Crypto-to-fiat exchange, Retail and Hospitality payments, Real Estate Payments, pay-as-you-go phone top-ups, Gift Cards & Online Credits, Utility Bill payments, Leisure payments, Travel Payments, etc. RevoluPAY employs blockchain protocols and is squarely aimed at the worldwide multi-billion dollar Open Banking sector and + $595 billion family remittance market. RevoluPAY® is operated by the European wholly-owned subsidiary RevoluPAY EP S.L situated in Barcelona. RevoluPAY is a dual-licensed Canadian FINTRAC and European PSD2 payment institution 6900 under the auspices of E.U. Directive 2015/2366 with EU Passporting. RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. controls five wholly-owned subsidiaries on four continents.

About RevoluGROUP Canada Inc.:

RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. is a multi-asset, multidivisional publicly traded Canadian Company deploying advanced technologies in; Banking, Mobile Apps, Money Remittance, Mobile Phone Top-Ups, EGaming, Healthcare Payments, Esports, Invoice factoring, Online Travel, Vacation Resort, Blockchain Systems, and Fintech app sectors. Click here to read more.

For further information on RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. (TSX-V: REVO), visit the Company’s website at www.RevoluGROUP.com. The Company has approximately 175,180,592 shares issued and outstanding.

Source: Globe Newswire

June 14, 2021

China Slams G-7 Statement Criticizing Human Rights Record

China has denounced the communique issued Sunday at the end of the G-7 summit that criticized Beijing over its human rights record.

The G-7 statement called on China to “respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, especially in relation to Xinjiang, and those rights, freedoms and high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration,” referring to the 1997 agreement that switched control of the financial hub from Britain to China.

Beijing is accused of committing serious human rights abuses against the minority Muslim Uyghur minority in Xinjiang, including the detention of more than one million Uyghurs into detention camps, widespread government surveillance and forced birth control.

The Chinese embassy in London issued a statement accusing the G-7 leaders of interfering in its internal affairs, and according to Reuters, vowed to “resolutely fight back against all kinds of injustices and infringements imposed on China.”

The statement also said an investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was first detected in China’s central city of Wuhan in late 2019, should not be “politicized” in response to the G-7’s demand for “a timely, transparent, expert-led, and science-based” second probe by the World Health Organization.

Source: Voice Of America

June 14, 2021

Britain Delays Plans to Lift COVID-19 Lockdowns

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has delayed plans to lift coronavirus restrictions by a month because of the highly contagious Delta variant, first identified in India.

Johnson said on Monday that restrictions will now be lifted on July 19 instead of June 21.

“I think it is sensible to wait just a little longer,” he told a news conference in London.

Johnson said he is confident that the country will be able to reopen on July 19, noting that by then two-thirds of the British population are expected to be fully vaccinated.

“It’s unmistakably clear the vaccines are working, and the sheer scale of the vaccine rollout has made our position incomparably better than in previous waves,” he said.

On Monday, the British government reported 7,742 new confirmed coronavirus cases, and Johnson said cases are growing by about 64% per week.

The Delta variant of the coronavirus now accounts for 90% of new cases in Britain.

In other countries

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is reintroducing a lockdown in an attempt to contain the spread of a COVID-19 outbreak.

Vice President Constantino Chiwenga said in a televised speech this weekend that complacency has resulted in a spike in COVID-19 cases.

In India, a number of states eased coronavirus restrictions on Monday, including the capital Delhi, as the number of new infections dropped to the lowest level in 74 days. The country reported 70,421 new COVID-19 cases in the previous 24-hour period, the lowest since March 31.

Public health officials have cautioned that India’s tolls may be undercounted.

Novavax trials

Also Monday, U.S.-based biotech company Novavax announced that Phase 3 clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine show it more than 90% effective at preventing the disease and providing good protection against variants.

The Novavax vaccine, which is easy to store and transport, is expected to play an important role in boosting vaccine supplies in the developing world.

The White House’s top adviser on the pandemic, Dr. Anthony Fauci, told The Washington Post the vaccine is “really very impressive,” saying it is on par with the most effective shots developed during the pandemic.

Vaccination requirement lawsuit

A federal judge in the U.S. state of Texas on Saturday dismissed a lawsuit challenging a hospital’s COVID-19 vaccine requirement for its employees.

U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes in the Southern District of Texas wrote that the employees of Houston Methodist Hospital “are not participants in a human trial.” He said, “Methodist is trying to do their business of saving lives without giving them the Covid-19 virus.”

According to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, the United States has had the highest number of coronavirus cases, at 33.5 million, followed by India, with 29.5 million coronavirus infections, and Brazil, with 17.4 million COVID-19 cases.

Source: Voice Of America