Technology

26, January 2018

China unveils ‘Polar Silk Road’ project ⁰

China on Friday outlined its ambitions to extend President Xi Jinping’s signature Belt and Road Initiative to the Arctic by developing shipping lanes opened up by global warming.

Releasing its first official Arctic policy white paper, China said it would encourage enterprises to build infrastructure and conduct commercial trial voyages, paving the way for Arctic shipping routes that would form a “Polar Silk Road”.

The official paper revealed that Beijing would pursue its strategic regional objectives “jointly with Arctic States, while respecting traditions and cultures of the Arctic residents including the indigenous peoples and conserving natural environment”.

“China hopes to work with all parties to build a ‘Polar Silk Road’ through developing the Arctic shipping routes,” the paper, issued by the State Council Information Office, said.

The paper revealed that China also eyes development of oil, gas, mineral resources and other non-fossil energies, fishing and tourism in the region.

Despite being a non-Arctic state, China has gained interest and increased its activity in the polar region.

China, which became an observer member of the Arctic Council in 2013, owns a major stake in Russia’s Yamal liquefied natural gas project.

Yamal has planned to supply China with four million tonnes of LNG a year, according to the state-run China Daily.

Another advantage is that shipping through the Northern Sea Route would save almost 20 days off the regular time using the traditional route through the Suez Canal, the newspaper reported last month. COSCO Shipping has also previously sailed vessels through the Arctic’s northeast passage.

The file photo shows an Arctic LNG tanker in Saint Petersburg. (By AFP )

China’s increased activities in the region has prompted concerns from Arctic states over Beijing’s long-term strategic
objectives, including possible military deployment.

“Some people may have misgivings over our participation in the development of the Arctic, worried we may have other
intentions, or that we may plunder resources or damage the environment,” Vice-Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said at a briefing.

“I believe these kinds of concerns are absolutely unnecessary.”

China’s Belt and Road initiative aims to connect China to Europe, the Middle East and beyond via massive infrastructure projects across dozens of countries, reflecting Xi’s desire for China to take on a more prominent global leadership role.

(Source: Reuters)

30, October 2017

Enerray to develop 30MW PV project in Cameroon ⁰

Enerray, though the company EB Solaire, is developing a 30MW PV project in Cameroon, with Enerray set to serve as EPC provider for the plant.

The first permitting steps for the solar plant have already been completed and carried out, with authorities already validating the 70-hectare site where the project will be developed. The installation will be developed in Northern Cameroon, close to the Garoua International Airport.

Once completed, the 30MW project will be connected to the electrical grid, with the installation responsible for providing energy to portions of the country without any access to electricity, along with regions that are prone to blackouts.

Source: PV-Tech

5, July 2017

Yaounde: CamTel and China Unicom sign agreement to construct a South Atlantic Inter Link ⁰

China United Network Communications (China Unicom) has signed an agreement with Cameroon Telecom (CamTel) to construct a South Atlantic Inter Link (SAIL) cable network, 6,000-km. in length. China Unicom and CamTel will work with Huawei Marine Networks Co. Ltd., a submarine cable networks solutions provider, to connect an undersea cable that runs from Kribi Deep Sea Port, Cameroon to Fortaleza Brazil.

Total construction costs are expected to hit US$136 million and take about 24 months to complete. SAIL will possess the largest data transmission capacity between Africa and South America. SAIL would provide reliable intercontinental telecom services for Brazilians and Cameroonians. It’s the first large-scale project in the region led by one of the Big 3 Chinese Telecom operators and China-based equipment manufacturers.

China Unicom and CamTel are responsible for the building and maintenance of SAIL, while Huawei Marine Networks delivers systematic solutions. US$85 million of SAIL was funded by Export-Import Bank of China, while the remainder was covered by CamTel, which includes China Unicom financing US$34 million to the Cameroon-based telecom.

In Cameroon’s capital city – Yaounde – on June 27, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Guo Ping, China Unicom CEO Lu Yimin and CamTel General Manager (GM) David Nkoto Emane, signed the formal agreement. “China has strategic partnerships with Africa and South America,” the Global Times quotes Lu as saying. “SAIL not only provides high-quality international communications services to countries in these two continents, but also serves Chinese companies to develop their business in the region.”

The project can advance Cameroon’s digital economy, so its nation’s citizens gain better access to phone service and the Internet. Huawei Marine Networks will utilize an advanced 100G technology system with 4 fiber optics pairs that holds a design capacity – 32T-bit/s. SAIL can bridge technology gaps in the South-South region, so Africans and South Americans can enjoy a brighter future.

Beijing has embarked on South-South Cooperation to boost trade, investments and infrastructure building in Africa and South America. Chinese companies are exploring new regions to open up manufacturing zones, tap into natural resources and to develop a growing consumers’ base in the emerging markets. Cameroon, located in Central Africa, offers major opportunities for Chinese firms.

“It is a great pleasure to partner with China Unicom and Huawei Marine Networks on building the SAIL cable system,” Emane told Global Times. He added, “When it is completed, it will provide new international connectivity to facilitate band-width demand between Africa and support the booming economies in the two continents.” In its current state, Cameroon’s cables cannot support all the telecom connections in the country. SAIL can build capacity to meet national coverage. China Unicom, the world’s 4th-largest mobile service provider by subscriber base, will extend its National Broadband Network (NBN) to Cameroon.

Constructing infrastructure that includes telecom networks along with roads and railways in Africa can help people on the continent rise above poverty. But Africans also need better education and job skills to succeed in our globalized economy.

Huawei Technologies has invited young Cameroonians to participate in a training project, known as “Seeds of the Future,” according to Business in Cameroon Website. After a careful selection process, 10 young Cameroonians will receive information and communications training (ICT) at Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China.
Trainees will participate in a 1-week program, attending lectures and practical classes to strengthen their knowledge, according to Li Dafeng, senior vice president of Huawei Group. Students can also interact with Huawei’s engineers and learn more about the latest innovations developed by the hi-tech giant.

Constructing an undersea fiberoptics cable line is no easy task, especially when telecom cable operators must stretch it to 6,000-km. in length. But, Chinese companies have introduced major equipment upgrades in the field. The people of Brazil and Cameroon will benefit tremendously from such advances, while Chinese investors and companies can expand into key emerging markets in South America and Africa.

China’s South-South Cooperation will open doors for Cameroon when SAIL is fully-connected and performing to capacity. Those living in Central Africa can dial up their phones, click on the internet to enjoy a more convenient connection with people, or to conduct business in a more efficient manner. Accordingly, SAIL will serve as the vital connector for Cameroon’s future and path to prosperity.

Source: CCTV.com

23, April 2017

French Cameroun: CPDM-style scandal rocks the Ministry of Scientific Research ⁰

Another CPDM-style scandal has rocked the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation. In this new Francophone scandal, two lists were released and reportedly signed by the Minister. The first list was published on the 18^th of January 2017 and the second on the 10^th of April. Both lists have different names of successful candidates recruited to join the work force of the ministry.

On April 10, 2017 Madeleine Tchuente, the Minister of Scientific Research made public a list of 220 researchers recruited in her ministerial department for the fiscal year 2016. The Francophone Minister said her department no longer recognized the first list she herself had published on the 18^th of January 2017 by joint decree MINFOPRA (Ministry of Public Service and Administrative Reform ed.) and the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation, MINRESI, for the same purpose.

Cameroon Concord News understands that Madeleine Tchuente’s new list contains twelve new names while thirteen others were removed from the first list. The names of Hassan Mahamat, Tchoudjin Gertrude Loveline and Wanko Kebebou Jean Olivier that appeared in the first of 39 recruits from the Agricultural Research Institute for Development (IRAD) have disappeared from the second. In addition, the names of Ngo Béa Cornelie Raphaëlle and Yebga Matip Guy Albert appeared on the waiting list when they were not listed in the first document published on the 18^th of January.

Some of the new names on the new list have contradictory information on their diplomas and other documents of identification. In many of the cases, the ages had exceeded the required limit by the Cameroon public service law. Our Yaounde city reporter, who contributed to this report, hinted that the first list was jointly signed by the Minister of Scientific Research and the Minister of Public Service while the second list carried only the signature of the Minister of Scientific Research.

The head of the communication cell at the Ministry of Research blatantly refused to comment on the matter. Paul Zébazé told newsmen to go directly to the minister. However, another official of the same ministerial department revealed that Minister Madeleine Tchuente was simply implementing the policy of regional balance.

By Chi Prudence Asong

Cameroon Concord News Group

11, April 2017

Man who described the internet as a terrorist organization has inaugurated a cyber space inside the National Assembly ⁰

The Speaker of the National Assembly of La Republique du Cameroun, Cavaye Yeguie Djibril who observed some months ago that the internet was a terrorist organization has inaugurated a cyber space centre inside a VIP room at the National Assembly building. The inauguration ceremony took place yesterday the 10th April 2017.

The cyber space centre is equipped with computers all connected to the internet, printers and scanners. The cost of rehabilitating the new center is estimated at about 150 million FCFA. During the occasion, the Secretary General of the National Assembly, Victor Yene Ossomba on behalf of the personnel, pledged to make good use of the new acquisitions.

The state radio and television reported that the centre is timely as it will serve in ameliorating documentation, research and inter-parliamentary exchanges.

By Ebong Kingsley N.

14, March 2017

Elumelu: Banking and Telecom giant partner on innovative payment system ⁰

Pan-African financial services group, United Bank for Africa Plc (“UBA”) and leading European and African telecom operator, Orange have announced a strategic partnership to deliver Innovative financial services across Africa, with an agreement to jointly collaborate on the promotion of Orange Money.

Both UBA and Orange have a history of financial services innovation and their joint commitment to Africa makes them natural partners. Orange Money enables customers to transfer money from their mobile phone to other account holders domestically and abroad; as well as providing bill payment and other customer focused solutions. UBA is a leader in electronic banking, for both individual and corporate customers, and with presence in 19 African countries and over 14million customers in Africa, has one of the largest pan-African banking networks.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today in Paris by Tony Elumelu, Chairman UBA Group, Emeke Iweriebor, CEO UBA Africa and Marc Rennard, Chairman and CEO, Orange Middle East and Africa, committing both institutions to collaborate on the delivery of innovative and convenient payment options to customers and implement a range of mobile financial services in African countries, where UBA and Orange Money platforms operate.

Both Groups recognize the extraordinary revolution occurring in the digital banking space and are committed to providing customers with service excellence, built around efficient and trustworthy platforms. “We are delighted to see the fruition of this partnership, which is capable of revolutionizing mobile money payments across the continent and is very clear evidence of UBA’s commitment to Africa’s development and delivering financial inclusion to Africans” Tony Elumelu commented. “UBA, with its extensive network on the continent and large customer base is the banking group of choice for us in this project and we are delighted with this partnership” Marc Rennard stated.

Cameroun Info.Net

10, October 2016

South Africa has launched the continent’s first solar-powered airport. ⁰

George Airport located in the South African town of the same name, is Africa’s first eco-friendly airport powered by the sun. All services at the airport from the control tower and escalators to restaurants and ATMs are supplied by a small solar power station nearby.

The power station makes use of 2,000 solar panels that generate around 750 kilowatts. The produced energy easily surpasses the airport’s electricity demand of 400 kilowatts. Apart from the obvious environmental value of the project, it benefits the airport financially and has ruled out the previously-frequent power failures.

The managers are also planning to take their project to a second phase which includes installing backup batteries that can store the solar energy for night. George Airport also plans on increasing the capacity of the power station by 250 kilowatts. Many other South African airports such as Kimberly and Upington plan to follow George Airport’s green line in the near future.

Presstv

7, October 2016

New control system installed at Yaounde Nsimalen International airport ⁰

A new filter control system has been installed by the national police chief on Thursday at the Yaoundé Nsimalen International airport. The new filtration system, aims to stop the illegal trafficking observed in Cameroon airports. 43 days to the start of the Women’s Football Africa Cup of Nations which begins on the 19^th of November, the new filtering system will gradually be expanded to the Douala, Garoua and Maroua international airports.

The new device will connect Cameroonian airports to most of the renowned international airports in the world, so that anti-trafficking cells operating targeted checks can get uniformity. Mixed review teams will be composed of customs, police, immigration officers, the airport authority, intelligence agents and the drug trafficking agency. These cells will carry out more targeted controls, through the instruments that will be provided to them on persons, baggage, cargo, parcels and couriers.

By Sama Ernest in Yaounde

4, October 2016

Cameroon and Russia to sign global technology partnership agreement ⁰

A cream of Russian experts have arrived the nation’s capital Yaounde to help working groups responsible for ensuring the coordination of projects identified by the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development. Cameroon Concord News gathered that the projects involved covers matters such as the development of drinking water and management of water resources and is expected to strengthen cooperation between the Cameroon and the Russian Federation.

The mission of multisector experts dispatched by the Russian Federation to Cameroon was received on the 3^rd of October 2016 by Abdoulaye Yaouba, Minister Delegate at the Minister of Economy, Planning and Land (MINEPAT). Led by Albert Kasparov, the Director of the Development Centre of the Hydro-Economic complex of Russia and powered by Nicolay Ratsiborinsky, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Cameroon, the experts held intensive and productive discussions with Cameroon government officials on projects requiring the Russian expertise and funding.

A source at the ministry of the economy hinted that apart from drinking water development projects and the management of water resources, the Russians will help Cameroon in the construction of beaches, dams and the development of agriculture. Russia is also expected to sign with Cameroon a global technology partnership agreement. In 2012, President Putin and his administration supported Cameroon after flooding affected the northern parts of the country.

By Sama Ernest

25, September 2016

Cameroon and US experts have discussed the future of oil and gas ⁰

Business representatives from Cameroon recently discussed with their American peers the future of oil and its impact on economies. Led by the American Chamber of Commerce in Cameroon, AmCham, the 31 participating companies recently gained knowledge on joint venture and subcontracting exploration, production updates, and investment opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa, innovative technologies and gas monetization.

Recommendations at the end of the 9th Annual Oil and Gas Conference recently in Houston, Texas, USA, included a more open attitude of African governments towards investing companies, need for deeper political and legal reforms to lessen the negative influence of government officials. There are 4.6 billion barrels of oil per day that cannot be refined, according to Kurt Davis Jr. of Barclay’s Bank. As a result, the creation of a Liquefied Natural Gas facility within the Central/West African region would be advantageous for energy purposes.

It was noted that the sharp drop in oil prices in 2014 affected many African countries whose economies are highly dependent on oil and gas revenues. Sir Sunny Oputa, CEO of Energy and Corporate Africa, host of the 9^th Annual Oil and Gas Conference, shed light on what he believes caused the drop in the industry. Focus was on attracting investments to Sub-Saharan Africa, taking into consideration the abundance of natural and human resources, the large market, and the low labour costs.

It was agreed that the advantages of investing in Africa outweigh the often cited shortcomings of the region such as poor infrastructure, relative insecurity, low purchasing power, and weak public institutions. According to different experts, Africa is the future. With 90 per cent of its revenue from Africa, Tullow Oil experienced prosperity before the dip. In a report by Charmian Penda, Executive Director of AmCham Cameroon, the Cameroon tax environment and recent developments in the oil and gas sectors as well as deepwater value creation dominated the discussions.

Cameroon Tribune