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News
Commissioning of the rehabilitation works of the Baricho Water Production System
The commissioning of the rehabilitation works of the Baricho Water Production System was celebrated on 7th February, 2013 in a ceremony presided over by Eng. Mr. David Stower, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water and Irrigation.
This system, made up of eight boreholes close to the Sabaki River, is the main supply of water to the cities of Malindi and Kilifi, and supplies half of the city of Mombasa. The PS did not hesitate to refer to this system as a “life line” for this part of the Coast. He reminded the congregation of the awful months experienced in the years 2009 and 2010 during which water production had stopped right at the peak of the tourism season, forcing a rationing and a water crisis management.
The Agreement signed in 2009 between the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Kenya Government, included the overhaul of the whole system of Baricho. The renovation works were done by Sogea Satom, a French company, in partnership with the Kenyan Company, Jos Hansen. Supervision of these works was done by Egis-BCEOM, an engineering consulting firm based in Montpellier, France, with the help of MBP partners, a Kenyan engineering consulting firm.
At a total cost of close to 8 Million Euros, these renovation works have enabled the restoration of a monthly production of 2 Million m3 of water, and has led to a significant increase of the water volumes transmitted to Mombasa. Several parts of the harbour city networks which had not had water for many years, can now get a regular supply.
Rémi FRITSCH, translation Loise MBATI
Completion of the renovation of the Sasumua Hydraulic Dam
The renovation works of the Sasumua hydraulic dam are almost complete, with the installation of new safety valves, allowing for quick purging of the dam in case of sudden floods.
With a capacity of 64,000m3, this dam serves the city of Nairobi with drinking water of up to the level of 20% of its total needs. The dam had been partially consumed and destroyed in 2003 during the climatic phenomena, El Nino. The purge valves weighing around 1.5 tonnes installed 40 metres deep at the foot of the tower, should make it possible to avoid this type of a disaster in the future.
At a total cost of more than 20 million euros, these renovation works were financed by a sovereign loan from the AFD within the «Nairobi Water and Sewerage Physical Investments Programme” project framework, which has paved way for the restoration of a very large part of the production and transportation systems of drinking water of the city of Nairobi. These last works were realized under the supervision of engineering consultants' Coyne and Bellier.
Base makes first drawdown on debt facility
Base Resources Limited (ASX:BSE) (“Base”) is pleased to advise that financial close has been achieved on the US$170 million project debt facilities (Project Finance Facility) and that the first drawdown of US$52 million has been completed.
This is a critical milestone in the development of the Kwale Project as Base now has access to the full funding
required to complete the development of the Kwale Project and bring it to positive cashflow. Achieving financial
close on the debt facility is the product of a strong collaborative effort between Base and a very supportive group of Lenders with co-operation from the Government of Kenya. Endeavour Financial, a London based debt advisory firm, have played a crucial role in coordinating the process to achieving first drawdown.
Under the terms of the debt facility, subsequent drawdowns will be made on a quarterly basis with the next
scheduled for February 2013.
Project construction continues to be on schedule for practical completion in Q3 2013 and first shipment in Q4 2013.
Update on Minimum Local Equity Participation Regulations
As previously advised, we have clear legal advice from two leading Kenyan law firms that the regulation recently
introduced by the Minister of Environment and Mineral Resources that seeks to mandate a 35% minimum Kenyan equity participation in mining licenses cannot be legally applied to the Special Mining Lease No. 23 covering the Kwale Project. This advice has been corroborated by the Lender’s legal advisers.
ABOUT
Base Resources Limited (ASX:BSE) is developing the world-class Kwale Mineral Sands Project in Kenya, East Africa. Kwale is an advanced and highly competitive project in a sector with a significant forecast supply shortfall widely expected to emerge in the medium term.
The Kwale Project represents an advanced development opportunity with all material project approvals, permits and licenses required for development currently in place, a full definitive feasibility study (DFS) having been completed and funding in place.
The Project enjoys a high level of support from the Government of Kenya as well as the local community and,
located just 50km from Mombasa, Kenya’s principal port facility, is well serviced by existing physical infrastructure.
Importantly, two pilot plant operations at Kwale provide confidence in processing behaviour and indicate a suite of readily marketable products. The Project’s high value mineral assemblage and low stripping ratio result in a
projected revenue to cash cost ratio that would place Kwale in the top quartile of world producers.
A realistic development time line should see the Kwale Project in production in the second half of 2013.
Education and training in Africa: What challenges? What new tools?
Where does Sub-Saharan Africa stand today in terms of education and vocational training? Does it have the capacity to help its future generations move toward employment? What strengths and tools does it have? Four experts from the Education Division provide us with insight.
In Africa, two-thirds of the population is under 24. This youth is the continent’s greatest hope, but also poses a huge challenge for Africa’s development as 20% of young people are unemployed.
Basic education, but also vocational training
To address these challenges, over the past ten years AFD has invested over €1bn in the education/training sector, 2/3 of which in Africa. Over the next three years, its financing for education is expected to exceed €500m, again mainly in Africa. (Summary of the interview with Virginie Bleitracht).
School enrollment has risen by 31% in ten years
Over the past ten years or so, huge strides have been made in terms of access to primary school. Sub-Saharan Africa has had the highest results over the past ten years: school enrollment has risen by 31% (i.e. 58 million additional pupils).Vocational training finally becoming a priority for public policies.
On average, only 5% of the National Education budget is allocated to vocational training, which is by no means enough. Vocational training is a rapidly developing sector in most Sub-Saharan African countries. Most African leaders have made vocational training and youth integration one of their priorities. That being said, we have come a very long way, as many countries have training systems that are undersized, with outdated facilities and trainers who have not benefited from continuous refresher training for a very long time.
Match supply and demand on the labor market
AFD is increasingly helping to build partnerships between training centers and companies (public-private partnerships) in order to better match training to business needs. (Summary of the interview with Christian Fusillier)
NICTs, a solution to improve access to education and training and its quality?
The OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) shows the strong link between the use of digital tools and student performance. Generally speaking, the problems identified are the need to improve both access to education and its quality. Digital tools are ideally suited to meet these challenges. Many obstacles have now been removed. The digital market is reaching maturity and mobile phone penetration rates have seen a substantial increase over the past ten years. In the early 2000s, the geographical coverage rate stood at 10% in Sub-Saharan Africa. Today, it has reached 80%. This also represents 30% of the population.
(Summary of the interview with Jean-Christophe Maurin)
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