Mikama - June 30, 2017

Dans Mining Weekly
Aim-listed Bushveld Minerals subsidiary Lemur Resources expects its proposed integrated coal-fired power project in south-western Madagascar to contribute some $30-million a year to the country's economy. Further, the proposed project is exepcted to inject some $300-million of foreign direct investment over three years. Lemur has invested over $10-million in the project, which is currently in the feasibility stage, undergoing a detailed design. Phase 1 of the project comprises a 136-million-ton coal mine, a 60 MW coal-fired power plant and over 200 km of transmission line.

Dans Africa Intelligence (subscription)
MADAGASCAR : Reformed Protestant Church FJKM takes on Free Masons
Reacting to the pastor's verbal assault, the Grand Master of the Grand National Lodge of Madagascar (FLNM), Hasina Rakotobarison, thought it ...

Mikama - June 29, 2017

Dans ReliefWeb
Madagascar’s 2017/18 rough rice production is estimated at 3.5 million metric tons (mmt), down 0.2 mmt from last year and down 0.41 mmt or 11 percent from the 5-year average. The estimated output is below the 5-year average due to a severe drought in the central and northern regions of the country where nearly 80 percent of Madagascar’s rice is grown (Figures 1 and 2). Area is estimated at 2.2 million hectares (mha), down 0.2 mha from last year due to the drought.

Dans Pos Blog
Forest Forensics: Using DNA barcoding to identify endangered rosewoods.
Illegal logging and deforestation is currently a threat to many species of plants, including the Malagasy rosewoods in Madagascar. These trees, of the genus Dalbergia (Fabaceae) are highly sought after by illegal loggers, and are highly threatened. It is important for law enforcement officials to be able to accurately identify these trees, in order to continue efforts to conserve them. In their latest research, Sonja Hassold and colleagues used DNA barcoding with partial sequences of three plastid markers (matK, rbcL and trnL (UAA)) to attempt to differentiate Malagasy rosewoods native to Madagascar from other rosewoods. 

Mikama - June 28, 2017

Dans Ecofin Agency
14 million euros. That is the amount of the facility provided to Madagascar by German development bank KfW for a rural electrification project. The funds will be used to build five hydropower dams, with a total capacity of 13.3MW, in the Sava region. The plants’ output will help cut by 80% the budget dedicated to the purchase of fuel used to generate electricity in the region. (..) The project will officially start in 2018 and the plants should start operating in 2019. Their output will help provide power to 170 villages spread across 138 rural communities.

Dans The Guardian
It was late morning when Cyclone Enawo made landfall on Madagascar’s north-east coast. The most severe tropical storm to hit the Indian Ocean island in more than 10 years brought with it winds of up to 290km/h and 25cm of rainfall. The devastating cyclone ravaged Madagascar for almost two days in March, cascading vast amounts of water on the deforested slopes of the country’s high plateau, triggering floods and landslides. More than 80 people died. A further 247,000 lost their homes.

Mikama - June 27, 2017

Dans Xinhua Net
Gold exported by Madagascar increased to 900 kilograms in the first four months of 2017, an official said Friday, as reforms to regulate gold industry and curb illegal exports forged ahead. "Madagascar exported officially 587 kilos of gold in 2016...  In 2012-2013, the Madagascar govenment recorded only 150 kg of official gold exports but the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reported that 600 kg of gold worth 18 million U.S dollar had been exported illegally from Madagascar in the same period. The World Bank also said that from 100 million to 200 million U.S. dollars of precious stones were exported clandestinely from Madagascar every year and only 5 percent of national production of mines was declared officially. Data from the mining ministry estimated that Madagascar produced 4 tonnes of gold every year.

Dans Miltech
Cigarette sales have been expanding to reach an estimated 3.8 billion pieces in 2016, 92.5% ahead of 1990 levels. However, when set against the country’s fast growing population, per capita consumption levels have fallen to 155 pieces in 2016, 8.8% below their level in 1990. Cigarette volumes are expected to increase year-on-year to 5.57 billion pieces billion pieces in 2026 with stronger economic growth a major driver.

Mikama - June 26, 2017

Dans News Ghana
The use of thermal power have pushed up the cost of electricity in Madagascar. The country is ranked the 16th for the social tariff and the 17th for the industrial tariff on 39 similar countries in Africa, according to the World Bank. The coverage of electricity in Madagascar is still low with only 13 percent of its 23-million population linked to electricity, compared to 52 percent in Senegal and more than 75 percent in South Africa. Madagascar is rich in energy potential which remains largely untapped. The country has an average potential of 2,000 kwh per square meter by year in solar energy and about 7,800 MW hydroelectric potential but only 165 MW of which are exploited.

Dans Africa Intelligence (subscription)
MADAGASCAR : President offers power plant deal to private Chinese partner
To cope with chronic power shortages the Madagascar's government is continuing to discreetly sign contracts, and during a recent trip to China the ...