It's been a busy week for the environment and sustainable development in Africa. Highlights include the first Italy-Africa Summit and its promises, the Veolia Group selling one of its water management subsidiaries in Africa, and Burkina Faso's expression of interest in the Helsinki Convention on transboundary water.
One of the main news items of the past week was the Italy-Africa Summit, which closed in Rome on January 29, 2024, with a commitment to invest 5.5 billion euros in development, with a view to countering illegal immigration.
Italy-Africa cooperation sharpens with €5bn energy and migration plan
One of the key areas of cooperation is energy and the burgeoning green hydrogen industry. Italy aims to play a role in exporting this product from Africa to Europe by 2030.
Exporting green hydrogen from Africa to Europe: Italy makes its move
Also in the news this week was French group Veolia, which sold its Moroccan subsidiary Eaux de Marseille to Butec. The Lebanese group is thus moving into water and wastewater management.
Water management: Veolia sells its Moroccan subsidiary EMM to Lebanese group Butec
Also in the water sector, Tunisia aims to improve access to this essential service by signing a contract with the Indian company VA Tech Wabag for the construction of a new plant in Béjaoua.
TUNISIE : Wabag va construire une nouvelle usine d’eau potable à Béjaoua
In Burkina Faso, however, the transitional authorities are considering joining the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. The Helsinki Convention aims to protect and improve the management of shared water resources, in a Sahelian context marked by climate disruption.
SAHEL: why is Burkina Faso joining the Helsinki Water Convention?
See you next Friday,
