Africa Surveyors May-June issue 2023 digital

NEWS BRIEFS
Nilepet, SFF ink deal to
conduct aerial survey in
South Sudan
South Africa’s Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF)
kickstarts South Sudan exploration with
aerial contract. (Image Source: Energy
Capital & Power)
The Ministry of Petroleum of South
Sudan has announced the launch of
exploration efforts in the country’s
Block 2 during the South Sudan Oil & Power
conference in Juba.
The announcement follows the signing of
an agreement that would see the Strategic
Fuel Fund (SFF) utilise one of South Sudan’s
geophysical planes to conduct aerial surveys,
thereby kicking off a highly anticipated
upstream programme in a country rich with
untapped acreage.
“The Ministry of Petroleum purchased a
physical plane which we struggled for three
years but finally, we have it in the Republic
of South Sudan. We have officially launched
the plane to start the work of Block 2.
Strategically, the SFF will commence their
work on Block 2. Block 2 is now online and it
will work. It will be historical,” Puot Kang Chol,
Minister of Petroleum of South Sudan, stated.
The SFF and Nilepet inked the contract at
a ceremony ahead of the SSOP conference.
Leveraging the strong bilateral cooperation
that has existed for years between the two
countries, the contract will enable the SFF to
acquire new data in an environmentally sound
manner through aerial mapping.
“South Sudan is endowed with a lot of
resources, and this aircraft will make this
evident,” stated Nilepet managing director
Bernard A Makeny. “We are sending the
message to the world that South Sudan is
open for investment. South Africa and South
Sudan will generate the resources needed for
both countries.”
South African engineering consultancy Zutari
launches in Kenya
South African engineering and
infrastructure advisory firm Zutari has
opened its East African office in Nairobi,
which will serve the entire region.
This comes after the company received a
licence from the Government to set up an
office in the country.
Diplomatic relations between Kenya and
South Africa have been growing since the
introduction of a mutual visa-free agreement
in January 2023.
Engagements between Trade ministries
from both countries are set to address trade
barriers, opening up business opportunities
for both countries.
ALX launches Software Engineering Cohort for
Women in Africa
ALX has announced its first dedicated
Software Engineering cohort for
women, enabling up to 50,000
women across Africa to participate in the
global technology revolution and helping to
transform the tech status quo throughout the
continent.
Applications for the ALX Software
Engineering intake for women close on
15 March. The programme will start on 27
March. No prior experience or background
in IT is required to apply. For more
information on the programme and its entry
requirements visit www.alxafrica.com/
women-in-tech/.
The cohort forms part of ALX’s ‘WomXn
and Tech’ initiative and was inspired by the
United Nations IWD theme of ‘DigitALL:
Innovation and technology for gender
equality.’ ALX is showing its commitment to
bridging the digital gender divide in Africa,
increasing the representation of women
in the technology sector and driving the
participation of women to innovate and
create solutions for a diverse world. This
cohort will provide a launchpad for women
to grow their careers in one of the world’s
most exciting and in-demand fields.
“East Africa has long been identified as a
growth area for Zutari, with Kenya at the
centre of our expansion initiatives into the
region,” says Zutari CEO Teddy Daka.
The advisory firm has been involved in a
couple of projects in the country, including
Two Rivers Mall and the Kenya Water Security
and Climate Resilience Project.
However, it aims to grow its presence in
the country through engagements with
government agencies such as the Kenya
National Highways Agency (KeNHA), Kenya
Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), and Kenya
Urban Roads Authority (KURA) in the
improvement of transport infrastructure.
Image: courtesy
Part of African Leadership International
(ALI), ALX is a leading technology training
provider that offers world-class programmes
to thousands of young people across Africa,
equipping them with both the professional
and technical skills that enable them to
thrive in high-growth industries.
The statistics make for grim reading.
Women comprise just 5% of global software
engineers. Considering that there are an
estimated 690 000 software engineers in
Africa, even applying the global average
means that there is a significant gender
divide that must be addressed.
www.africasurveyorsonline.com
May-June issue l 2023 5