According to a World Bank report, improving electricity supply in Benin could help create nearly 159,000 additional jobs. This would require modernising power grids, reducing electricity costs and simplifying grid connections for businesses.
Currently, 86.1% of businesses in the country experience power outages. Electricity network losses stand at 24.7%, while nearly half of the grid infrastructure has been in operation for more than 25 years.
Meanwhile, employment in the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone increased by 28.8% in 2025, reaching 22,800 jobs. The World Bank emphasises that reliable electricity supply is essential for expanding production and creating new jobs.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), global grain production is expected to reach 2.99 billion tonnes in 2026. This would be the second-highest level on record. Grain consumption is projected at 2.97 billion tonnes.
Nevertheless, global grain trade could decline by 3.3% to 507.7 million tonnes. The main factor is an expected 8.6% decrease in wheat trade. Limited supplies among major exporters and logistical difficulties are restricting shipments.
In addition, rice production is projected to fall by 2.5% to 552 million tonnes. However, increased shipments from India and Pakistan, along with stronger import demand, could raise global rice trade by 2.9% to 61.6 million tonnes in 2027.
On November 10, Nigeria's finance minister proposed simplifying cross-border investment among ten West African countries. The initiative aims to expand financing opportunities for major infrastructure projects.
Under the proposal, a company authorised to issue securities in one country would be able to raise funds from investors in the other participating countries without undergoing the full approval process again. The initiative also envisages linking stock exchanges and payment systems to enable settlements in national currencies.
During the first 12 months, the system is expected to be tested with the participation of Nigeria, Ghana and a regional stock exchange serving eight other countries. Nigeria also aims to increase the size of its domestic capital market to at least $1 trillion within ten years.
Swiss company Grensol has launched an automotive waste recycling plant in Biberist. The facility has already processed nearly 1,000 tonnes of waste, recovering valuable metals.
Previously, the residues left after shredding end-of-life vehicles were sent for incineration. The new technology makes it possible to recover metals from this waste for reuse.
The company plans to introduce an AI-powered sorting system to increase the recovery of copper, aluminium and steel.
According to a study by energy think tank Ember, combining solar and wind power plants with battery storage could reduce electricity generation costs in Kazakhstan.
The calculations show that electricity from such a system could cost 5.6 US cents per kWh, compared with 7–17 cents per kWh at new coal-fired power plants.
The study examined 15 locations. Its findings suggest that solar and wind power combined with battery storage could meet 70–90% of electricity demand.
Meeting the remaining demand through the wider electricity grid would be more cost-effective, as adding more battery storage increases electricity costs.
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