Algeria's Energy Future was launched at a half-day round-table seminar at Chatham House, London, on Wednesday 6 April.
The report was presented at the seminar by its lead authors, Jon Marks and John Hamilton, and critically assessed by Algerian and international experts. Read more
The African Energy Atlas has established itself as an indispensable resource for energy industry professionals.
The 2011 edition features more than 45 maps and charts drawn with expert care by journalist cartographer David Burles. Read more
Briefings and Reports 2
AfricaHardball is an executive dialogue that brings together policy-makers, industry leaders and analysts to discuss the key political issues affecting African markets in frank and open terms.
The next AfricaHardball roundtable will be held on 1 December in London, focusing on North Africa Read more
Briefings and Reports 3
A detailed and frank analysis of Libya’s energy sector
Published in July 2010, Libya's Energy Future provides authoritative, independently sourced analysis of Libya’s energy sector policy and history, examines the country’s governance and financial record and assesses the potential for international partners to do business with its institutions and interest groups.
On the page below you will find a selection of articles from the African Energy archive. All links preceded by a padlock symbol require a subscription.
Snel boss released, but allegations and politicking continue to cloud Inga, DRC investment outlook
Snel boss Daniel Yengo and colleagues are out of jail, but they have faced a grilling in the DRC Senate and questioning from police, amid claims and counter-claims over Inga hydropower refurbishment contracts and the failing parastatal’s management. Inga investor MagEnergy says it will continue to work on its projects, while a powerful minister wants them out. Jon Marks and François Misser canvassed opinion from all sides. Issue 152, 12 December 2008.more
Mag Congo-B potash plant will use gas
Gas from Eni’s Republic of Congo (ROC – Brazaville) operations, rather than electricity generated at Inga Falls in Democratic Republic of Congo, is expected to power the latest version of MagIndustries Corporation’s Kouilou minerals development. Issue 152, 12 December 2008.more
Snel top team under arrest in DR Congo
Battles over power rehabilitation contracts in Democratic Republic of Congo are becoming ever more bitter, with the 24 November arrest of Société Nationale d’Electricité head Daniel Yengo Massampu, Snel’s finance director Nicolas Muhiya Iumbu and procurement director Marie Kiswa Kayombo making headlines in Kinshasa. Issue 151, 28 November 2008.more
After the reshuffle, Muzito and his ministers face major challenges across the DRC
The new premier and his team face major challenges: a war in the east they cannot win, impacts from the global financial crisis, differences with the IMF over Chinese contracts and further doubts that Inga projects can get off the ground, writes François Misser. Issue 150, 14 November 2008.more
SOCO activity
SOCO International’s 85% owned subsidiary SOCO DRC Ltd, through its E&P company, is processing 360km of new 2D seismic acquired on the onshore Nganzi block (AE 146/10). Issue 150, 14 November 2008.more
Carbon sink project takes off
Since early October, workers have been planting 5,000 to 10,000 trees a day of 35 different species including fast-growing ones such as acacia, eucalyptus and pine at Ibi, on a 4,500 hectare area in the Bateke highlands, some 150km from Kinshasa, between the Ufimi and Duale rivers. This pilot project aims to transform the local savannah into forest which will be able to absorb significant quantities of CO2, and to develop local agriculture, producing cassava, charcoal and timber. Issue 149, 31 October 2008.more
Mobayi-Mbongo dam rehab
Energy Minister Salomon Banamuhere Baliene and Société Nationale d’Electricité (Snel) chief executive Daniel Yengo Massampu have attended a ceremony marking the start of rehabilitation work on the Mobayi-Mbongo hydropower dam on the Ubangi River in Equator province. Issue 147, 4 October 2008.more
DRC energy update: opportunities and pitfalls in Africa’s malfunctioning main artery
Few countries offer the subsoil resources or long-term business potential that Democratic Republic of Congo could offer to tempt investors; equally, few present such a challenging operating environment for investors or their own populations. The vast majority of Congolese struggle to scrape a decent living in a vast country that should serve as Africa’s economic artery but which instead gave rise to the term ‘kleptocracy’ and now, in its ‘post-conflict’ state, remains in a dangerously fragile condition. Ongoing ‘reviews’ of major minerals contracts and some energy projects are preoccupying firms already operating in DRC, and point to the pitfalls entrants might face. But there are signs that some key energy projects may at last happen, which will encourage more companies and financiers to consider entering Congo. There are still plenty of projects to go around, as African Energy’s new DRC Energy update table suggests. François Misser, Jon Marks and African Energy staff writers update a complex situation. Issue 146, 22 September 2008.more
Libya ‘to build oil pipeline’
Libya Oil Holding (LOH) has announced plans to build and operate a 140km oil pipeline between Muanda on the Atlantic coast and the Congo River port of Matadi. Issue 146, 22 September 2008.more
Snel seeks study of Nzilo 2 HEP
Société Nationale d’Electricité (Snel) seeks bids by 23 October from US consultants for a feasibility study into the potential of developing the Nzilo 2 hydropower project in Katanga province (AE 124/4). Issue 145, 5 September 2008.more
HEP plan for Banro gold mine
A pre-feasibility study for Banro Corporation’s Twangiza gold project indicates that development of a hydropower project of up to 30MW on the Ulindi River would be the most economical means to power the proposed mine. Issue 143, 18 July 2008.more
Lotshi survey
Houston and Vancouver-based EnerGulf Resources has contracted South Africa’s New Resolution Geophysics (NRG) to carry out a reconnaissance aeromagnetic and gravity survey of the onshore Lotshi Block. Issue 141, 20 June 2008.more
Snel seeks Inga project study
Société Nationale d’Electricité has invited applications for prequalification by 1 July to study development of the Inga hydropower complex on the Congo River and associated transmission lines. Issue 140, 6 June 2008.more
Chinese contracts add to demands on DRC power
DRC and a Chinese consortium have signed a multi-billion dollar convention covering mining and infrastructure projects. The figures involved are vast, underlining the growing domination of Chinese interests in Congo, which has left western companies fearful that their mining and other projects could be in jeopardy, for lack of power, as well as from threatened contract reviews and revisions, writes François Misser with Jon Marks. Issue 139, 23 May 2008.more
Trouble at Inga as Mag falls out with Snel
The various projects’ supporters continue to lobby hard for a major investment at Inga, but on the ground things are not moving smoothly in DRC’s potentially mighty hydropower facility (AE 137/1). The rehabilitation of Inga I and II has not made the hoped-for progress in recent months, and it thus remains difficult for Société Nationale d’Electricité (Snel) to meet its contractual obligations to export 235MW to the Southern African Power Pool and provide 125MW to the Katanga grid. Issue 139, 23 May 2008.more
Power supply to copper mines restored
Democratic Republic of Congo has resumed exports of up to 200MW of emergency power for Zambia’s copper mines after repairs to vandalised power cables in Katanga province. Issue 139, 23 May 2008.more
Tullow block reassigned as South Africans make the running
President Joseph Kabila’s government has given one of the two blocks previously awarded to Tullow Oil to a consortium including PetroSA. Tullow signed production-sharing contracts for Blocks 1 and 2 on the eastern side of Lake Albert in 2006. Issue 138, 9 May 2008.more
‘Team Inga’ emerges to push hydro mega-project
The World Energy Council is the latest player to take on the task of bringing stakeholders together to get the Inga projects off the ground. Support from big potential clients like BHP Billiton, innovative financing proposals and a big political push may mean the Grand Inga dream becomes reality, despite all the problems associated with working in DRC, writes Thalia Griffiths. Issue 137, 25 April 2008.more
IDA financing
The World Bank Group has approved $160m of grant financing from the International Development Association for three projects to support the government’s Governance Compact. Issue 137, 25 April 2008.more
Fichtner selected for Inga rehab
Société Nationale d’Electricité (Snel) has awarded a contract to Fichtner to oversee the rehabilitation of the Inga hydropower complex on the Congo river as well as the development of related transmission and distribution. Issue 136, 11 April 2008.more
Snel reform on the cards
The DR Congo government committee overseeing the reform of state companies is preparing a diagnostic report on Société Nationale d’Electricité (Snel) with the aim of setting out a plan for its restructuring. Issue 136, 11 April 2008.more
SOCO takes eastern block
Dominion Petroleum and SOCO International have agreed a production-sharing contract for Block 5 in the southern Albertine Graben adjacent to the border with Uganda (AE 133/15) Issue 135, 28 March 2008.more
Western Congo ratifications
President Joseph Kabila has ratified SOCO International’s production-sharing contract for the onshore Nganzi block and EnerGulf Resources’ PSC for the onshore Lotshi Block, both in western Congo, as well as a PSC agreed in November 2005 with London-based Nessergy Ltd. Nessergy’s block is in the deep offshore on the DRC’s maritime corridor. Issue 135, 28 March 2008.more
Westcor seeks staff for Inga III
Botswana-based Western Power Corridor Company (Westcor), the five nation joint venture company of Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, and South Africa, has launched a tender for advisers, consultants, and operational staff to assist with the development of the 4,300MW Inga III hydropower project on the Congo River in the DRC. Issue 134, 7 March 2008. more
HRT to map Cuvette Centrale
The government is making further efforts to attract interest in the potential of DRC’s central basin – the Cuvette Centrale – signing an agreement with Brazil’s High Resolution Technology & Petroleum to evaluate the 800,000 km2 area’s potential and divide it into exploration blocks. Issue 133, 22 February 2008.more
SA offensive on Lake Albert
Tullow Oil’s problems with the Kinshasa authorities over its acreage on the western side of Lake Albert have failed to deter other companies from seeking blocks there. Issue 133, 22 February 2008.more
Bids sought for Inga rehab
Democratic Republic of Congo intends to seek bids for additional rehabilitation work at the Inga hydropower complex and on the Kinshasa area electricity distribution system. Issue 132, 8 February 2008.more
Understanding Kabila’s power play, as DRC militia leader chairs Snel
There was another chilly dose of reality from the tropics for the growing number of donors and policy-makers looking to Democratic Republic of Congo’s extravagant endowment of natural resources, including hydropower capacity, to help southern/central Africa to overcome its now chronic power shortages, when in mid-January former militia leader Eugène Serufuli was appointed chairman of Société Nationale d’Electricité (Snel)’s managing board. Issue 131, 25 January 2008.more
World Bank backs power projects in new country strategy
The World Bank board has agreed a Country Assistance Strategy (CAS) for 2008-11, deciding that despite the continued conflict in eastern Congo it is time to move from a post-conflict emergency phase (Transitional Support Strategy) to a strategic, long-term approach. Issue 130, 14 January 2008.more
Subscriber Area
require a subscription.