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 items preceded by a padlock symbol require a subscription.
Nigeria energy maps – link to the Nigeria page in the African Energy map library
The authorities are analysing expressions of interest in the privatisation of 11 distribution companies, officials have said. Crucially, successful bidders will not be required to carry the legacy debts of their predecessors.
PHCN tenders show Nigeria is ‘open for business’ but systemic problems remain
At last the Nigerian government can point to some progress in kick-starting the stalled sector reform programme. “The Nigerian power sector is open for business,” Presidential Taskforce on Power chairman Professor Barth Nnaji told the Commonwealth Business Council’s power summit conference in London on 2 March – just ahead of the deadline for potential investors to submit expressions of interest (EoI) in the privatisation of eight regional distribution companies, thermal power plants and most of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)’s other 18 successor companies.
Nigerian leaders look for easy winners as the nation enters a frenzied pre-election phase
With the political elite gearing up to battle it out for the 2011 presidential nomination, the incumbent ‘GoodluckSambo’ ticket is looking for some ‘easy wins’ to outflank opponents. On the agenda is a revival of the stalled electricity sector liberalisation programme, writes Jon Marks in Abuja and Lagos
Coal returns to the energy mix as Nigerian government steps up support
Companies and entrepreneurs are awaiting new energy tariffs that could enable ambitious generation schemes to get off the ground, writes Jon Marks in Abuja
The US Overseas Private Investment Corporation has agreed to provide $37.8m in political risk insurance to support ContourGlobal’s construction and operation of three combined heat and power generation (CHP) plants for Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC). Issue 196, 22 October 2010.more
Shell, Total and Agip have sold their stake in the onshore OML 40 Block to Elcrest Exploration & Production Nigeria, a consortium of local company Starcrest Nigeria Energy (owned by Nigerian business mogul Emeka Offor’s Chrome Group) and the UK-based Eland Oil and Gas.
Jonathan pushes Niger Delta agenda, but NPDC’s Ogoniland play remains elusive
Shell has shortlisted bidders for four onshore blocks in the Niger Delta, and with Goodluck Jonathan pushing economic growth in the region as a plank of his re-election campaign, considerable speculation surrounds other blocks, including NPDC’s plans for oil exploration in Ogoniland. But getting projects off the ground remains a challenge in this troubled territory, write Leonard Lawal in Lagos and African Energy staff Issue 206, 1 April 2011. more
‘Gas revolution’ gives timely boost to Jonathan’s election bid
With presidential and parliamentary elections only weeks away, President Goodluck Jonathan has given his campaign a timely boost by announcing significant progress in government plans to utilise Nigeria’s huge natural gas reserves, with the aim of attracting significant foreign investment in the economy and creating over 500,000 jobs.
A 12-year association with Nigerian oil man Prince Arthur Eze has turned Simco Petroleum Management into one of the major dealmakers on the African scene, writes John Hamilton Issue 205, 18 March 2011.more
Addax proposed as Bakassi operator
Sinopec subsidiary Addax Petroleum seems to have positioned itself as the ‘partner of choice’ for both Nigeria and Cameroon to explore the Bakassi Peninsula.
Onshore blocks in the volatile Niger Delta are the latest Shell assets put on offer as the oil major changes its focus to the offshore, writes David Slater
The joint venture between South Africa’s SacOil and Energy Equity Resources Ltd (EER) has concluded a second farm-out agreement, this time with Transnational Corporation of Nigeria PLC (Transcorp) for OPL 281.
With April’s presidential and parliamentary elections looming, and a range of contentious issues pointing to a tighter battle than yet seen in Nigeria’s short democratic history, incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan is still hoping to force through the controversial and much delayed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) before the current parliamentary term ends in May.
No change to term contracts as Jonathan gears up for polls
There was no change in the system of awarding term crude lifting contracts for Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)’s oil in the run-up to the April elections, with the usual raft of well-connected local traders joining government and international company lifters being appointed to trade some 1.51m b/d from 1 May 2011 in deals valued at some $32bn.
Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has signed a $101m contract for a pipeline system to gather associated gas that is now flared for use in the domestic gas market with Saipem Contracting Nigeria Ltd.
‘Gas revolution’ gives timely boost to Jonathan’s election bid
With presidential and parliamentary elections only weeks away, President Goodluck Jonathan has given his campaign a timely boost by announcing significant progress in government plans to utilise Nigeria’s huge natural gas reserves, with the aim of attracting significant foreign investment in the economy and creating over 500,000 jobs.
With April’s presidential and parliamentary elections looming, and a range of contentious issues pointing to a tighter battle than yet seen in Nigeria’s short democratic history, incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan is still hoping to force through the controversial and much delayed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) before the current parliamentary term ends in May.
A multi-billion dollar chunk of an estimated $5bn-6bn payments backlog accumulated by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)’s fuel importing arm has been paid this autumn, African Energy has been told. Issue 199, 3 December 2010.more
Message from the gas industry: keep projects as simple as possible
The Gulf of Guinea’s numerous liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects were never all going to succeed, but they have been dealt a blow by the development of shale gas in the United States (AE 188/24). Yet African domestic markets may be the ultimate beneficiaries as companies direct their gas to smaller, less complex schemes. Issue 197, 5 November 2010.more
West Africa downstream update – Nigerian ambitions hit by delays
Any ambitious Nigerian state governor has a refinery project, but not all of them will be built. African Energy’s latest Downstream update focuses on Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo Issue 196, 22 October 2010.more
No change to term contracts as Jonathan gears up for polls
There was no change in the system of awarding term crude lifting contracts for Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)’s oil in the run-up to the April elections, with the usual raft of well-connected local traders joining government and international company lifters being appointed to trade some 1.51m b/d from 1 May 2011 in deals valued at some $32bn.
Jonathan pushes Niger Delta agenda, but NPDC’s Ogoniland play remains elusive
Shell has shortlisted bidders for four onshore blocks in the Niger Delta, and with Goodluck Jonathan pushing economic growth in the region as a plank of his re-election campaign, considerable speculation surrounds other blocks, including NPDC’s plans for oil exploration in Ogoniland. But getting projects off the ground remains a challenge in this troubled territory, write Leonard Lawal in Lagos and African Energy staff Issue 206, 1 April 2011. more
‘Gas revolution’ gives timely boost to Jonathan’s election bid
With presidential and parliamentary elections only weeks away, President Goodluck Jonathan has given his campaign a timely boost by announcing significant progress in government plans to utilise Nigeria’s huge natural gas reserves, with the aim of attracting significant foreign investment in the economy and creating over 500,000 jobs.
With April’s presidential and parliamentary elections looming, and a range of contentious issues pointing to a tighter battle than yet seen in Nigeria’s short democratic history, incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan is still hoping to force through the controversial and much delayed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) before the current parliamentary term ends in May.
News of Nigeria’s debut sovereign eurobond has been well received by the debt markets and the issue is expected to be oversubscribed, writes Jon Marks in Paris and David Slater Issue 201, 21 January 2011.more
Nigeria prepares for polls
Incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan has overcome months of controversy by securing a dominant victory in the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) primaries, making him the firm favourite for the April presidential elections.
WikiLeaks cables add new twist to the old mix of oil and influence in Nigeria
The revelations and opinions included in leaked US cables suggest it is business as usual in the Nigerian oil industry, where IOCs and indigenous players are looking to trade more acreage, speculation surrounds a proposed marginal fields round and decisions on new natural gas schemes are being pushed ahead of next April’s elections Issue 200, 17 December 2010.more
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