Libya’s Energy Future: Industry and Political risk outlook was launched at a Chatham House seminar in London on 20 July.
Based on African Energy’s unparalleled track record in following Libya’s energy story and careful, originally sourced reporting from Libya and global markets, this updated and enlarged special report analyses the major issues and the financial and political trends influencing development of Libya's energy industries. Read more
A detailed guide to electrification in Africa
A 400-page study published in Paris by Karthala, L’Electricité au Coeur des Défis Africains (available in French only) includes an overview of the continental electricity supply industry and examples of generation, transmission and distribution projects. A chapter on decentralised rural electrification is followed by another on the establishment of decentralised services companies.
The book draws on articles and materials from a number of experts and sources, including African Energy.
Order a copy now, priced €36 / £30 plus postage and packing. Email: nick@africa-energy.com
AfricaHardball is an executive dialogue that brings together policy-makers, industry leaders and analysts to discuss the key political issues affecting the African energy industry in frank and open terms.
The last AfricaHardball roundtable was held on 29 June, prior to the start of EnergyNet Ltd’s annual Africa Energy Forum (AEF), in Basel. Read more
Libya’s Energy Future: Industry and Political risk outlook 2010 report to be published 20 July
Libya’s Energy Future will be launched at a seminar to be held at Chatham House in London on 20 July.
This will be a significantly enlarged version of African Energy’s acclaimed 2009 Libya's Energy Future report, also including an updated version of The Libya Oil and Gas Handbook (also published in 2009), bound into one volume.
Based on African Energy’s unparalleled track record in following Libya’s energy story and careful, originally sourced reporting from Libya and global markets, this special report will analyse the major issues and the financial and political trends influencing development of Libya's energy industries.
Read moreabout Libya's Energy Future and the Chatham House launch seminar
One of West Africa’s worst-performing borrowers, the state-owned Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), is lining up new import finance from Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), formerly its main lender. more
US / AFRICA
USTDA introduces clean energy initiative
The US Trade and Development Agency has awarded an initial four grants under the new African Clean Energy Solutions (Aces) Initiative. more
GUINEA
Rio Tinto signs iron ore deal
Rio Tinto and China’s Chalco signed a binding agreement in Beijing on 29 July to establish a joint venture covering the development and operation of the Simandou iron ore project in south-east Guinea. more
NAMIBIA
Namibia draws firms into E&P, but questions remain over licensing and middlemen
After Namibia decided to abandon licensing rounds for direct negotiation, blocks were awarded to local players who sold them on to foreign companies. Local entrepreneurs such as Knowledge Katti have built up big businesses, but with the government threatening to investigate potential abuses of the system, the way licences are obtained is under new scrutiny. John Grobler in Windhoek and Eleanor Gillespie investigate Namibia’s licensing procedures and assess prospects for E&P in the next year. more
Knowledge Katti emerges as the king of Namibian energy empowerment
New Era newspaper described black economic empowerment (BEE) entrepreneur Knowledge Katti as “one of the fastest growing [exclusive prospecting licence] EPL millionaires in the country”. more
NIGERIA
Nigerians talk up sector reform with PIB expected ‘within weeks’
The controversial Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), designed by the previous government to implement the largest energy sector shake-up in recent Nigerian history, will be passed into law by the end of August, according to petroleum minister Diezani Allison-Madueke. more
ALGERIA
As BP ponders Algerian assets, IOCs look for flexibility from the energy sector’s new top team
While Algiers tries to gain better control over Sonatrach’s operations, IOCs remain concerned that the authorities are prone to inflexibility and obsessed with outmoded concepts of national interest. It is in this complex operating environment that speculation is mounting that BP might sell its Algerian assets, write Jon Marks and John Hamilton. more
Sonelgaz bail-out shows how state solutions still predominate
Recent events at state utility Sonelgaz Holding seem to point to the limits of radical thinking on major Algerian energy sector problems. more
Sonatrach’s international operations under scrutiny
Sonatrach’s international upstream and downstream operations, which were promoted by former energy and mines minister Chakib Khelil, have come under scrutiny from the Algerian energy sector’s new management and from investigative authorities. more
Issue 191 - 23 July 2010
NIGERIA
AccuGas transaction kicks off Nigerian gas financing, bankers see more such deals to come
A big new loan for a Nigerian gas project underlines growing interest from private investors in the country’s potential, writes Kevin Godier more
MOZAMBIQUE
New bridge over the Zambezi
The government has awarded the construction contract for a new $132m bridge across the Zambezi River to the Estradas de Zambeze consortium of Portuguese and Mozambican companies. more
GOVERNANCE
US passes transparency reforms
The US Senate has passed a new bill on resource transparency that will require oil, gas and mining companies registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to publicly disclose their tax and revenue payments to governments around the world. more
WEST AFRICA INFRASTRUCTURE
Cable start-up boosts telecoms
The Main One submarine cable to West Africa started operations at the beginning of July, improving regional internet and telephone communications. more
MAURITANIA
Donor deal opens way for bigger projects in Mauritania
A growing number of industry executives are making their way to previously unfashionable Nouakchott as rising demand for electricity is driving a push for more generation capacity. more
LIBYA
Libya charts new course for NOC to weather the coming storm
New management, new strategy and possible new institutions are shaking up Libya’s energy sector, but first it must get over the recent lack of commercial discoveries and a number of thorny political issues more
Revised oil law enters legislative process
The much discussed rewriting of Libya’s ancient petroleum law has moved from the realm of discussion and speculation to reality with an official announcement of the procedure through which the legislation must now pass to enter statute. more
BP / LIBYA
Libyan E&P, sovereign wealth could play a big role in BP’s future
Pressure from Democratic Party Senator Frank Lautenberg and other congressmen on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to open an investigation into BP ’s role in lobbying for the release of the convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Al-Megrahi has added to pressure on the British company in the United States. more
GHANA
Ghana deal in balance as government stays firm on Kosmos sale
Ghana says it has secured sufficient funds to buy Kosmos Energy’s stake in the Jubilee field for itself, which would enable it to sell the stake on to the bidder of its choice, writeThaliaGriffithsandKevin Godier more
DR CONGO
Opaque deals and administrative bullying mark DRC’s flirtation with investment pariah status
A pattern is emerging in the way big resources contracts are being reallocated to unknown companies that the authorities say meet their criteria for fit and proper partners, and whose participation will help speed ‘post-conflict’ economic reconstruction. Politics and personal gain seem to be defining features of these deals, writesJon Marks more
POWER INDUSTRY
Failures suggest sub-Saharan ESI must look beyond project finance
There have been some positive signs for the sub-Saharan electricity supply industry. A few new developers have arrived on the scene, and some familiar faces, such as AES Corporation, are looking again for big deals, suggesting that more investment could be attracted to the sector. more
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