In addition to producing the flagship fortnightly African Energy, AE’s team of experienced analysts also produce briefings and reports on a range of topics and issues that affect the region. Our expertise can be tapped by anyone and delivered in a range of formats. For more information contact Nick Carn. nick@africa-energy.com
The third annual AfricaHardball political risk roundtable was held in Nice on 2 July, prior to the start of the Africa Energy Forum. Further details will be posted here shortly.
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Egypt postpones new LNG trains until gas prices to domestic and foreign buyers are renegotiated
The Petroleum Ministry had said that at least two new LNG trains would be added by 2010-11, but export plans are being shelved as the government renegotiates prices, write Our Cairo Correspondent and Nadine Marroushi. more (opens new window)
War games
The turf war between Egypt’s defence and petroleum ministries over access to oil revenues continues, but recent events suggest a power struggle between Petroleum Minister Sameh Fahmy and Defence Minister Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, who is occasionally mentioned as a potential future president. Croatia’s INA enraged the Defence Ministry by setting up a drilling rig before they had a permit, and President Mubarak overruling ministry objections made matters worse. more (opens new window)
King coal
After signs that Botswana’s proposed Mmamabula coal-fired project had lost its way, CIC Energy has now appointed NM Rothschild as the financial advisor and says the scheme’s scaled down 1,200MW first phase remains on schedule for a 2012/13 start-up. Originally conceived as a 3,600MW mega-plant, the project ran into trouble because of soaring construction costs, but CIC is now talking to a new group of potential contractors and is confident it will go ahead. more (opens new window)
How careless: STP loses another minister
Cristina Dias was sworn in as São Tomé and Príncipe’s oil minister on 11 November, the fourth person to hold the position since June 2008 and the latest indication of political uncertainty in the island state – which has yet actually to find oil.
Her predecessor Carlos Fernandes lasted just a week in the job before resigning suddenly for “health reasons”. It seems more likely his exit from government was linked to doubts over the authenticity of his academic qualifications: he claimed to hold two degrees from a US university, despite having never left São Tomé nor speaking any English. Scandal had also brought down his predecessor, Agostinho Rita, who had ordered the state electricity utility to pay for scholarships to a college in which he had interests.
As part of the terms of the deal establishing a coalition government in May between President Fradique de Menezes’ Movimento Democratico das Forças da Mudança (MDFM) and his former rivals in the Movimento de Libertaçao de São Tomé e Príncipe (MLSTP), the oil ministry is reserved for the MDFM. But the talent available to the president is becoming increasingly thin, in an impoverished country with a small educated elite. more (opens new window)
New look GSN at www.gsn-online.com
African Energy’s sister publication Gulf States Newsletter (GSN) has had a makeover, on 1 September launching a new website
GSN is the established and authoritative source of information on the people, politics and resources of the Gulf region - covering Iran, Iraq, Yemen and the six Gulf Co-operation Council states. Discover why GSN is so valued by its clients and readers:
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