Dan Marks leads the issue with a focus on the potential for a Mozambique/South Africa gas economy, supported by a Marc Howard feature on the Mozambique government’s battle against Islamist insurgents in Cabo Delgado, where a deployment of Rwandan soldiers could help open the way for crucial resumption of big gas projects.
John Hamilton examines the latest developments in the political battle at the top of Libya’s energy sector between NOC chief Mustafa Sanalla and oil and gas minister Mohammed Aoun.
Power coverage includes a feature on Niger, which has received a boost after a long period of stagnation, with significant PV and HFO on-grid additions and prequalification for a 50MW Scaling Solar project. There is also a feature on the potential for battery storage for both on- and off-grid projects and the financing challenges that remain.
Chiwoyu Sinyangwe looks at Zambia’s plan to refinance Zesco’s $2.5bn debt and David Slater examines GreenCo’s selection of the 25MW Ilute solar PV project in Sesheke as its pilot project, which is a major step in the developer’s efforts to demonstrate the bankability of its intermediary offtaker model.
Upstream coverage leads with a feature by James Gavin on Kenya, where Tullow Oil’s redesigned South Lokichar development project will boost prospective oil flows while adding to the project’s already prodigious cost.
Downstream coverage includes a focus on the recent Egypt-Lebanon gas deal, which shows Cairo’s determination to reinforce its indispensable role as regional leader, but also highlights some of the contradictions in Cairo’s commercial gas strategy.
A feature also looks at Guinea where the military junta that deposed president Alpha Condé remains insistent that it’s taking a ‘business as usual’ approach as it starts discussions over the formation of a new government.
The African Energy View examines the role of regional power pools.
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