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Egas has awarded four out of seven offshore blocks in its latest bidding round, while a string of new finds sets the stage for EGPC’s June licensing round, writes Nadine Marroushi. The state-owned Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (Egas) has awarded four deep-water offshore exploration blocks to IOCs who submitted bids in early February for acreage in the gas-prone Mediterranean Sea. BG Group won the 281km2 Block 1

The Department of Energy has selected the US’ Fluor Corporation to perform a study for a potential 5GW solar park development in the Northern Cape

Progress is finally being made on the regulatory front with regard to the ambitious Mmamabula thermal power generation project, according to sponsor CIC Energy Corporation. The scheme has been scaled back to a 1,200MW first phase from the originally planned 3,600MW amid uncertainty about South Africa’s offtake plans (AE 160/6; 152/7; 150/6).

The World Bank board on 11 January approved financing of $27m for a project to increase access to electricity and encourage the use of renewable power technologies. The financing comprises a $25m grant from the Strategic Climate Fund’s Scaling Up Renewable Energy Programme and a $2m loan from the International Development Agency. The project will see $22m spent on constructing a mini-grid in Lofa County, one of the areas worst hit by the Ebola crisis and which is located more than 200km from the national grid. This is intended to provide affordable, year-round electricity supply to around 50,000 people.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) and African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed loan agreements totalling about $120m for the 120MW Itezhi-Tezhi hydro plant and transmission line project on the Kafue River. The AfDB’s loan of $55m was approved by the Bank board in June and signed on 19 December, while the EIB has agreed to provide €50m ($67m).

Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is inviting expressions of interest from potential administrators for the Rural Electrification Fund, which will provide capital grants to fund the REA’s rural electrification programme.

The Sapphire Driller jack-up rig has started drilling the first of four wells on the Etame permit for Houston-based Vaalco Energy.

LONGi Solar, a Chinese manufacturer of monocrystalline solar cells and modules, has signed a cooperation agreement with the Tunisian project developer Shams Technology to develop solar photovoltaic (PV) projects in African markets where Shams has an active partner network. The first joint project will be a 10MW scheme at Kasserine in west-central Tunisia, according to a statement issued on 18 September.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) decision to drop its 17-month long investigation into Soma Oil and Gas has comprehensively cleared the company of the corruption allegations levelled against it by the United Nations Somalia and Eritrea Monitoring Group (SEMG) and leaves hanging the question of why these allegations were made in the first place. The company is now free to finalise negotiations over production sharing agreements for a number of offshore blocks as soon as a new federal government is in place in Mogadishu. Its management then hopes to raise finance by farming out part of its interest and to start drilling as quickly as possible.

Ganoub El Wadi Holding Petroleum Company (Ganope) has given Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) operatorship of three exploration blocks. GSPC, in consortium with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) and Oil India Ltd, has been awarded Block 3 South Quseir and Block 4 South Sinai.

The government plans to end its involvement in oil procurement by July this year, energy minister David Mabumba told a forum organised by the ruling Patriotic Front on 7 May. “By June, we will float a tender for the private sector to participate,” said Mabumba. He said the government would get out of oil procurement by July, leaving the sector to private companies.

The short-term future of many of southern Africa’s power markets depends on Eskom’s investment plans.

Like so many frontier explorers confronted by the credit crunch, the group looking for oil in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Republic of Puntland are facing an uphill task to keep funding ticking over. But Australian minnow Range Resources and Canadian farm-in partner Africa Oil Co

Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) is to take over the Ghana National Gas Company (GNGC) to create a new gas subsidiary as part of its expansion plans, finance minister Seth Terkper told parliament on 19 November.The minister said the consolidation would reduce the financing conditions imposed by investors. He said the government planned to appoint a transaction adviser for the process and ask them to advise on integrating the Tema Oil Refinery and the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company.

Gazprom has announced a start date for work on the long-awaited Kudu gas-to-power project, and NamPower has raised more funds in the domestic market, boosting confidence in Namibia’s ability to meet domestic demand and play a significant role in the regional industry, write Thalia Griffiths in Cape Town and Kevin Godier