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Eskom announced on 19 January that construction of its 1,520MW Lima pumped storage hydropower project would be delayed as a result of the global economic crisis, which has seen Eskom revise its supply and demand projections in line with lower projected growth – not to mention problems securing finance (AE 154/6).

The campaign was costly, the result tantalisingly close and the aftermath is likely to see incoming President Professor John Evans Atta Mills’ administration back-pedalling on a number of promises made in the heat of frantic electoral politicking.

Eskom awarded a R2.9bn ($313m) contract to a local joint venture for the main civil works package at the new Kusile Power Station in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga Province. The order was awarded to Kusile Civil Works Joint Venture, comprising Basil Read (Pty) Ltd, Group Five Construction (Pty) Ltd, Stefanutti Stocks Civils (Pty) Ltd and WBHO Construction (Pty) Ltd.

Australia’s Elixir Petroleum has taken over its partner’s stake in Block SL-4 following its failure to pay its share of seismic costs. Elixir issued a notice of default to Prontinal in late September, but was unable to get it to pay the $9m owed. Elixir took over operatorship in February and contracted a 3D seismic survey, which was completed in June. The block was originally awarded to US-based real estate company 8 Investments, sole bidder in the 2002 licensing round.

Rilwanu Lukman’s candidacy to become energy minister, probably with a much-expanded portfolio, has been accepted by parliament, and will be welcomed by many in the industry. He will be asked to deliver on President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s key policy goals, in a government promising action on all fronts, including over the stalled Niger Delta peace process

Gas from Eni’s Republic of Congo (ROC – Brazaville) operations, rather than electricity generated at Inga Falls in Democratic Republic of Congo, is expected to power the latest version of MagIndustries Corporation’s Kouilou minerals development.

Morocco’s state power company Office Nationale de l’Electricité (ONE) has lost another chief executive. Amid load-shedding and stallled projects, the sacking of Younes Maamar was not unexpected, but it was announced with unusual abruptness; unless they have offended badly (Maamar by all accounts has not) senior officials in the Makhzen appointed by King

Sudan has been looking to build alliances where it can, with energy co-operation a tool for building links, and Khartoum retains the ability to deal with even such champions of human rights as Norway, which on 15 October signed a new petroleum sector co-operation agreement.

Few countries excite such violent emotions as Sudan, where committed IOCs still see new upside in their exploration and production projects but where political violence and geopolitical shifts, including Barack Obama’s election to the White House,

Ahead of the promised law to break up Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), plans to privatise Products and Pipelines Marketing Company (PPMC) – which operates a network of petrol distribution pipelines and depots – and Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) have been shelved by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and NNPC group managing director Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua.

President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on 29 October released some 20 ministers from their portfolios in the 44-member government, finally moving to end months of speculation that had all but paralysed government activity in a country where the economy and policy-making are lorded over by politicians.

These can be tough times for investors, even if they are not hopelessly over-leveraged or scraping around for credit in the hostile global financial environment. Algeria’s shifting attitude to foreign partnerships provides a case in point. Never over-generous with its terms, Algiers has toughened up its attitude to foreign intervention in the economy, while local politicians seem increasingly focused on domestic concerns

Epsilon Energy International Ltd has hired New Resolution Geophysics from South Africa to conduct a 27,500km2 aero-gravity and aeromagnetic survey over a portion of its Northwest Study Area. The survey is expected to start in October. The US company, which also has acreage in Yemen, signed a one-year study agreement for the 154,872km2 area in the north-west of the country in June.

For Africans who depend on the environment for their livelihoods, human security is more closely tied in with the effects of climate change than it is elsewhere.

Parliament has passed a law setting the terms for oil exploration and production. Mines Minister Kalombo Mwansa told Reuters the petroleum exploration and production law had been sent to acting President Rupiah Banda to be signed.