Search results

Tullow Oil expects to start small-scale production from its Ugandan fields in late Q4 12 and will drill 20 wells there this year

The French Areva group’s supervisory board has agreed to put its Transmission & Distribution division up for sale.

The government is in talks with India’s Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd about a $2bn oil refinery that could be operational by 2015

Maurel & Prom has named former Total executive Olivier de Langavant to replace Michel Hochard as chief executive. De Langavant, a former managing director of Total E&P Angola who was most recently a member of the Total Group Management Committee, takes over with effect from 1 November. Earlier this year, M&P acquired the 20% stakes in Angola blocks 3/05 and 3/05A previously owned by Angola Japan Oil Company, and the company is considering buying Colombia-focused Amerisur Resources.

A joint venture of France’s Sofregaz and Denmark’s Ramboll has won an international tender for the selection of a technical adviser for a planned scheme to import liquefied natural gas to supply new power plants. Office Nationale de l’Electricité et de l’Eau Potable said bids were submitted in December. The government plans to import 5bcm/yr of gas to supply 2.4GW of new combined-cycle gas turbine capacity to be installed in 2020-25 under its gas-to-power road map. With a similar amount to be installed in the following five years, 10bcm/yr will be needed in 2025-30.

The government has received funding of $38.6m for a project to electrify peri-urban areas in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso and plans to offer a number of construction and consultancy contracts. This will include three contracts for the extension and reconstruction of the high- and low-voltage network around Bobo-Dioulasso, and two contracts for similar work in Ouagadougou. Consultants will be sought for studies for the construction work, creation of a network control centre in Ouagadougou, supervision and management of construction work, and for external audit.

The noise surrounding the release of Simon Mann and other ‘Wonga coup’ mercenaries and the subsequent publication by advocacy group Global Witness of a report citing United States Department of Justice and Immigration and Customs Enforcement documents on the illicit dealings of favoured presidential son Teodoro (Teodorín) Nguema Obiang Mangue have done little to ruffle the feathers

Canadian power project developer Windiga Energy expects to reach financial close and begin construction on a 20MW solar power plant by year-end, despite 12 months of political upheaval in the country. Windiga has been developing the project in Zina, Mouhoun province, since the company was established as part of miner Semafo’s corporate social responsibility policy in 2010.Long-time ruler Blaise Compaoré was forced out by popular protests in October 2014. Elections had been planned for October 2015, but the country was pitched into uncertainty following a short-lived coup attempt in September 2015 led by Compaoré ally General Gilbert Diendéré. Diendéré is now a prisoner in Paspanga military camp, and elections are scheduled for 29 November.

The Climate Investment Funds, set up by a group of major multilaterals, has approved in principle a total of $40m in near-zero-interest loans and grants for Mali to scale up solar PV, mini-hydro and biofuel technologies

American and European businesses will remain key players across the continent, but their dominance is in retreat. The full effects of the global financial crisis have taken years to reveal themselves – not least in the impact of stagnant wages and widening social divisions on the politics of western economies – but have been reflected in western banks pulling back, in some places to be replaced by Moroccan and South African institutions.

The multi-donor Climate Investment Funds (CIF) has announced an agreement to provide Nigeria with $50m towards an African Development Bank-supported programme to promote investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency through local banks.

In-fighting within the political class rarely surfaces in public, but it remains a significant factor in Egyptian decision-making.

Siemens has signed an agreement with East Delta Electricity Production Company (EDEPC) to supply, install and commission electrical components for the 650MW Suez dual gas and heavy fuel oil-fired power plant, which is expected to be commissioned in June 2016. The contract includes supply of the electrical package and installation, testing and commissioning of equipment provided by EDEPC.

Seismic acquisition company Polarcus has signed a letter of intent with Perenco Oil & Gas Gabon SA for a 3D marine seismic acquisition project. The survey, to be acquired by the Polarcus Nadia vessel and subject to the execution of a service contract, will start in Q1 2015 and is expected to take approximately 21 days.

BG has named Dr Arshad Sufi as president and general manager for BG Egypt, replacing Tim Blackford