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Is Africa’s upstream cementing its credentials as an exploration hotspot? The continent’s upstream has distinct advantages over other global basins, and has a window of opportunity in which to attract investment from companies that face tax burdens in other jurisdictions, writes James Gavin.

The issue leads with an examination of Ghana's wide-ranging debt restructuring and refinancing deal and what it might mean for other debt-distressed countries around the continent. African Energy also looks at Zimbabwe, which in the run up to August elections is being threatened by electricity shortages, corruption and soaring inflation. Critics say an uneven electoral playing field still favours the incumbent Zanu-PF. Power coverage leads with a focus on the Indian Ocean island states, which are pushing ahead with renewable energy schemes to reduce their dependence on diesel and other polluting fuels. Power data analysis focuses on the off-grid sector with new figures from African Energy Live Data suggesting 800MW of additional off-grid solar capacity is expected to come online over the next five years. Upstream coverage leads with a look at Africa's upstream hotspots, which are appealing to majors looking for growth without the extra burden of windfall and carbon taxes now apparent in Europe. Coverage also examines DR Congo's efforts to drum up interest in onshore blocks amid doubts over export routes, while a Mozambique update examines an eagerly-awaited report into the Cabo Delgado insurgency and what it means for the future of the Mozambique LNG project. The issue's transition minerals coverage focuses on a potential Zambian copper revival. The African Energy view examines the commissioning of the Dangote refinery and the positive economic impact it could have for Nigeria and the incoming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.  

The Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy said on 26 May that a consortium led by Électricité de France (EDF) had been selected as the preferred bidder for the long-awaited 1.5GW Mphanda Nkuwa hydroelectric power (HEP) development on the Zambezi River in Tete province.

On 25 May, Niger’s Ministry of Energy and Renewable Energies (known by its French acronym Meer) said the 1.7MW Dirkou solar-diesel hybrid power plant, with 2.8MWh of battery storage, had been commissioned.

Among the more positive signals emerging from the Nigerian oil and gas sector is the prospect of more liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects. However, many of Nigeria's West African neighbours already having an FLNG project under construction or reactivation.

The timing of the official commissioning of the 650,000 b/d Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Plant on 22 May said as much about local political sensitivities as it did about the facility’s undoubted importance for the Nigerian energy sector.

Developer SSI Energy has appointed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the 10MW Kahama solar PV plant. Work includes a 3km transmission line to Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco)’s Buzwagi substation.

China’s involvement in a wide-ranging debt restructuring and refinancing deal with other bilateral and multilateral creditors, headlined by a $3bn IMF facility, could set a precedent for other debt-distressed countries around the continent, but some devilish detail remains to be negotiated, writes Jon Marks.

Incoming Nigerian President Bola Tinubu inherits a challenging brief in the upstream oil and gas sector, with concerns over fiscal terms, regulation and other long-standing corporate worries likely to prove resistant to easy resolution.

TotalEnergies and Africa Oil Corporation’s 23 May withdrawal from the Tullow-operated South Lokichar development is a blow to Kenya’s faltering attempts to develop its hydrocarbons sector and attests to brighter prospects elsewhere in Africa.

The Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) has awarded a contract for a feasibility study on electricity interconnections between Ethiopia and Somalia. EAPP said the selection of a consultant to undertake a nine-month environmental and social impact assessment (Esia) was also at an advanced stage.

Tanzanian energy company Taifa Group has formed a joint venture with Mauritius-based General Capital Ltd (GCL) to build Zanzibar’s first utility-scale solar PV plant.

The Ministry of Hydrocarbons’ mid-May roadshow event in London was an effort to firm up international interest in a string of blocks across central DR Congo and along its eastern border. In a problematic region, one big element for success could hinge on linking any finds into export infrastructure due to be built in neighbouring Uganda.

Metals miner Pan African Resources continues to scale up investments in renewable energy projects to supply the group’s mines, having commissioned the 10MW Elikhulu Tailings Solar PV in May 2022. African Energy takes a closer look at Pan African’s power generation plans.

The cabinet has approved the merger of state-owned enterprises IGas and PetroSA, and the Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) to form South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC).