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The rapid increase in private sector projects is recorded in National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) data that show more than 1GW of electricity generation projects were launched by private companies in January/February 2023 alone, following the removal of licensing restrictions in December.

International energy majors are investing to raise oil and gas output and developing solar plants, while others are looking to tap into Angola’s critical minerals and other resources plays. With news flow suggesting considerable activity in diverse energy-related industries, but wary of governance shortfalls, African Energy asks: is it time for investors to get excited about Angola?

The issue leads with Angola, where international energy majors are investing to raise oil and gas output and developing solar plants, while others are looking to tap into Angola’s critical minerals and other resources plays. With news flow suggesting considerable activity in diverse energy-related industries, but wary of governance shortfalls, African Energy asks: is it time for investors to get excited about Angola? Power coverage includes a focus on Africa's growing C&I sector. According to the African Energy Live Data platform, the capacity of plants supplying electricity to commercial and industrial customers around Africa is expected to grow by 25% in two years. Oil and gas coverage leads with Gabon, which is looking to reverse historic output decline as offshore drilling builds up, and includes a feature on Mozambique where energy majors are inching closer to resuming work on LNG projects. The African Energy View examines the impetus needed to drive Sapp’s potentially transformational cross-border transmission model, which is experiencing bureaucratic barriers for a key financing facility that could unblock projects held in limbo for years.

Angolan power projects contractor Aenergy and its Portuguese owner Ricardo Leitão Machado are continuing an extensive and detailed legal campaign in the United States and United Kingdom against Luanda-based state entities and various General Electric (GE)-related businesses.

Amid the worst economic crisis since the Mubarak regime’s collapse in 2011 – highlighted by another credit downgrade in early May – foreign investors in Egypt are struggling to convert their local profits into hard currency. But even in this tough business environment some investors and financiers are signing up to major new renewable energy commitments, suggesting the prospects for profit and strategic positioning still outweigh the risks from dysfunction.

Updated May 2023, this map provides a detailed overview of the hydrocarbons sector Gabon Blocks that are open, under negotiation or having been issued a provisional award are shown alongside exploration and production acreage. Block operators and oil and gas fields are marked, alongside associated downstream infrastructure such as pipelines, tanker terminals and refineries.

Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC) managing director Owen Silavwe has outlined hopes for the private utility to reach an agreement with Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) over outstanding debts of $192m. CEC has also set a target date for the commissioning of its 60MW Itimpi solar plant and provided an update on its DR Congo plans.

Botswana Stock Exchange-listed Shumba Energy has secured debt and equity funding for its flagship 100MW Tati solar PV project near Francistown. Shumba is also moving forward with several coal mining and power projects in Botswana.

A 12-block onshore licensing round is due in September. In the meantime, regulator ANPG and Sonangol have been reaching agreements with international energy majors and independents.

With winter on the horizon and no sign of an end to the energy crisis, the South African government is considering slowing down its decommissioning plans for the country’s fleet of ageing coal-fired power stations, but international partners have called on it to stick to its Just Energy Transition Partnership commitments, writes Tonderayi Mukeredzi.

Finland’s AW-Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Namibia’s Kaoko Green Energy Solutions to launch a pilot project to test the potential for harnessing wave energy along the Swakopmund coast. Kaoko’s flagship project is the Purros Hydrogen Hub (PHH), which includes plans for the production of 35 t/yr of ammonia as a green hydrogen (GH2) carrier.

The Nigerien Ministry of Energy and Renewable Energies (known by its French acronym Meer) said on 10 May it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with London AIM-listed Savannah Energy for two solar PV plants.

The offshore Dussafu permit is the focus of a six-well drilling campaign, as Gabon looks to address its declining oil production from maturing fields, while IOCs rationalise their assets and plan further exploration, writes James Gavin.

The resumption of work appears to be edging closer on the TotalEnergies-led Mozambique LNG project and ExxonMobil’s nearby Rovuma LNG scheme, amid an improving security situation and indications of support from international partners. However, rising costs are overtaking security issues as a primary concern and could yet lead to further delays, writes Marc Howard.

State-owned property company Landscope Mauritius is seeking a developer for the design, supply, installation, testing, commissioning and operation of a solar power plant.