Search results

Italian major Eni has said it is pumping 8,000 b/d more than forecast at its Baleine project offshore Côte d'Ivoire, with output exceeding 20,000 b/d, compared to initial predictions of 12,000 b/d.

Hong Kong Stock Exchange-listed MMG is to acquire Khoemacau Copper Mining Company for $1.9bn. Khoemacau’s mine in the Kalahari Copper Belt has production capacity of 60,000 t/yr of copper and 1.6m oz/yr of silver metal.

Landlocked and energy-poor, eSwatini wants independent power producers to play a bigger role in building renewable energy capacity, as the kingdom strives to generate sufficient power and end years of over-dependence on imported electricity.

State power utility Zesco Ltd has signed a ten-year power supply agreement (PSA) with Canada’s First Quantum Minerals (FQM), in a move expected to ringfence the future of one of Zambia’s most important mining assets.

The leak of briefing notes for COP28 president Sultan Al-Jaber just ahead of the summit’s opening in Dubai drew attention to the United Arab Emirate’s extensive energy dealings in key African economies, including Egypt and Kenya. Key players include renewables flagship Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) and oil giant Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc).

Local and international oil companies showed promising levels of interest in the unglamorous onshore basins on offer in Angola’s latest licensing round, but challenges remain from declining oil production and a fractious relationship with Opec, writes James Gavin.

The World Bank Group (WBG) is back in the Grand Inga game, more than seven years after it suspended funding for the first phase of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) mega-scheme. However, with elections due to be held on 20 December across most of the country (some conflict zones are excluded) it is highly unlikely that President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo will have a breakthrough to announce before the sceptical electorate cast their votes.

Cash-strapped South African state utility Eskom says it has used debt and its own cash to finance power transmission infrastructure projects that could unlock more grid capacity in the next few years as market operator NTCSA prepares for operation.

Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX)- and London AIM-listed Mkango Resources is planning three solar PV plants at its Songwe Hill mine. The $311m rare earths project has an estimated 18-year life-of-mine.

A solar PV and battery energy storage plant has been commissioned at Danzi, 18km north-west of the capital Bangui, according to the World Bank Group. The plant is a significant addition to CAR’s under-developed grid, which had a total of 49.65MW online prior to Danzi’s commissioning, according to African Energy Live Data. During the Danzi commissioning ceremony, President Faustin Archange Touadera lamented “the lack of investment over the past 40 years” in CAR’s electricity industry. The lack of interest among private and foreign investors is not surprising, given CAR’s long-running civil war and poor governance.

The M-Pesa Foundation Academy has commissioned a grid-tied solar PV system. The 630-panel plant is expected to reduce grid consumption by up to 60%.

Lagos-headquartered Nigerian Breweries has signed a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with local commercial and industrial (C&I) developer Daystar Power Group for a solar PV and battery plant at its Lagos brewery and head office.

Africa Oil Corporation has called interest in an offshore farm-out deal ‘staggering’ and Marathon Oil is looking to take advantage of LNG arbitrage opportunities but, while IOCs talk up opportunities, oil production is on a downward trajectory and the political environment remains opaque, writes James Gavin.

Ireland’s Mainstream Renewable Power (Mainstream) has announced that it has achieved financial close on its 97.5MW Free State solar PV project in South Africa. Power generated from the plant will supply Sasol and Air Liquide’s operations in Secunda, in Mpumalanga province.

Portugal’s MCA Group has started the implementation of its €1.2bn ($1.3bn) rural electrification programme in Bié, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malange and Moxico provinces. The programme includes the installation of solar PV and battery capacity across 46 mini-grid sites and 12 grid-connected sites.