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France’s Maurel & Prom has signed a memorandum of understanding to increase its stake in the Marine III operating licence.

The government is seeking expressions of interest from consultants to draw up a communications strategy for the executive committee implementing the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

Africa’s power pools are talking up their potential to endow the continent with a larger, more rational electricity supply infrastructure.

REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Total find; NIGERIA: Bonga contract for Weltek; DR CONGO: EnerGulf contracts Chinese for Lotshi seismic; NIGERIA: Russians to supply pipes for Total; SUDAN: Indians to quit Block 5B; TANZANIA: Mafia drilling feels the heat; UGANDA: Block 2 success

Its MagEnergy Inc subsidiary has “found the Democratic Republic of Congo to be a very challenging investment environment,” TSX Venture Exchange-listed MagIndustries Corporation president and chief executive William Burton told the ambitious Canadian company’s first ever investor conference call, on 17 April. But Mag is pushing on with its Inga II refurbishment work, talks to finalise contracts – originally initialled in September 2005 – for work on four more Inga II generators and plans to build a 250MW hydropower dam at Busanga in Katanga (AE 146/5-9). It is also very bullish about fund-raising and other prospects for its potash and forestry schemes in Republic of Congo, which Burton confirmed would cost around $1.1bn as currently configured – releasing data that received a respectful hearing from the 89 analysts and others who dialled into the 17 April teleconference.

Following the end of its civil war, Angola has become an increasingly assertive regional player, reflected in a number of security deals – projecting the powerful Forças Armadas Angolanas (FAA) beyond Angola’s borders, notably in Brazzaville and Kinshasa – and in its determination to support Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe.

Isarene drilling to start in May; Russian field development to proceed; Minister says Tullow will get Lake Albert stakes; Chevron awards FEED, New find on Abu Qir for Edison; Burullus Gas extends rig contract; Essar gets back OPL 226

A Canadian junior’s project to redevelop a significant cluster of oilfields alongside two state companies suggests it’s not just big, long-established partners that are making the running in Republic of Congo, writes Eleanor Gillespie.

Eni to fund transmission work; New turbine for Vridi plant; Nuwaiba turbine generator tender; First two turbines start up at Merowe; Tanesco seeks procurement advisor

ADDAX: Onshore Nigeria find; PROSAFE: Drilling FPSO heads for Murphy’s CONGO-B field; ROC OIL/MAREX: Mozambique Channel block; PERENCO: Gabon find

ANGOLA: China to work on urban grids; REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Pointe-Noire grid study tender; GHANA: Smart grid deal for VRA; MOROCCO: EU financing; SENEGAL: Generator hire for Casamance

A US ‘vulture fund’ is targeting Eskom’s payments to Snel for its power supply in another bid to recover 20-year-old debt from the beleaguered Congolese parastatal.

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.

Brazzaville grid study; Orascom low bidder for Abu Kir; Bui construction enters main phase

SOCO plans drilling; Sea Dragon to drill; Vitol seeks farm-in partners; Circle Oil makes gas find; Total farms into deep water