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New Age (African Global Energy) Ltd has acquired a 25% interest in the Marine Block XII permit and production-sharing contract in Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) from Italy’s Eni

REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Third production well on Azurite field; LIBYA: NOC announces six discoveries; BURUNDI: Surestream contracts RPS for EIA; EGYPT: Second Matruh find for Apache; LIBYA: Neptune order thought to mark start of Gazprom project; LIBYA: Poles launch drilling programme; MAURITANIA: Dana, Petronas to drill; NIGERIA: Acergy contract; TANZANIA: BG confirms Ophir farm-in

AfDB Governors recommend 200% capital increase and New Clean Energy bonds; Regideso debt; Pride bribery allegations

ANGOLA: Cabinda service contract for M-I SWACO; CAMEROON: Polarcus starts seismic survey for Noble; REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Eni extends; DR CONGO: SOCO signs up Caroil rig; KENYA: Global, Dana and Woodside settle dispute; KENYA: Magadi seismic tender

The World Bank is supporting the government’s Water, Electricity and Urban Development Project with funding and expertise. The Bank is considering $25.5m of funding, while the government will provide an additional $100m. Large investments are under way in the urban, water and power sectors and the government is seeking guidance from the Bank to ensure its resources are used to best effect.

Interest in West African hydrocarbons has focused primarily on offshore plays in recent years.

ANGOLA: Total contract for FMC; CONGO-B: Non-commercial well on La Noumbi; EGYPT: Successful test of Circle’s Al-Amir SE-5 well; EGYPT: Two finds for Dana Gas; GABON: M&P confirms new play in Onal licence; GUINEA: Repsol out?; TUNISIA: Petroceltic to drill on Ksar Hadada; DANA PETROLEUM: Egypt drilling plans; SAN LEON ENERGY: Buying Island Oil & Gas

The Brazzaville government has received some reward for the closure in 2008 of Congolaise de Trading (Cotrade), the controversial marketing arm of parastatal Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC) that was chaired by the president’s son, Denis-Christel Sassou Nguesso. Cotrade’s closure came after pressure from the International Monetary Fund and, on 28 January, the World Bank and IMF announced an agreement that will allow Republic of Congo to reduce its external debt by $1.9bn and benefit from the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative.

The controversial marketing company Congolaise de Trading was the product of what officials call “a past phase” in Congo-B politics. In 1998, soon after returning to power, President Denis Sassou Nguesso discovered that French oil company Elf (since merged into Total) was fraudulently representing its Congo-B production operations.

Imboulou dam inaugurated; SAPP tender; Nyabarongo financing signed; Landfill gas project

ALGERIA: More success for Petroceltic; ANGOLA: Cabinda Onshore drilling; CONGO-B: SOCO announces Viodo appraisal success; NIGERIA: Afren completes appraisal well

PA Resources AB has entered into a one year $125m corporate finance facility agreement with Standard Bank.

ANGOLA: Nineteenth oil discovery in Block 31; REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Marine XI drilling; ETHIOPIA: Petronas resumes exploration in Ogaden; MAURITANIA: Total drilling in Taoudeni Basin; NIGERIA: Oriental launches Ebok field development; SEYCHELLES: Black Marlin starts new seismic; TUNISIA: Australian company takes Chorbane permit

GE Oil and Gas wins equipment contract; Chevron starts Tombua-Landana production; SOCO well plugged; Vanco awards seismic inversion project; Niger Delta pressure study; DualEx takes Bouhajla permit; Roc Oil delisting from AIM

ALGERIA: New Illizi Basin gas find; ANGOLA: Subsea 7 wins BP contract; REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Murphy begins oil production, makes discovery; REPUBLIC OF CONGO: SOCO spuds first Marine XI well; REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Dry well on Marine IX; EGYPT: Dana gas finds; EGYPT: Eni starts subsea gas production at North Bardawil; LIBYA: ExxonMobil drills first deep-water well; NIGERIA: Afren takes 28% stake in Okwok; NIGERIA: KNOC wins lawsuit against government; NIGERIA/SAO TOME: Addax starts JDZ drilling; SENEGAL: Shell pulls out of deal; TANZANIA: Upstream players create trade association; ZAMBIA: Government extends licensing round deadline