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Siemens Energy has won a contract to provide a power generation plant for the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel at the 70,000 b/d Kaminho upstream project, 100km off the coast of Angola.

Building on funding commitments from the AfDB, US and EU, work is accelerating on the Angola-DRC-Zambia rail network. The Lobito Corridor’s first phase has already seen faster, cheaper exports of Copperbelt minerals and a feasibility study on a Zambian spur is due. Washington is now mulling support for a potential extension of the corridor to the Indian Ocean, which could compete with Chinese plans to rehabilitate the Tazara link, but might even lead to co-operation with Beijing.

Italian major Eni has cleared the last regulatory hurdle for its deal to offload a series of onshore exploration and production licences to Nigerian local player Oando, in a transaction estimated to be worth some $500m. Eni chief executive Claudio Descalzi met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Abuja on 19 July – part of a regional tour that also took in talks with the presidents of Republic of Congo and Angola. Descalzi has insisted that Eni remains committed to Nigeria.

The award of the Angola’s Block KON 19 to local operator Acrep and partners London AIM-listed Afentra and the local Enagol has been signed off by industry regulator the Agência Nacional de Petróleo, Gás e Biocombustíveis (ANPG).

London-listed Afentra has said its completion of the acquisition of Azule’s stakes in two offshore Angola oil blocks has presented a strong platform for the company to capitalise on further opportunities in Angola, as well as in target markets in West Africa.

Despite a period of intense activity in markets such as Namibia and Nigeria, merger and acquisition deals around the continent are taking longer to get over the line, reflecting the more complex structures being adopted and the need to tap less familiar sources of funding, writes James Gavin.

Angola’s first new refinery since independence is set to boost the trade balance of Africa’s third-largest crude exporter, with the initial phase expected to meet 10% of domestic demand.

Gemcorp Capital has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Energy and Water which could lead to excess power generated in Angola being exported to Namibia and the Southern African Power Pool (Sapp).

The Luena solar PV plant in Angola’s Moxico province has been commissioned. The plant is the fourth of seven being developed by MCA Group and Sun Africa.

London-AIM listed Afentra has completed a deal to acquire stakes in Angola's offshore blocks 3/05 and 3/05A, from BP/Eni joint venture Azule Energy.

The Kaminho project to develop the Cameia and Golfinho fields in Block 20/11 has reached a final investment decision, as operator TotalEnergies and partners Petronas and Sonangol seek to open up the offshore Kwanza Basin and supply some gas to CCGT units that will serve the Angolan power grid.

Angolan state utility Prodel has announced that the Luachimo hydroelectric plant’s rehab is complete and its capacity has been quadrupled. The project is part of the government’s 2023-27 plan to diversify its energy mix by incorporating about 72% of renewable energy and achieving a 50% electrification rate.

Ener-G-Africa has officially launched a biomass stove and cookware factory in Paarl, near Cape Town, giving impetus to efforts to promote green cooking in Africa.

Africa-focused indie Afentra has gained approval from the Angolan government to buy a 12% non-operating interest in Block 3/05 and a 16% non-operating interest in Block 3/05A from the BP/Eni joint venture Azule Energy.

CFM’s appointment to manage the Southern African Power Pool ’s $1.3bn Regional Transmission Infrastructure Financing Facility could free up a decades-long blockage in the development of cross-border transmission infrastructure. How quickly this happens depends on the success of fundraising efforts in the coming months, and the willingness of utilities and finance ministries to make the RTIFF scheme work.