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Efforts to reform the energy industry will include looking again at what can be done to transform the country’s notoriously inefficient refining sector

Former Libyan prime minister and National Oil Corporation chairman Shukri Ghanem, former Algerian energy and mines minister Chakib Khelil, former Nigerian petroleum minister Rilwanu Lukman and former Iraqi oil minister Issam Chalabi have created Chalabi, Ghanem, Khelil & Lukman Associates

Marking 50 years of business presence in Nigeria this year, Total has announced the start-up of the Usan field on OML138.

Nigeria has begun the renewal of oil licences while promising major investment in joint ventures to boost production and faltering levels of exploration. But industry reform seems no closer, writes David Slater in Lagos

The privatisation of Nigeria’s generation and distribution companies has been delayed yet again, the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) announced in mid-February. The preferred bidders will now be announced by 23 October. The latest delay is blamed on disagreement between the government and bidding companies over the regulatory framework.

The much delayed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is undergoing yet another drafting, and is expected to be submitted to the presidency “within the next six to eight weeks”, petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke said on 21 February. She told CWC’s Nigerian Oil and Gas conference in Abuja the bill would then be passed to the national assembly for debate.

Azurite disappointment; Oando swamp rig for Shell; Total starts work on Ofon Phase 2; Shell wins Orange Basin right; Third time lucky for Tower?

An energy trade mission led by US deputy assistant secretary of state for African affairs William Fitzgerald visited Mozambique, Tanzania, Nigeria and Ghana from 6-17 February

Government reformists and international economists agree that scrapping subsidies is essential if Nigeria is to have more cost-reflective pricing and bite into the rents that have enriched a well-connected few, but the reality that change is a political risk has been underlined by the controversial decision to raise petrol prices, leading to protests and strikes that have tested the government’s resolve

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (Nerc) is seeking expressions of interest from consultants to audit the accounts of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria successor companies as they await privatisation

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has secured a medium-term $1.5bn commercial bank loan, raising hopes that the multi-billion dollar payments backlog at its Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) fuel-importing arm is being addressed

The removal of fuel subsidies, albeit temporary, was the first step in the energy sector deregulation that President Goodluck Jonathan made the staple of his re-election campaign last year; that deregulation is expected to continue with the passing of the long-delayed Petroleum Industry Bill

In the build-up to the removal of fuel subsidies, a meeting of the Joint Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream, Finance and Appropriation in early December revealed the members of a cartel of some 100 companies which had benefited from N3.655trn of government handouts since 2006

Oando Gas and Power has completed construction of a 128km gas pipeline system from Akwa Ibom to Cross River State. The pipeline was built under a joint-venture arrangement …

Industry optimists may argue that investment commitments are rising, along with the number of opportunities to buy into long-term generation, transmission and distribution schemes. But much of the running in supplying power to fast-growing sub-Saharan economies – and their electricity-poor populations – is still being made by providers of temporary solutions. Below, African Energy provides an indicative listing of recent emergency, standby and distributed projects in a variety of sub-Saharan economies