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With potentially difficult elections beckoning as African Energy went to press, progress on an impressive roster of potential hydroelectric projects remains subject to Guinea’s volatile politics

There has been a fresh wave of violent protests in the volatile capital of Conakry in recent days, with crowds attacking offices of state utility Electricité de Guinée (EDG) and blocking roads with burning tyres to protest at continued power cuts.

Houston-based Hyperdynamics has confirmed that an amendment to its production-sharing contract (PSC) removes its right of first refusal over relinquished acreage.

GUINEA: PSC still not finalised; MOZAMBIQUE: More gas for Anadarko; TUNISIA: AfDB loan for Hasdrubal development

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

Hyperdynamics has completed the acquisition of 10,000km of 2D seismic over its offshore exploration acreage. The survey was carried out by Norway’s Bergen Oilfield Services. Hyperdynamics said new partners Dana Petroleum and Repsol were expected to contribute their pro rata shares of the $11m total cost, although Repsol has yet to decide on its farm-in. Repsol has extended its letter of intent to 11 March, the date set out in Hyperdynamics’ September 2009 memorandum of understanding with the government for ratification of its production-sharing contract.

Hyperdynamics has completed the acquisition of 10,000km of 2D seismic over its offshore exploration acreage.

The latest political settlement looks promising but Guinea is still not plain sailing for Hyperdynamics, which has yet to finalise its farm-in deal with Repsol

Ethiopia in EITI, Guinea temporarily out; Big US fund divests Sudan related interests; French loan for Medupi turbines

US minnow Hyperdynamics Corporation has submitted to the government a relinquishment plan for 64% of its original offshore contract area and a 2010-2011 work plan for the 36% it has selected to retain and explore (AE 176/16).

The excitement over West Africa’s Transform Margin reflects the play’s potential to deliver oil finds in countries that have hitherto been of marginal interest at best (AE 174/1).

The Spanish firm has stepped in as operator of Hyperdynamics’ concession offshore Guinea, just as the country’s chronically unstable politics take another turn for the worse, writes Thalia Griffiths

Despite international condemnation of the killing of scores of unarmed protesters, Guinea has attracted a credible offshore farm-in partner in Dana Petroleum, write Thalia Griffiths and our Conakry correspondent. But can IOCs overlook the country’s governance record, or will China’s promised infrastructure package win the day?

China has turned its attention to Guinea as offshore licence holder Hyperdynamics brings in a new team. Former chairman and chief executive Kent Watts and current executive vice president Harry Briers have quit the Hyperdynamics board, though Briers will remain on the management team.

After months of uncertainty and a curtailing of its operations on the ground, Hyperdynamics Corporation says its new chief executive officer has signed a memorandum of understanding “reaffirming the validity of Hyperdynamics’ concession”.