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Switzerland-headquartered commodities giant Glencore said in early December it had reached an agreement with Democratic Republic of Congo under which it will pay $180m to cover present and future claims arising from alleged corruption between 2007-18.

Paris-based independent Perenco said on 28 November that it had discovered oil at the Tchnemi-01 well in the Tchibeli North East pre-salt Vandji exploration prospect, on the Perenco-operated PNGF Sud licence.

Perenco’s activities in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been the focus of fresh criticism. A report issued in early November by Investigate Europe, EIF and Disclose alleged that Perenco was  responsible for 167 pollution incidents and huge methane emissions.

The Mutoshi and Etoile copper and cobalt projects have received a funding boost from the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) and a syndicate of other, unnamed banks. Both copper and cobalt are vital inputs for the energy transition and have been designated by the United States, European Union (EU) and other major economies as critical or transition minerals.

Tunisia’s EPPM Group expect to start construction of offshore methane gas facilities and a 30MW gas conversion power plant on the DR Congo lake shore in early 2023. EPPM says it is in talks with lenders for a financial close that will finally allow the much-anticipated project to go ahead.

A 30-year concession has been signed for rail services and logistical support for the 1,290km Lobito corridor, which connects Lobito port to Luau in Angola’s east, close to the DR Congo border. The corridor offers the shortest route for mined copper and cobalt from DRC and Zambia to reach a deep-water port. It also offers increased capacity for the transit of liquids and gases.

Southern Africa leaders have made a joint appeal at COP27 for nearly $20bn from investors to complete electricity transmission interconnectors and fund new renewable energy projects, in part to increase energy capacity in the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

The multi-donor Universal Energy Facility has issued a Wave 2 tender for mini-grid projects in Democratic Republic of Congo, while results are awaited on its call for bids in Madagascar and Sierra Leone.

Uganda-based developer Equatorial Power (EP) has secured grant finance from two multilateral finance institutions to scale up its mini-grid business in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Uganda is planning an oil licensing round in 2023, as it seeks to develop its petroleum sector, mineral development and energy minister Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu told an oil and gas conference in Kampala on 27 September. African Energy examines this news and provides a roundup of other bid rounds across Africa.

Agence Nationale de l’Electrification et des Services Energétiques en Milieux Rural et Périurbain (Anser) has issued an invitation to tender for 14 projects, including three hydroelectric power (HEP) plants, to be implemented under the local development programme for the Grand Kasaï region.

Bboxx has concluded its acquisition of PEG Africa, giving the ­London-based firm access to four more African markets – Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Mali – while it is also tying up with more major corporates, creating ventures with Orange in Democratic Republic of Congo and Unilever in Kenya.

A confidential United Nations Group of Experts report, leaked on 4 August, included apparent evidence that the Rwandan military had been operating in Democratic Republic of Congo since last November, supporting the re-emergence of the Tutsi-led M23 militia.

FMO has signed a $750,000 ‘repayable development contribution’ for AEE Power Ventures, drawn from the Dutch development finance institution’s Access to Energy Fund.

The Ministry of Hydrocarbons has significantly expanded Democratic Republic of Congo’s oil and gas licensing round, which is due to start in late July, with 27 oil blocks and three gas concessions now included.