Search results

Tower Resources has named Sterling Energy co-founder Graeme Thomson as its new chief executive. Tower pulled out of Ugandan block EA5 after three dry wells but still has three blocks in Namibia, as well as interests in the disputed Western Sahara

Senegal’s application for Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) candidate status was approved at the 17 October annual meeting in Abidjan. Senegal is now required to publish its first EITI report by 17 October 2015. At the same meeting, Cameroon was designated EITI compliant. EITI chair Clare Short said: “I congratulate Cameroon on fulfilling all the transparency requirements of the EITI movement. I hope that this will lead to a process of reform that brings real benefits to the people of Cameroon.” 


GE Oil and Gas is to supply equipment and technology for the Chevron-operated Lianzi project, to bring the offshore field straddling Angola and Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) on stream

Sharjah-based Dana Gas said the Al Baraka-4 well, drilled as an appraisal of the Al Baraka field in the Komombo concession, had discovered a new pool in the Six Hills “E” reservoir.

Efforts to encourage private investment in power were under way in Ethiopia before Abiy Ahmed became prime minister in April 2018, but it is only since he assumed office and launched wide-ranging political and economic reform that a credible programme has emerged. The scope of the power sector reforms is impressive, covering utility debt, sector organisation, tariffs, electrification, subsidies and private generation.

Petroceltic reports higher flows from Isarene well; Successful Al-Amir appraisal; More time for Verenex/LIA talks; AuDAX signs Chorbane LoI with DNO International

London-based offshore Block 2B operator Thombo Petroleum Ltd has awarded a 3D seismic acquisition and processing contract to WesternGeco, covering 686km2 of the A‐J1 graben off South Africa’s west coast.

India’s efforts to penetrate sub-Saharan markets will receive a boost with the imminent start-up of the first major project in Ethiopia’s ambitious sugar industry expansion programme.

German solar photovoltaic (PV) mounting system manufacturer Renusol has signed an agreement to supply its equipment to South African wholesaler Lumax Energy. “The solar market in South Africa is continuously growing,” said Lumax business development manager Frans-Willem Vermaak. “On top of the estimated 100MW of rooftop and agricultural photovoltaic output that has already been installed in the country, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research predicts a significant rise in new installations in the future – 500MW per year is possible – if the government provides even greater support for solar power generation, for example by enhancing regulation, introducing tax incentives or a feed-in tariff in all provinces.

As this is African Energy’s 200th issue, the editorial team is minded to reflect on past stories and their links to current news

London-based Simba Energy has attracted a farm-in from a new private equity-backed company for its Kenyan Block 2A. Simba said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Ajax Exploration, which will acquire a 66% stake and the operatorship. 


An announcement from Eni saying chief executive Claudio Descalzi met Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi on 13 September in Kinshasa gave little away, saying only that they discussed forest conservation initiatives and Descalzi outlined prospects for projects to improve electricity distribution infrastructure.However, sources in Kinshasa told African Energy the talks covered the Inga III development, oil and gas exploration blocks in eastern Congo, and prospects for supplying power to the DRC mining sector from a planned expansion to the Centrale Electrique du Congo (CEC) gas-fired power plant in Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo.

The Algerian authorities have continued to sign new deals in the upstream and downstream sectors while advancing their more controversial agenda of exploiting shale resources despite public opposition. Preparations are building for a policy announcement in December which could open the way to further developments next year. On 7 October, Sonatrach, Total and Repsol completed their agreements to jointly develop the Erg Issouane gas field and market the gas. The field is located on the TFT Sud permit south of the partners’ existing Tin Fouyé Tabenkort (TFT) field.

BP and Statoil are evacuating staff from the In Salah gas plant following an attack on 18 March. The Krechba site was hit by a rocket attack from outside the site perimeter at about 6am, but no one was injured. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed responsibility. BP said it had decided to undertake a phased temporary relocation of its staff from the In Salah and In Amenas joint ventures over the next two weeks as a precautionary measure. Statoil said it would withdraw its staff from the In Salah and In Amenas plants, together with staff from its operations centre at Hassi Messaoud.

Canadian Overseas Petroleum Ltd (COPL) has formed a joint venture partnership with Nigeria’s Shoreline Energy International Limited to acquire upstream oil and gas assets in sub-Saharan Africa. Assets acquired through the JV will be held in a special purpose vehicle registered in Bermuda, called Shoreline CanOverseas Petroleum Development Corporation Limited (ShoreCan). COPL and Shoreline will each hold 50% in ShoreCan, which has already taken acreage in Tanzania and Namibia and is evaluating assets in Nigeria, Ghana and Mozambique, COPL said.