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Rabat has released little information about the impact of gas finds in eastern Morocco, in line with its cautious management of information on the hydrocarbons industry. But reserves in the Sound Energy-operated Tendrara gas field are now deemed sufficient for the government to stop taking gas through the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline (GME) when its contract with Algeria expires in 2020-21. This means Morocco will not need to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) until much later in the next decade, when new combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plants are built, officials in Rabat have told African Energy.

Libyans have always enjoyed an enviable reputation of being ruthless negotiators. “They could open a university of negotiation,” a hardened British deal-broker recently quipped to an African Energy journalist. But IOCs’ current grumbles about

The authorities have named the management team that will carry Sonatrach into the next phase of its investment programme – and through a difficult phase when former key members of the top team are expected to face trial for corruption. The replacements of executives under investigation have not been made permanent, so as not to prejudge the outcome of any trial,

The Gharabi-1 commitment well on offshore Block 6 has been plugged and abandoned after failing to find hydrocarbons. The well was drilled by operator Petronas, which is planning to pull out of Mauritania as part of a general withdrawal from Africa

Niger-focused Savannah Petroleum is in talks to acquire the oil and gas assets of Nigeria’s Seven Energy, which has run into financial difficulties related to the closure of the Forcados terminal and non-payment for its gas supply to power stations. Savannah said on 13 July that it had entered into a binding exclusivity agreement in relation to the potential acquisition.Savannah has exploration acreage in Niger, where it plans a first well in August.

Total said on 11 December it had brought on stream the Moho Phase 1b project, with a production capacity of 40,000 boe/d. “Moho Phase 1b is our ninth start-up since the beginning of the year and will contribute to our strong production growth in the years to come,” said president exploration and production Arnaud Breuillac. “It follows the start-up of Dalia Phase 1A on Angola’s Block 17 in July this year and, more recently, the Lianzi field which straddles the deep offshore of Congo and Angola.”

Operator Cairn Energy has begun drilling the deep-water Fan-1 well, using the Cajun Express semisubmersible rig. Partner Far said the well would test a stacked fan structure with potential to contain 900m barrels of oil. The well, on the North Fan prospect in 1,500 metres of water, will be immediately followed by a second well targeting a shelf edge prospect in 1,100 metres of water.

Analysis of the impact of financial crisis on IOCs

The Norwegian major’s stakes in Angola include the following:- Block 4/05A – 20% share in Sonangol-operated block now at the development phase that also contains a large area with remaining exploration potential. The Gimboa field is being

The lightning takeover of export terminals by Libyan National Army (LNA) forces under the command of General Khalifa Haftar has thrown Libya’s struggling political process into a state of confusion from which it is unlikely to recover. Intended as a move to destabilise the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) and its Presidency Council (PC), it may well lead to their collapse. If so, this would also fatally undermine the policy pursued for the past 18 months by western European governments and the United States via the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (Unsmil).

BW Offshore successfully offloaded a first cargo of oil from the BW Adolo floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) on the Dussafu licence on 2 December. A total of 550,000 barrels of oil were transferred from the FPSO to a tanker, which will transport the crude oil to a refinery. The BW Adolo achieved first oil from the Tortue field offshore Gabon on 16 September after completing hook-up of mooring systems and installation of risers and umbilicals.

Greece’s Aegean Energy has taken a second licence in Egypt, farming into Groundstar Resources’ West Kom Ombo Block. Last December, Aegean obtained its first international exploration licence, the East Magawish Block in the Gulf of Suez (AE 184/23).

While the Jubilee field is being fast-tracked to first oil next year, approval of the development plan has been proceeding rather more slowly

NIGERIA/SAO TOME: JDZ Block 2 extension; RWANDA: Government expects to sign PSA with Vanoil; SIERRA LEONE: Block SL-4 may have new owner

Royal Dutch Shell has sold a 30% stake in OML 40 to Elcrest Exploration as part of its divestment programme.