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Global markets may be recovering, but the continent is behind the curve and analysis of the 6,700-plus generation projects contained in the African Energy Live Data platform shows the trend continues.

As Europe looks for alternative sources of natural gas to replace its current dependence on Russia, Italy may be best placed to gain additional export volumes from Algeria thanks largely to Eni’s historic commitment to the country. The depth of this relationship is again being  demonstrated as chief executive Claudio Descalzi shepherds through the deal to take over BP’s stakes in the strategically important In Amenas and In Salah gas projects. Lacking a similar depth of commitment, the UK-based major is pulling back perhaps a a consequence of the of the 2013 Jihadist attack on the Tiguentourine complex at In Amenas.  Read  African Energy analysis of Algiers’ response to Europe’s energy crisis.

European leaders are confronting the urgent need to diversify energy supplies away from Russia, while also somehow keeping to their commitments to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, that they made – indeed pioneered – at the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, just four months ago.  African Energy examines the options and projects under discussion including gas and electricity imports and hydrogen prospects.

Quantum Power on 4 March signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Micoperi, part of Protan Group, for the Tema liquefied natural gas (LNG) import, storage, regasification and delivery scheme. The project has the ambitious aim of being operational by year-end, providing enough gas to generate 2,000MW. Quantum Power signed heads of terms for the construction and operation of the project with Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) in February. The LNG project is the latest to announce progress, with Ghana 1000 and the West African Gas Ltd (WAGL) Tema schemes also taking shape.

Minister of mineral and energy resources Gwede Mantashe said on 7 November the new draft Petroleum Amendment Bill, which is currently before cabinet, would be released for public comment within the next three weeks. The bill was drawn up following criticism of the previous government’s efforts to lump oil and gas with mining in the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) Amendment Bill.

The Zambian government has set up working group led by the Ministry of Mines and the Ministry of Energy to speed up exploration efforts in areas close to Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

The Ukraine crisis has, once more, thrown the European Union’s dependency on Russian gas into question – creating a political context in which, a senior EU official says, “we have no options but Algeria” to secure steady supply. Major international oil companies (IOCs) see the development of conventional gas fields and Algerian shales – which are recognised as some of the most promising outside North America – as a key to supplying European and wider markets over coming decades.

The imminent launch of Senelec’s strategic plan will show there is still momentum behind the electricity sector’s transformation as the utility commits to a gas and renewables future and its US-backed unbundling opens new possibilities for private investment. However, questions remain about whether the pace of change is sufficient to achieve the government’s objectives, writes Dan Marks.

The most abundant element on earth, hydrogen, already has industrial uses, but it could do much more to transform the global energy mix as industrialised economies and the global south decarbonise. Judged by the welter of governmental and corporate statements, hydrogen is featuring large in the thoughts of planners and project promoters. These range from Chinese hydrocarbons giant Sinopec’s plans to reallocate some of its Rmb87bn ($13bn) cash pile to projects “all along the hydrogen chain” to Australian junior miner AVZ Minerals’ green lithium mine project at Manono in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Gas-fuelled power projects have an important role to play in Africa, according to African Energy Live Data’s figures. The Africa-wide database lists 313 operating gas-fired plants, with 84,226MW of installed capacity; another 39 plants are under construction (with total 32,933MW capacity) and 156 are planned (66,921MW). The majority are utility-scale facilities supplying national grids; Live Data records 206 of these as operational (75,487MW), 33 under construction (28,754MW) and 119 planned (58,061MW).

Turkish concessionaire Aksa Enerji has formally returned the 50MW Djéno gas-powered plant to service. Aksa has a 30-year concession to operate the plant and expand it to 100MW over the concession period.

Development of the 10MW Achada Mostarda wind power plant on Santiago Island has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Major installed capacity gains are expected as mega-projects come to fruition, with hydroelectric power (HEP) driving growth in several regions.

The Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG project’s phase one remains on track for first exports by end-2023, with a Phase II development decision expected in Q3 22 for first gas from end-2026. Kosmos Energy says that in a booming global market, it is looking to sell its share of gas into spot markets, even if that means paying penalties to partner BP, writes Marc Howard.

Tel Aviv Stock Exchange-listed NewMed Energy’s proposed acquisition of London-listed Capricorn Energy has pushed aside a planned deal with Tullow Oil in favour of a merger that intensifies Israel’s involvement in the Egyptian upstream sector and could represent another important eastern Mediterranean gas play.