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London-based Afren has suspended two more directors as part of an investigation into the receipt of unauthorised payments. The company suspended Iain Wright and Galib Virani on 28 August after finding that they had received payments linked to the previously identified transactions for the benefit of chief executive Osman Shahenshah and chief operating officer Shahid Ullah, who were suspended on 31 July. The payments were not made by Afren, the company said.In a note to its H1 accounts, Afren said the board had engaged lawyers Willkie Farr & Gallagher (WFG) to conduct an independent review into three transactions between Afren and its partners in 2012 and 2013.

Investor interest in Madagascar picked up when companies were attracted by the island state’s potential for power sector developments, as former president Hery Rajaonarimampianina hosted an influential donor and investor conference in 2016.The going has since proven tough for many investors, as early movers have run into payment issues with malfunctioning state utility Jiro sy Rany Malagasy (Jirama) and the administration has proved unpredictable in renegotiating power purchase agreements (PPAs).

The warlord Khalifa Haftar’s comprehensive blockade of oil export terminals in eastern and western Libya is an attempt to force his drawn-out siege of Tripoli into an endgame. His price for lifting the blockade is the replacement of both National Oil Corporation (NOC) chairman Mustafa Sanalla and Central Bank of Libya (CBL) governor Sadiq Al-Kabir. He also wants a greater share of oil revenues. Acceding to these demands would hand Haftar control of the two institutions that control the country’s resources and its money.

An independent lawyer appointed by Eskom has cleared chief operating officer Jan Oberholzer of allegations of corruption, dishonesty, conflict of interest and abuse of power, the utility announced on 15 April. The lawyer submitted his findings to Eskom on 4 April, having begun his investigation on 20 March. Allegations relate to contracts signed with Black and Veatch to design the 4,800MW Kusile coal power plant, and Stefanutti Stocks, in which he was shareholder.

Ecobank chairman Kolapo Lawson was forced to stand down in late October after concerns were raised about corporate governance. Media reports said Lawson agreed to go after board members meeting in Ghana decided his departure was
necessary to restore confidence among customers and shareholders following a battle over governance issues. The Nigerian central bank wrote to the pan-African lender in April, notifying it of Lawson’s failure to repay $8.79m (N1.4bn) in debts sold to state-owned Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria and a further N1.6bn owed to Ecobank by businesses associated with him. 


Angola’s Ministry of Energy and Water has notified Angolan company Aenergia SA of its intention to terminate contracts for the installation, technical assistance and maintenance of power plants in the country. A presidential order on 23 August gave the ministry permission to terminate the contracts, settle accounts with Aenergia, take possession of equipment and conclude agreements with GE to ensure contract implementation. The contracts, which were financed through a loan to the government by GE Capital Ltd, were approved by the ministry in July and August 2017.

The Cyrenaica-based government of Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thinni is continuing efforts to establish its own oil sales in the international market, and to prevent buyers from engaging with the Tripoli-based management of National Oil Corporation (NOC). However, despite optimistic claims in early November that the eastern NOC had succeeded in closing a sale, and that a tanker to lift the crude was two days’ sailing from the Marsa Al-Harigah terminal, it has so far failed to overcome resistance from the international community and internal political barriers to achieving this ambition.

Any administration would be hard-pressed to cope with Cyclone Idai. For central Mozambique, southern Malawi and eastern Zimbabwe, the catastrophe is piled onto already often poorly served communities and underperforming governments. Even after the most severe storm hit on 14-15 March, news outlets and the donor community took time to appreciate the scale of the disaster – as mosque killings, Brexit and Donald Trump jostled for airtime that might have helped generate more immediate support.

Victoria Oil & Gas (VOG) has named Roy Kelly as its new chief executive, with effect from 23 March. Kelly was previously partner, head of technical, at private equity fund Kerogen Capital. Once Kelly starts work, Ahmet Dik will step down as chief executive and from the board of directors, but will continue to work with the company for a 12-month transition period. After the annual general meeting, expected to be held in June, Roger Kennedy will move from his role as executive chairman to a non-executive chairman role.

Sceptics looking for evidence that Chinese companies do not always follow the rules of international business need look no further than the recent list of firms suspended from doing business with the World Bank Group (WBG), African Development Bank (AfDB) and other multilateral development banks. The bank’s list of disbarments contains dozens of Chinese companies, many of them inter-related, banned for corruption in African and other markets in the latest actions against those caught bribing officials.

The World Bank is seeking a consultant to develop a comprehensive energy efficiency strategy, funded by a grant from the Africa Renewable Energy Access programme. The government has undertaken several energy efficiency programmes over the last few years, including distribution of compact fluorescent bulbs to replace incandescent bulbs in 2010, the implementation in 2013 of ripple control to remotely turn on and off domestic hot water heaters and the development in 2008 of guidelines for energy efficient building design that are yet to be implemented, as well as public awareness programmes and energy audits of public institutions.

Eni’s new chief executive, Claudio Descalzi, is under preliminary investigation by the Milan prosecutor’s office in relation to the acquisition of Nigerian block OPL 245 in 2011. Descalzi, who replaced Paolo Scaroni in May, was head of Eni’s exploration and production division at the time of the Nigerian transaction. “Eni continues to deny any illegal conduct,” the company said in a statement. “Eni is co-operating with the Milan prosecutor’s office, and is confident that the correctness of its actions will emerge during the course of the investigation.”

Sonatrach chairman and chief executive (PDG) Toufik Hakkar on 12 March appointed a number of new senior managers. The company said the changes were intended to “revitalise the functioning of those structures concerned”. The appointments, including a number of women, are:

More evidence is expected from UK authorities and South African sources as part of the investigation into the use of the UK’s banking system by the Gupta brothers, Lord Hain of Neath – Peter Hain – told African Energy. Letters from Hain to the chancellor, Phillip Hammond, last month instigated investigations by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), National Crime Agency, and the Serious Fraud Office. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has begun investigating in the United States and evidence has been submitted to the European Union, although an investigation has not yet begun.

An investigation committee appointed by President Salva Kiir has recommended criminal proceedings against former cabinet affairs minister Deng Alor Kuol for an alleged ‘un-procedural’ transfer of $8m to Kenyan-based company Daffy Investment Group. Alor Kuol was suspended from the government in June, along with former finance minister Kosti Manibe Ngai. Manibe Ngai has since been cleared of any criminal responsibility.