Search results

The 1,982km Niger-Benin export pipeline (NBEP) has been nominally commissioned by Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, although in reality it will be some months before any crude oil is exported along the route.

Tullow has agreed a $400m, five-year debt facility with commodities trader Glencore Energy, giving the UK indie a financial boost. The two sides have also agreed two oil marketing and offtake contracts, which will run concurrently with the debt agreement.

First discovered in 1974, the offshore Kudu gas field could provide substantial gas-to-power capacity for Namibia’s domestic market and for export to South Africa. Officials say it will proceed independently of recent massive Orange Basin discoveries further south, but industry observers are sceptical of the electricity export plans, citing the lack of transmission infrastructure with South Africa, write Our Namibia Correspondent and Marc Howard.

Following the recent dismissal of Sonatrach chief executive Toufik Hakkar, a further eight vice-presidents have now been dismissed from the national oil company, pointing to wider tensions within the Algiers establishment, writes Our Algiers Corresondent.

Kosmos Energy has taken an operated stake in the 25tcf offshore Yakaar-Teranga gas field, following BP’s exit, and says it intends to export up to 3m t/yr of LNG. Longstanding plans to supply local offtakers through a new pipeline are also set to continue. Meanwhile the cross-border Senegal-Mauritania LNG development continues, but progress could be held up as the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project’s FPSO awaits repairs off Durban, writes Marc Howard.

UK-headquartered independents are leading the way in developing Morocco’s onshore and offshore gas resources, as the government seeks to boost domestic supplies and reduce its reliance on expensive imports via Spain. Among recent activity, Chariot has secured environmental approval for its 1.5tcf offshore Anchois development, writes James Gavin.

With first oil expected from Lake Albert by early 2026, an array of associated infrastructure is under development, including the controversial Eacop pipeline. Shunned by western financiers, Chinese debt is expected to rescue Eacop, with a financing package due to be finalised in the coming weeks. Kampala has also signalled its appetite to intervene in energy markets by taking a majority stake in the Kabalega refinery, writes Marc Howard in Hoima.

Ara Petroleum Tanzania (APT) has confirmed the completion of its acquisition of an additional 25% interest in the Ruvuma production-sharing agreement (PSA) from London AIM-listed Scirocco Energy.

Were projects assessed solely on their economic and social impact, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (Eacop) and Lake Albert would probably be widely praised. Uganda needs both the energy and investment the projects bring. But the projects have drawn fierce criticism from environmental campaigners and NGOs, in Uganda and beyond in a concerted, high-profile campaign that has registered successes.

Nigeria’s 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery appears to have missed its expected start date in October, reportedly due to crude supply issues. However, Nigeria’s downstream sector will receive another boost with the expected return to service of the 110,000 b/d Kaduna refinery in 2024, writes James Gavin.

Karadeniz’s subsidiary Karpowership South Africa has secured environmental approval to proceed with the 450MW Richards Bay gas-to power plant.

Dubai-based port operator DP World has signed a 30-year concession with Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) to operate and modernise Dar es Salaam Port.

A fresh burst of activity is expected in Namibia’s Orange Basin, where Portugal’s Galp Energia is the latest international oil company to plan drilling, in a venture that also includes state-owned Namcor and ubiquitous local magnate Knowledge Katti.

Production is set to increase in Africa’s two main uranium producers, Niger and Namibia, as market prices surge after a decade in the doldrums. The extra output comes largely from recommissioned mines, with the greenfield Dasa project facing delays following Niger’s coup.

Amid fresh speculation that it is eyeing up an entry into Mozambique’s Rovuma LNG project, Abu Dhabi National Oil Corporation (Adnoc) looks set to become a more active participant in upstream projects in Africa, so long as natural gas is on the agenda.