Search results

Egypt’s new leaders are keen to renegotiate export contracts with Israel and Jordan, which are accused of being sold gas at preferential prices. Court hearings took place in 2009 to challenge the Israeli deal in particular (AE 172/21). Prime minister Essam Sharaf said in April he hoped to boost Egypt’s income from gas exports by $3bn-4bn. Domestic energy shortages have also made the deals unpopular, and there is a de facto moratorium on new export projects.

The government has issued a licence for oil and gas exploration on Block 31 to South African company Rapid African Energy.

US company Badger Licensing has announced a contract to provide proprietary technology and basic engineering for a 300,000 t/yr ethylbenzene/styrene monomer (EBSM) plant.

The Algerian corruption crisis took a decisive turn in early May when a criminal court in Oran sentenced former Sonatrach president director-general (PDG) Mohammed Meziane to two years jail for embezzlement, while his interim successor, former downstream vice president Abdelhafid Feghouli, received a one-year term.

Having brought in a Japanese partner, the US indie is preparing to drill off Sierra Leone and Liberia, hoping to continue the region’s success with the drillbit established by Ghana’s oil plays. Meanwhile controversial entrepreneur Frank Timis is tightening his grip on resources plays in Sierra Leone

MART RESOURCES: Late filing; PACIFIC DRILLING SA: New Nigerian mandate; TGS: New senior VP for Africa, Mideast, Asia Pacific

São Tomé e Príncipe’s national petroleum agency has awarded Block 3 in the Exclusive Economic Zone to Nigeria’s Oranto Petroleum.

Equity financing is almost complete for the Egyptian Refinery Company (ERC) project, which tapped North Africa’s largest debt financing in H2 2010 and is due to start operations in 2015.

ANGOLA: Cobalt pre-salt plans; GABON: Dussafu drilling; SOUTH AFRICA: Shale gas exploration halt in Karoo; TANZANIA: BG contracts new rig

ALGERIA: In Salah contract; MOROCCO: Dry well for Repsol; LIBYA: Gazprom stalls on Elephant deal.

After signing deals to look for unconventional hydrocarbons reserves in Congo-B and other E&P frontiers, the Italian giant is looking to consolidate its relations with major partner Algeria by supporting energy minister Yousfi’s quest to exploit shale gas reserves – which Sonatrach officials believe could be considerable in several Saharan basins

Already a partner in exploration licences operated by Repsol YPF and Gazprom, ambitious Italian utility Enel has bought into Petroceltic International’s gas-prone Isarène permit, which includes the Aïn Tsila gas condensate discovery and potential natural gas reserves to supply its European markets.

Sharjah-based Dana Gas has announced another gas discovery in the Nile Delta and says it is considering a London share listing.

Upstream regulator Agence Nationale pour la Valorisation des Hydrocarbures (Alnaft) is planning another licensing round before end-2011, Algerian officials have said. International oil companies (IOCs) are waiting to see whether Algiers will improve terms – reversing the recent negative bidding trend (AE 206/13).

Madagascar Oil has taken its dispute with the government over its four operated blocks to international arbitration. The company was forced to halt trading in its shares just two weeks after their listing when the government indicated it wanted to take back its blocks 3104, 3105, 3106 and 3107 (AE 201/15).