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Total E&P Nigeria Ltd (TEPNG) has struck oil with the Etisong well in the south-eastern corner

Like so many frontier explorers confronted by the credit crunch, the group looking for oil in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Republic of Puntland are facing an uphill task to keep funding ticking over. But Australian minnow Range Resources and Canadian farm-in partner Africa Oil Co

Australia’s Elixir Petroleum has taken over its partner’s stake in Block SL-4 following its failure to pay its share of seismic costs. Elixir issued a notice of default to Prontinal in late September, but was unable to get it to pay the $9m owed. Elixir took over operatorship in February and contracted a 3D seismic survey, which was completed in June. The block was originally awarded to US-based real estate company 8 Investments, sole bidder in the 2002 licensing round.

The breakaway Republic of Somaliland’s reputation as an unusually peaceful haven in the Horn of Africa was shattered by recent suicide bomb attacks, but oil companies say they are committed to what remains a highly prospective area. Both Prime Resources and Asante Oil have reconfirmed their commitment to operate in Somaliland, following three separate suicide bomb attacks

Total has announced positive results for the Moho Nord Marine-3 well in the northern part of the Moho-Bilondo licence

Philippe Edmonds’ White Nile Ltd has announced plans to change its name to Agriterra and focus on African agriculture, following its problems in the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) region. “Due to certain situations beyond the control of the board, including the fluctuating political situation in Southern Sudan and the current global economic downturn,

Edison International has won a tender to take over the offshore Abu Qir gas fields after agreeing to pay a signature bonus of $1.405bn. The Italian company said it had signed a 20-year concession agreement with Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) following an international tender in which 13 companies submitted offers.

With ExxonMobil looking for a rig to drill on its Ampasindava permit’s Sifaka prospect in H2 2009, the US giant’s 30% partner Sterling Energy is set to farm out part of its stake and thus reduce its share of the huge costs implied by working in the Madagascar offshore (AE 127/16). Industry sources put the well’s cost at some $180m-200m, which is likely to comfortably exceed Sterling’s remaining carry.

The Libyan government has created a new position of general manager at NOC to delegate much of the daily operational responsibility away from chairman Shukri Ghanem. The General People’s Committee appointed Ali Al-Saghir Mohammed Saleh, one of Libya’s senior exploration professionals, to the post on 1 December.

Canada’s Verenex Energy is battling against the credit crunch as it weighs up whether it can obtain financing to develop its multiple Ghadames Basin discoveries, or if it should sell up. The company, which recently published an updated assessment of resources in the area, has said that it expects to conclude a review of its strategic options in Q1 2009 (AE 150/14).

The emergence of a new Libyan fund as a vehicle for acquiring a substantial minority stake in Italy’s Eni shows the cash-rich Jamahiriya mobilising to take best advantage of the global financial crisis, writes John Hamilton. The Libyan Energy Fund (LEF), an institution which has not acted publicly before now, on 6 December announced in a joint statement with the Italian government..

Sonatrach postponed the bid opening for the seventh licensing round from 3 December, to 13 December, the state company announced just ahead of the planned event. An Algerian source close to the bidding told African Energy “the delay was due to agenda reasons”, with key officials preoccupied with the run-up to the 17 December OPEC meeting in Oran and other commitments

Are Algeria's ambitious energy sector plans feasibile?

Saipem contract for Hassi Messaoud LPG; LPG supply to double; KBR wins petrochems pre-FEED contract

Central Europeans look to Africa for energy security, with increasing interest in North African projects from Central European oil companies