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Libya’s oil sector governance is under fire as never before, with Presidential Council head Mohammed Al-Menfi asking National Oil Corporation to explain its multi-billion-dollar spending over the past two years. With oil production flatlining and gas production at risk of severe decline, Libya needs new field developments, but two of its biggest projects have become mired in allegations of corruption. With potential ramifications for all those operating across a range of sectors in Libya, African Energy has been investigating these issues and more for a series of articles based on extensive source enquiries and documentary evidence.

Chariot has plugged its RZK-1 well in Morocco’s Loukos onshore licence area after deciding its gas was uneconomic to develop, but the British indie has quickly moved on to drill the nearby OBA-1 exploration well.

IFC and the Italian Climate Fund are investing in Eni’s project to increase biofuel feedstock production and processing in Kenya.

Benin’s President Patrice Talon has allowed the temporary lifting of the inaugural cargo from the Niger-Benin Export Pipeline, after his 8 May bombshell announcement that Cotonou would not allow exports until Niamey reopened its side of the border, write Virgile Ahissou in Cotonou and Marc Howard.

President Patrice Talon’s sudden announcement that Benin would block the lifting of oil cargoes from the Niger-Benin Export Pipeline was a shock move that may be remedied swiftly but nevertheless point to continuing pressures on Niamey, since the military regime opted to end alliances with the US and France in favour of Russia and special friend China, write Marc Howard and Virgile Ahissou

Ahead of his expected late June re-election, President Mohammed Ahmed El Ghazouani is presiding over a potentially fast-changing Mauritania that can expect new revenues from its joint GTA gas field with Senegal and potentially more long-term investment plays that exploit its minerals reserves, P2X potential and route to the sea, write Marc Howard, Waly Dione Faye and Jon Marks.

A major source of natural gas for South Africa could be constrained as soon as 2025, with declining reserves at Mozambique’s Pande and Temane fields potentially leading to supply shortages. South Africa will need to secure new sources of feedstock if it is to develop the gas-to-power projects that many see as essential to provide baseload for the renewable energy sector that African Energy Live Data shows is gaining momentum.

National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) has signed an agreement with  Chevron for the offshore PEL 82 licence area. Namibia is hoping the deal could encourage more majors to come into the Walvis Basin, in the hope of replicating the Orange Basin’s exploration success further south.

Sound Energy has applied to enter the Anoual project’s second phase, which includes drilling an initial exploration well, while two other UK-listed indies have also been progressing their drilling campaigns with Chariot starting to drill a well on its Loukos onshore licence and SDX preparing to sidetrack a recently completed well in pursuit of a gas formation.

Recently-elected President Faye has vowed to boost on-grid renewable energy capacity and phase out the use of expensive liquid fuels for power generation. Analysis from African Energy Live Data shows this is a continuation of a trend set by his predecessor Macky Sall. However, the phasing out of HFO also relies on the country tapping into its substantial gas reserves and Faye’s pledge to renegotiate hydrocarbons contracts makes some nervous.

There are signs of progress on two multi-billion dollar asset sales to local players by international majors which, coupled with sector reforms unveiled in March and a new licensing round launched in late April, may give rise to guarded optimism in the upstream sector, despite perennial issues around security and theft, writes James Gavin.

Nigeria’s 650,000 b/d Dangote refinery is gradually ramping up its operations, with diesel supplies to the local market starting in March and exports beginning the following month. However, there have been more reports of teething troubles, with one crude cargo said to have been held offshore for a month over a payment dispute.

BP/Eni joint venture Azule Energy – which until now has focused entirely on Angola – has taken a 42.5% stake in an offshore block in Nambia’s Orange Basin, close to the giant Graff and Venus discoveries. The farm-in deal includes an option for Azule to become operator in the future.

Approval from the interim parliament in Conakry for an unprecedented-for-Guinea liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal and gas-to-power plant could be the first step towards meeting a predicted huge mining-driven increase in electricity demand. The project’s scale has raised eyebrows, but could prove transformative if it goes ahead, writes Marc Howard.

SDX Energy will receive $6.6m for its stakes in West Gharib blocks G and H. A deal to sell its other Egyptian asset, South Disouq, is still the subject of negotiations. The Egypt exit will allow the London AIM-listed firm to focus on its operations in Morocco.