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The Indian government is seeking a long-term crude oil supply deal from Namibia. Comments attributed to a senior government official, and reported in the Indian press, said the world’s third-largest oil importer was looking for a “long-term contract” that would protect it from volatile global energy markets.

Plans for the ambitious Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) were given a boost in mid-October, when Mauritania and Senegal became the first two transit countries to sign memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for the 7,000km-plus project.

The first cargo from Eni’s Coral Sul floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) plant is expected to be shipped in early November and will be sent to European markets.

Nigeria’s indigenous gas company has declared force majeure as floods disrupt virtually all of its feedgas supplies in the Niger Delta region. Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) is currently reviewing the extent of the disruption with its suppliers. At least 30 states have been hit by severe flooding with several communities completely submerged.

Europe’s hunger for non-Russian sources of natural gas has intensified diplomatic and commercial rivalries in the eastern Mediterranean, pushed ambitious schemes to the forefront, and raised the prospects of other African gas plays that were previously considered marginal. But it is not obvious that European governments or buyers are ready to plump for one favoured deal over the rest, meaning the gas could still go elsewhere.  

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has acquired OVH Energy Marketing (OVH), which operates the 380-strong Oando petrol station chain in Nigeria and Togo, for an undisclosed sum. The service stations will be rebranded under the NNPC brand by end-2023.

Seeking to build African alliances as it navigates the fallout of President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Russia has reiterated its willingness to help build a 1,500km petroleum products pipeline in Republic of Congo, from the oil hub at Pointe Noire to Ouesso in the north.

An Egyptian-led East Mediterranean gas hub hangs in the balance as the partners in Israel’s offshore Leviathan and Tamar gas fields weigh up their commercial options in the face of Cairo’s ambitions to dominate the market. It is the latest in a series of manoeuvres as eastern Mediterranean states – including Libya and Turkey – manoeuvre for position.

TotalEnergies is to face a group of environmental pressure groups in a French court on 7 December, in a dispute over the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (Eacop) and Tilenga projects in Uganda and Tanzania.

The Libyan and Turkish governments have defended their latest memorandum of understanding (MoU) on hydrocarbons exploitation in maritime areas that they claim, but several neighbours dispute. The result is a bad-tempered stand-off, even before details have been announced, let alone exploration areas named or awarded.

President João Lourenço and his MPLA government are promising more reforms following their return to power, but a big privatisation campaign headlined by Angola’s state oil giant Sonangol will likely take years to come into effect.

The Indian government and parastatals are discussing taking liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Algeria and Angola under long-term supply agreements in response to the energy crisis. The African countries are not alone, as New Delhi has also said it has reached out to other big producers including the United States, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, as the government seeks to reassure anxious markets.

London AIM-listed Savannah Energy has said its acquisition of ExxonMobil and Petronas’ upstream and midstream assets in Chad and Cameroon is on track to be completed by year-end.

The Sahel region’s multi-faceted crises have deepened further with junior officers replacing their seniors in Burkina Faso’s latest coup d’état, a move which now threatens sanctions and other retaliation from Ecowas states, increases diplomatic tensions with western governments – while Russia helps to fan the flames – and undermines business initiatives and efforts to make economies more sustainable. African Energy analyses the latest developments in Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea and Mali, along with their G5 Sahel partner Niger and other big stakeholders in the region.

Eni’s Coral Sul floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) plant began production of LNG on 2 October, African Energy understands from industry sources. The cargo – Mozambique and Coral Sul’s first liquefied natural gas exports – will be collected by the 174,000m3 BW Lesmes tanker, owned by Singapore-headquartered BW Group.