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The host government agreement (HGA) for the $30bn Lindi liquefied natural gas (LNG) project – also known as Tanzania LNG – remains under discussion, according to Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) officials.

The latest data from Kenya Power indicates that spare power capacity fell to just 4% in December, the first time in over a decade the reserve margin had slipped below 10%. The regulator is concerned and the authorities are eyeing up the potential for bigger imports from Ethiopia and possible gas supply from Tanzania or beyond, writes Neville Otuki in Nairobi.

After more than ten years of political uncertainty and unrest, during which upstream activity has stagnated, Italian major Eni and National Oil Corporation (NOC) have agreed Libya’s biggest hydrocarbons investment commitment since Eni’s original investment in the Western Libya Gas Project (WLGP) in the early 2000s.

Karmol, the joint venture between Turkey’s Karpower and Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines has secured finance of up to $71m for a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) that will supply Karpower’s floating power plant in Senegal.

The floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) for the $4.8bn Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) liquefied natural gas (LNG) development has set sail from Qidong, project partners BP and Kosmos Energy have announced.

In the teeth of a severe and worsening currency crisis, Cairo has doubled down on its approach to hydrocarbons sector development, launching a new upstream bidding round, signing a number of bilateral exploration agreements and announcing two significant gas finds. Its regional energy hub plan has also received a boost, writes John Hamilton.

London-listed Sound Energy expects to reach a final investment decision (FID) for the second phase of its Tendrara concession by year-end, as it continues its search for a farm-in partner to join further exploration and appraisal work. Production from phase I is also expected to start in early 2024, writes Marc Howard.

Buoyed by Eni’s success at bringing new upstream projects on stream at pace and the changed outlook for investment and exports as the war in Ukraine approaches its first anniversary, Sonatrach is aiming for a rise in activity to boost output in North Africa’s gas giant, write James Gavin and Jon Marks

The UK Court of Appeal found against the campaigning group Friends of the Earth in a mid-January ruling on UK government support for the project. However, there are still many obstacles for those seeking to raise finance from western sources for Sub-Saharan hydrocarbons projects.

Sonelgaz’s decade-old programme to install a new generation of gas-fired power plants with turbines supplied by GE is limping towards the finish line, but the authorities continue to postpone the dates for final commissioning.

Australia’s Invictus Energy has extended the contract for Exalo’s Rig 202 to allow further drilling in Muzarabani. That leaves Helium One needing another rig for its Tanzania drilling campaign.

The target of finalising a host government agreement for the $30bn Lindi liquified natural gas (LNG) project by December was missed, due to the complexity of the negotiations.

London AIM-listed and Tanzania-focused explorer Helium One has reported that the Exalo rig due to be mobilised to its Rukwa licence in early 2023 is no longer available, after the current operator extended its contract.

UK-based firms have announced further moves towards developing gas-prone acreage in Morocco, with potential consequences for gas-fired power supply and liquids sales.

The offer by French independent Maurel & Prom (M&P) to acquire London AIM-listed Wentworth Resources for £61.7m ($75m) in cash is a further sign of the drive for consolidation among smaller exploration and production companies in Tanzania’s upstream sector.