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Aqua Power in late July lost a legal challenge to the award of an engineering, procurement and construction contract for the 185MW Kinyerezi I gas power plant to CSI Energy Group (Tanzania). The contract was awarded by Tanzania Electricity Supply Company (Tanesco) in November 2020.

As presidential and congressional elections approach in Brazil, observers say the potential for a change in leadership is raising the possibility of a return by Brazilian industrial giants to Africa after a difficult period of governance crises and restructuring.

Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed is set to claim beefed-up powers under a new authoritarian constitution, via a referendum planned for 25 July. That may allow for progress on long-delayed renewable power projects, but his critics say the president has not prepared the population for some tough measures that are needed to prevent economic collapse, as state budgets are squeezed and unemployment and inflation increase.

With over 7.4GW of engine capacity installed across 45 countries, Helsinki-headquartered Wärtsilä reports progress on its own co-developed power projects in four sub-Saharan markets – Nigeria, Gabon, Mozambique and Malawi – as well as for a range of engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) work for gas-to-power (GTP) schemes.

A case in the Federal High Court of Nigeria over the Barracuda oil field in Niger Delta Block OML141 has again been adjourned, this time until 16 November.

Kenya’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Eacc) is investigating a number of executives at Kenya Power and Lighting Company (Kenya Power) for alleged corruption.

It is more than a whisper: international institutions and private equity (PE) investors are again exploring major hydroelectric power (HEP) deals, after years during which environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns made big dams a problematic issue for development finance institutions (DFI) and other potential investors.

A High Court hearing on 21 June marked the latest stage in a long-running dispute over efforts by Tanzania Electricity Supply Company (Tanesco) to replace Jacobsen Elektro as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for the expansion of the 185MW Kinyerezi I gas power plant.

London’s High Court ruled that JP Morgan did not breach fiduciary rules when it transferred funds stemming from the sale of the controversial oil production licence (OPL) 245. The judgement reveals further details of graft in the long-running saga, as Justice Cockerill found that the original award of the licence was probably corrupt and ex-oil minister Dan Etete had benefitted financially from it. Meanwhile, 25 years after it was first awarded, other disputes continue over the highly prospective OPL 245.

The oil and gas industry and local environmental campaigners are awaiting a ruling from the Gqeberha High Court in the Eastern Cape, following a three-day hearing on Shell’s offshore seismic survey plans which was adjourned on 31 May with judgement reserved.

Major trading houses are among those approaching potentially hugely lucrative cobalt and other energy transition plays in Democratic Republic of Congo with an eye to ESG concerns, as international scrutiny of mining practises – and especially the huge involvement of artisanal miners – intensifies as the world looks for inputs into its new electric vehicles and batteries, write Marc Howard and AE staff.

The World Bank Group’s International Centre for Settlement of International Disputes (Icsid) has ruled in the Conakry government’s favour that there was overwhelming evidence that Beny Steinmetz’s BSG Resources (BSGR) obtained mining rights for the Simandou iron ore project’s blocks 1 and 2 through corrupt practices.

Key partners in the giant Simandou iron ore project – potentially Africa’s biggest new minerals and infrastructure scheme – are thought to be close to finalising the terms of their joint development, although governance issues appear to have caused a last-minute delay.

Commodity giant Glencore has pleaded guilty and agreed to pay the US authorities almost $1.2bn to end investigations into bribery and market manipulation. The settlement was part of a coordinated resolution with criminal and civil authorities in the US, UK, and Brazil announced on 24 May.

With less than six months to go before COP27 opens at Sharm El Sheikh, a power shift is under way as energy and momentum drain from the United Kingdom’s presidency and build in Egypt’s camp. The early signs are that the next event will have a very different tone and character from COP26 in Glasgow, with considerably less emphasis on making big policy claims that may be hard to keep and a focus on getting climate-related business deals signed.