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The emergence of the Benghazi-based Cyrenaica National Council (CNC), and its call in early March for a return to Libya’s 1951-63 federal constitution, were not – as National Transitional Council (NTC) leader Mustafa Abdeljalil’s angry rejection implied – an indication of the imminent break-up of the country

Media reports in October that the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) had signed an agreement to finance a 50MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Sierra Leone are inaccurate, African Energy understands. IFC spokeswoman Laura MacInnis told African Energy that “at this time, IFC is only engaged in an assessment to understand the viability of solar PV as an energy option for the country”.

A London court hearing has thrown light on the relations between a frontier exploration-focused international oil company (IOC) and an African business partner, who helped deliver up three highly prospective blocks that were later farmed out to a bigger player.

The World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) has formally announced an investment in Perth-based Rialto Energy, to support its operations in Côte d’Ivoire

MCC funds for schools, farming; MoU for Port Harcourt ring road; JBIC: Africa office

Office National d’Electricité has signed an agreement with the government for a financial restructuring to include a MD1.5bn ($172m) recapitalisation.

Eni and Vitol have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) for the development of gas discoveries in the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) Block in the Tano Basin.

Portugal’s Escom to build Luapasso; Norway sends gensets to Liberia; Work starts on Aïn Beni Mathar; Senegalese rural electrification; India to finance Isimba project

The European Union’s Electrification Finance Initiative (ElectriFI), aimed largely at sub-Saharan Africa, will be operational in December to coincide with the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris.The initiative has initial funding of €270m ($305m) from the European Commission (EC), which expects to leverage additional contributions from other European development finance institutions.

Few issues have the potency to stir up western chanceries and international oil company boardrooms as much as Gazprom’s flexing of its muscles in countries whose supply of energy is deemed so critical to the European Union. These include Algeria, Libya and Nigeria, the targets for what

Italy’s Ministry for the Environment and Protection of Land and Sea announced on 13 February the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Mauritius Ministry of Energy and Public Utilities for cooperation in the field of renewable energy, energy efficiency and the fight against climate change. The Italian ministry will provide up to €2m ($2.35m) to co-finance the activities approved under the agreement and will support the participation of the private sector and civil society in initiatives and projects, it said in a statement.

ABB has won an order worth around $25m to supply electrical and control systems for the 75MW Kathu photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Northern Cape Province. The plant is being developed by South African construction company WBHO and Italian renewable energy developer Building Energy in the Kalahari desert close to the town of Kathu and to the Sishen open-pit iron ore mine.

Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) announced on 24 October the signing of a Ksh5.8bn ($56m) contract to drill 12 geothermal wells for the 50MW first phase of the Tulu Moye geothermal project. The 520MW project is expected to be developed in four phases, with the first online around December 2021. Tulu Moye is owned by Reykjavik Geothermal and the Meridiam Infrastructure Africa Fund. KenGen will drill ten production wells and two injection wells, provide equipment and install a water supply system.

Rialto Energy has agreed terms with Vitol E&P to work together to develop Rialto’s interests in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. Subject to approvals, Vitol will acquire a 20% interest in Rialto Energy (Ghana) Ltd in exchange for providing a facility to cover Rialto’s $7.7m obligations for the drilling of the Starfish-1 exploration well in the Accra Block, which operator Ophir Energy intends to spud in June 2013. Vitol will also acquire 65% of the shares in Rialto Energy (Côte d’Ivoire) Ltd in exchange for providing $50m of capital to be invested in a work programme for Block CI-202.

Tanzania’s draft gas bill is set to be put before parliament, which began its final session of the year on 4 November. The legislation will provide a regulatory framework for the downstream sector based on the natural gas policy passed late last year, and should provide companies such as BG Group and Statoil with the security and confidence to push ahead with a final investment decision (FID) on a two-train liquefaction facility to export the combined 47tcf of natural gas reserves they have discovered offshore in the Ruvuma Basin.