Cullinan Mine Unveils 42-Carat Type IIb Blue Diamond Valued at $40 Million A rare blue diamond weighing 41.82 carats has been discovered at South Africa’s historic Cullinan Mine, reinforcing the site’s reputation for producing some of the world’s most exceptional coloured diamonds. Industry experts estimate the stone could fetch $30–$40 million at auction. Petra Diamonds, which operates the mine approximately 20 miles east of Pretoria, described the find as a “type IIb blue diamond of
Zambia, Tanzania Agree on Fuel Supply Arrangements to Secure Petroleum Deliveries via TAZAMA Pipeline The Ministers of Energy of Zambia and Tanzania today held a high-level bilateral meeting in Dar es Salaam, reaffirming their long-standing partnership in petroleum cooperation and regional energy security. The engagement brought together senior government officials from both countries to deliberate on petroleum supply logistics, infrastructure management, and policy coordination, with a shared goal of ensuring a stable and reliable fuel
Zambia’s Ambassador to Angola Tours Lobito Oil Refinery, Boosting Regional Energy and Trade Links His Excellency Rev. Dr. Elias Munshya, Zambia’s Ambassador to Angola, concluded an official working visit to Benguela Province with a technical tour of the Lobito Oil Refinery, a flagship energy infrastructure project within the Lobito Corridor framework. The visit took place on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, and marked the final engagement of the Ambassador’s programme in Benguela, which aimed to strengthen
Angola to Sell Sonangol Stake in PAENAL to Boost Offshore Oil and Gas Services Angola has taken a decisive step to strengthen its offshore oil and gas support infrastructure by approving the sale of the State’s indirect shareholding in PAENAL – Porto Amboim Estaleiros Navais Limitada to a strategic and technological partner. According to Presidential Decree No. 368/25, published in the Official Gazette on December 31, 2025, the State’s participation in PAENAL, held through Sonangol,
Angola’s National Diamond Company Targets Value Addition as Production Tops Annual Goal Angola’s National Diamond Company has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding geological exploration and strengthening value addition across the diamond production chain, as the country seeks to extract greater economic benefit from its mineral resources. Speaking in Luanda on Monday, Chairman of the Board of Directors Ganga Júnior said the company is focused on moving beyond the export of rough diamonds by investing in
Angola’s Diamond Revenues Set to Rise Sharply Despite Weaker Prices Angola is projected to generate $1.8 billion in diamond revenues in 2025, representing a 21% increase compared with the previous year, according to Sodiam, the state-owned National Diamond Trading Company. In a statement, Sodiam said the projected revenues are based on the sale of 17.7 million carats of diamonds, marking a 70.2% rise in export volumes year on year. The company attributed the strong performance
Angola’s Lobito Refinery to Boost Energy Independence and Drive Benguela’s Economic Transformation The Governor of Benguela Province, Manuel Nunes Júnior, has described the Lobito Refinery as a transformative project that will elevate Angola to a new level of energy autonomy while offering tangible hope and opportunity for the region’s youth. Speaking on Tuesday during a visit by President João Lourenço to the refinery’s construction site, Nunes Júnior said the project represents an anchor investment and
Zambia Launches $80 Million Siavonga Solar Project to Reduce Reliance on Hydropower Zambia has commenced construction of the 100-megawatt Siavonga solar power project, a key initiative aimed at strengthening the national electricity supply and easing pressure on hydropower generation, which has been affected by local and climate-related challenges. The $80 million project is being developed by JIGSCO Energy Corporation Limited, a joint venture between state-owned utility ZESCO and Jigsaw Investments, with Power China appointed as
Nigeria Opens 2026 Licensing Round Offering 50 Oil and Gas Blocks to Boost Upstream Investment Nigeria has officially launched its 2026 upstream licensing round, part of a broader strategy to tackle long-standing underinvestment in the country’s oil and gas sector and across Africa. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission opened the tender in January, making 50 blocks available, including 19 shallow water blocks, 15 onshore blocks, 15 frontier blocks, and one deepwater block. The federal
ReconAfrica Raises C$32 Million to Expand Namibia Oil Project and Exploration in Angola and Gabon Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd (ReconAfrica), the Canadian-listed oil and gas company, has raised its fundraising target to C$32 million following strong investor demand. The company plans to issue approximately 33.7 million new units at C$0.95 each. Funds from the offering will primarily support ongoing development at the Kavango West 1X oil discovery in northeastern Namibia, preparation for additional drilling, and
