Equinor Takes 30% Stake in Angola’s Block 16/21 as TotalEnergies Retains Operatorship in New Offshore Agreement Equinor has signed an agreement with TotalEnergies to acquire a 30% participating interest in offshore Block 16/21 in Angola. Under the terms of the deal, TotalEnergies will retain full operatorship of the block. The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant Angolan authorities before it can be finalized. Block 16/21 is currently in the exploration phase and has
Shell, QatarEnergy and NAMCOR Record Strong Oil Discovery at Merlin-1X Well in Namibia’s Orange Basin Shell, in partnership with QatarEnergy and NAMCOR, has announced encouraging exploration results from the Merlin-1X well drilled in Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) 0039 offshore Namibia. The findings mark a further step in Shell’s evaluation of the Orange Basin block, with the well successfully reaching the Coniacian geological play. According to initial assessments, Merlin-1X delivered the strongest subsurface results recorded so
Petra Diamonds Puts Finsch Mine Into Business Rescue, Retrenchments at Cullinan Could Threaten 1,800 Jobs South Africa’s diamond mining industry is facing renewed pressure after Petra Diamonds placed its Finsch Diamond Mine under business rescue and launched retrenchment proceedings at its Cullinan operation, placing nearly 1,800 jobs at risk. The developments have sparked concern across the mining sector and drawn strong criticism from the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), which is urging the government to
Italy’s Top Court Clears Prosecutors in OPL 245 Case, Marking New Twist in Nigeria’s Biggest Oil Scandal Italy’s highest court has acquitted two prosecutors who led the failed corruption case against energy giants Eni and Shell over Nigeria’s controversial OPL 245 oil block, bringing another chapter of one of Africa’s largest and most protracted oil scandals to a close. The Court of Cassation overturned the convictions of Milan prosecutors Fabio De Pasquale and Sergio Spadaro,
Dangote Refinery Reshapes West Africa’s Fuel Market as Imports Plunge and Trade Routes Shift The rapid ramp-up of production at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is transforming fuel trade across West Africa, significantly reducing the region’s reliance on imported refined petroleum products. According to recent industry data cited by S&P Global, West Africa’s imports of clean refined petroleum products fell sharply to 765,000 barrels per day (bpd) in May, down from approximately 997,000 bpd in April.
Qatar-Backed Cascade Advances $165 Million Pensana Investment as Sheikh Dr Badr Al-Hajri Joins Board Qatar-backed Cascade Natural Resources has appointed Sheikh Dr Badr bin Dalhim Al-Faheid Al-Hajri to its board of directors, a move that underscores the company’s growing international profile and Qatar’s support for its expansion in the critical minerals sector. The appointment comes as Cascade advances its strategic $165 million investment in rare earths developer Pensana and its flagship Longonjo rare earth project
De Beers CEO Says Sale Could Be Finalized Within Weeks as Global Diamond Giants Compete for Anglo American Stake The sale of De Beers, the diamond unit of Anglo American, is closer than ever to completion, according to Chief Executive Officer Al Cook, who said a deal could be concluded within weeks. Anglo American placed De Beers one of the world’s leading diamond companies with operations and exploration assets across Botswana, Namibia, Angola, South Africa,
Angola’s Sonangol Deepens Critical Minerals Strategy With Swakop Uranium Partnership Angola’s national oil company Sonangol has signed a Project Development Agreement (PDA) with Namibia-based Swakop Uranium, marking a strategic step in Angola’s push to diversify beyond hydrocarbons into the global critical minerals sector. While financial details were not disclosed, the agreement is expected to cover exploration, project development, and technical cooperation focused on minerals essential to the energy transition, including uranium and other strategic resources.
Equinor Enters Angola’s Offshore Block 16/21 With 30% Stake in Exploration Deal Norwegian energy company Equinor has acquired a 30% participating interest in Angola’s offshore Block 16/21, marking its official entry into the exploration asset through a partnership with operator TotalEnergies. The agreement was signed on June 11, 2026, in the presence of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG). The transaction forms part of ongoing efforts to attract international investment into Angola’s upstream
Eni Secures Offshore Exploration Licence in Gambia, Expanding West African Energy Footprint Italian energy major Eni has officially entered Gambia’s upstream oil and gas sector after securing an offshore exploration licence for Block A1, marking a significant expansion of its operations across West Africa’s emerging energy frontier. The company signed a petroleum exploration, development, and production licence agreement with the Government of The Gambia on June 5. The agreement was signed by the country’s Minister
