Angola’s ETU Energias Boosts Stake in Block 14 Offshore, Strengthening Production and Revenue Base ETU Energias, Angola’s largest private oil company, has acquired a 20% stake in Block 14 and a 10% stake in Block 14K, both located in the Lower Congo Basin, from Azule Energy, the companies announced last week. The transaction was formalized through a Purchase and Sale Agreement (SPA). In a statement, ETU Energias described the acquisition as “a strategic step in
Lucara Diamond Raises $350m in Senior Secured Bonds to Fund Karowe Underground Project Completion in Botswana Canada-headquartered Lucara Diamond Corp has successfully closed a $350 million senior secured bond issuance, providing the financial certainty required to advance its Karowe Underground Project in Botswana through to completion. The five-year bonds carry a fixed annual coupon rate of 12.5%, with interest payments scheduled on a quarterly basis. Proceeds from the financing have been used to fully repay
Chevron Reports Extensive Cyclone Damage at Wheatstone LNG Facility in Australia, Full Production Delayed for Weeks Chevron Corporation said on Tuesday that downstream infrastructure at its Wheatstone LNG Plant in Western Australia sustained significant damage following a tropical cyclone, leaving both production trains temporarily offline. Danny Woodall confirmed that the two liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing trains at the 8.9-million-tonne-per-year facility remain shut after Tropical Cyclone Narelle struck the region last week. Speaking at the
De Beers Names Jillian Wolk as CEO of Tracr to Lead Next Phase of Diamond Traceability and Transparency Jillian Wolk has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Tracr, the diamond traceability subsidiary of De Beers Group, effective May 1. She succeeds Wesley Tucker, who stepped down at the end of February after leading the business through its formative and scaling stages. Wolk brings extensive leadership experience across the jewellery, luxury and technology sectors. Most recently,
Afreximbank Underwrites $2.5bn for Dangote Refinery in $4bn Deal to Boost Africa’s Energy Security and Industrial Growth The African Export-Import Bank has underwritten US$2.5 billion of a US$4 billion senior syndicated term loan for Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, a move expected to reinforce Africa’s largest refining complex and accelerate the continent’s industrial development agenda. The five-year financing facility, arranged in partnership with Access Bank, is designed to consolidate existing debt, optimise the refinery’s capital
Rio Tinto Ends Production at Diavik Diamond Mine in Canada After Producing 150 Million Carats Rio Tinto has officially marked the end of production at its Diavik diamond mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories, concluding more than two decades of operations that yielded over 150 million carats of rough diamonds. Located approximately 220 km south of the Arctic Circle beneath Lac de Gras, Diavik was discovered in 1991 and began production in 2003. The operation, comprising
Dangote Petroleum Refinery Strengthens Africa’s Energy Security with 456,000 Tonnes of Fuel Exports Dangote Petroleum Refinery has exported 456,000 tonnes of refined petroleum products to five African countries, marking a major milestone in regional energy supply. The company shipped 12 cargoes of fuel to Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Tanzania, Ghana, and Togo. These exports followed the refinery reaching its full production capacity of 650,000 barrels per day in February. Products were sold on a Free on
ReconAfrica Initiates Production Testing in Namibia and Expands Offshore Exploration in Gabon Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd has commenced production testing at its Kavango West 1X discovery well in Namibia while advancing seismic activities and appraisal planning on the offshore Ngulu block in Gabon as part of its 2026 work program. The company confirmed that it has received all necessary regulatory approvals to begin testing at Kavango West, with field teams already on site preparing the
Nigerian Oil Firm Oando Becomes Operator of Angola’s Block KON 13 Amid Strong Exploration Potential Angola’s National Agency for Petroleum, Gas, and Biofuels (ANPG) announced that Nigerian junior oil company Oando has joined the Contractor Group of Block KON 13 as operator, holding a 45% participating interest. Other partners in the block include Effimax Energy Serviços, Lda with 30%, Sonangol Exploração & Produção with 15%, and Walcot Ltd with 10%. Block KON 13 is located
Aliko Dangote Says Rising Oil Prices from Middle East Conflict Risk Inflation, Debt Pressure, and Slower Growth in Africa Africa’s richest businessman, Aliko Dangote, has warned that escalating tensions in the Middle East could trigger a new wave of inflation and economic strain across African economies, as rising oil prices ripple through countries already burdened by high debt levels and fragile currencies. Speaking after a Sallah visit to Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in Lagos, Dangote
