Botswana Targets Majority Control of De Beers as Diamond Market Faces Crisis Botswana’s President Duma Boko says his government aims to finalize a deal to acquire majority control of De Beers by the end of October, even as negotiations continue with Anglo American Plc and other interested parties. Anglo American, which currently owns 85% of the diamond giant, began seeking to divest its stake 16 months ago as part of a broad restructuring plan. The
De Beers Boosts Marine Diamond Recovery with Advanced Subsea Crawler on Benguela Gem De Beers’ Upstream Technology division in South Africa has developed a new generation of advanced subsea diamond recovery crawlers, marking a major step forward in marine mining technology. The first unit has been installed on Debmarine Namibia’s flagship vessel, the Benguela Gem, following nearly four years of development. According to project manager Rudi Agostinho, the crawler represents a carefully engineered blend of
Dangote Refinery Slashes Petrol Prices to ₦841, Begins Free Fuel Delivery to 11 Nigerian States The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a significant reduction in petrol prices alongside the launch of direct fuel distribution across 11 states, effective Monday, September 15, 2025. In a statement released Thursday on its official X account, the refinery confirmed that pump prices have been lowered to ₦841 per litre in Lagos and the South West, and ₦851 per litre
NUPENG Ends Strike as Dangote Refinery Agrees to Unionize Drivers in Landmark Deal The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has suspended its two-day strike after reaching an agreement with the Dangote Oil Refinery and the federal government, ensuring workers’ rights to unionize are upheld. The breakthrough came during a second round of talks on Tuesday, following a failed meeting on Monday. Williams Akporeha, NUPENG’s National President, confirmed that the strike was
Pensana Names Karen Brown COO as Longonjo Rare Earths Project Advances London-listed Pensana, a company building a sustainable magnet metal supply chain, has appointed Karen Brown as Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective October 1. She succeeds Rocky Smith, who will continue to advise Pensana as part of the owner’s team for the Longonjo rare earths project in Angola. Pensana CEO Tim George praised Smith’s contributions over the past five years, noting: “Rocky’s expertise has been
Finestar Opens R300m Diamond Polishing Facility in South Africa to Boost SADC Beneficiation and Global Trade Indian rough diamond cutting and polishing company Finestar has expanded its footprint in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) with the launch of a new state-of-the-art facility in the Gauteng Industrial Development Zone, near OR Tambo International Airport, on September 5. The R300-million investment adds to Finestar’s network of cutting and polishing operations in the United Arab Emirates, Belgium,
Sonangol to Drill Exploration Well at Block 24, Driving Upstream Growth and Local Industry in Angola Sebastião Gaspar Martins, Chairman of Sonangol, has announced that the company plans to drill an exploration well at Block 24 in Angola. Located in the southern Kwanza Basin, Block 24 is a largely unexplored asset with significant hydrocarbon potential. Speaking during a fireside chat at the Angola Oil & Gas 2025 Conference and Exhibition, Gaspar Martins emphasized Sonangol’s ongoing
Azule Energy Begins First Oil Shipment from Agogo Integrated West Hub in Angola’s Lower Congo Basin The first cargo from the Agogo Integrated West Hub (IWH) development project, operated by Azule Energy in Block 15/06 in the Lower Congo Basin, offshore Angola, was officially shipped on Wednesday. Permission for shipping was granted by Angolan President João Lourenço during the opening of the Angola Oil & Gas 2025 Conference and Exhibition, with the ceremony presided over
Red Sky Energy Targets Appraisal Drilling in Angola’s Block 6/24 After Resource Assessment Australian independent explorer Red Sky Energy has confirmed its next phase of activity in Angola, with plans to advance Block 6/24 toward appraisal drilling. The company acquired a 35% stake in the block in early 2025 and continues to develop exploration activities aimed at confirming commercial viability and preparing for full-scale development. Speaking at the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2025 Conference,
Chevron Strengthens Angola Gas Development with NGC Project, Deepwater Blocks, and Local Content Initiatives Frank Cassulo, Managing Director of Chevron’s Southern Africa Strategic Business Unit, provided an overview of the company’s Angolan natural gas strategy during an onstage interview at the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2025 Conference and Exhibition. Cassulo highlighted Chevron’s commitment to pioneering non-associated gas development while continuing to grow its role in Angola’s energy sector. “Chevron has been a pioneer in
