Gem Diamonds Lays Off 240 Workers at Letseng Mine Amid Falling Prices and U.S. Tariff Pressures Gem Diamonds is laying off 240 workers—about one-fifth of its workforce—at the world-famous Letseng mine, in a move that underscores the mounting strain on Lesotho’s diamond-dependent economy. The company reported a half-year loss of $11.7 million, a sharp reversal from a $2.1 million profit a year earlier, after revenue plunged 42% due to weak global demand and sliding diamond
Angola Block 33/24 Development Agreement Signed by ANPG, Shell, Chevron at AOG 2025 An agreement to advance development activities at Angola’s Block 33/24 was signed during the Angola Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition (AOG 2025), held from September 3-4 in Luanda. The deal was formalized by Angola’s upstream regulator, the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG), alongside national oil company Sonangol and international energy majors Shell and Chevron. Block 33 is located in
Angola Launches Kaminho Offshore Project in Kwanza Basin, Pioneering Deepwater Development The Angolan Government, in partnership with a consortium led by TotalEnergies, has officially begun the construction phase of the Kaminho Project—the country’s first offshore oil development in the Kwanza Basin—marking a major milestone in Angola’s deepwater exploration sector. According to the National Oil, Gas, and Biofuels Agency (ANPG), activities at Petromar began last week with the fabrication of over 5,500 tons of metal structures
International Resources Holding Signs Strategic MoUs with EGPC and Egypt’s Mineral Authority to Boost Energy and Mining Investment International Resources Holding RSC Ltd. (IRH), a leading mine-to-market platform and subsidiary of 2PointZero, has signed two landmark Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and the Egyptian Mineral Resources and Mining Industries Authority. The agreements reinforce the UAE–Egypt corridor as a key driver of regional energy security and sustainable economic growth. The
HB Antwerp Recovers Rare 37-Carat Pink Diamond from Karowe Mine, Showcasing Exceptional Color and Craftsmanship Antwerp, Belgium – September 2, 2025 – HB Antwerp proudly announces the arrival of a 37.42-carat pink Type IIa diamond recovered from Lucara’s Karowe Mine in Botswana. This exceptionally rare stone exhibits an intensity of color rarely seen in the market today. Over the past five years, HB Antwerp has established itself as a leading expert in handling large, complex
Egypt Secures $340M Investment from Shell, Eni, ARCIUS, and Zarubezhneft for Mediterranean and Delta Exploration The Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS) has signed four major agreements with Shell, Eni, ARCIUS Energy, and Russia’s Zarubezhneft to expand oil and gas exploration in the Mediterranean and Nile Delta regions. The agreements cover the drilling of 10 wells, with total minimum investments exceeding $340 million. Mahmoud Abdel Hamid, Chairman of EGAS, signed the agreements in the presence
Nigeria Signs Offshore Production-Sharing Contract with TotalEnergies and Sapetro to Boost Exploration Nigeria has signed a production-sharing contract (PSC) with TotalEnergies and local firm South Atlantic Petroleum (Sapetro) for two offshore blocks, aiming to attract investment and accelerate exploration under the country’s new oil framework. As Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria seeks to revitalize its upstream sector amid global energy transition pressures and declining fossil fuel investments. The agreement covers petroleum prospecting licences (PPL) 2000
Dangote Refinery Expands Feedstock Strategy, Sources Crude from Ghana as Output Nears Full Capacity Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery has, for the first time, sourced crude oil from Ghana, reflecting its ongoing diversification strategy as the $20 billion project works to stabilize output and address speculation about technical setbacks. Since production began, Dangote Refinery has imported crude from Nigeria, Brazil, Angola, Ghana, and Equatorial Guinea, according to Devakumar Edwin, Executive Director at Dangote Industries. Energy intelligence firm
Harmony Gold Acquires Australia’s MAC Copper Mine for $1.08 Billion to Boost Global Copper Portfolio South Africa’s Harmony Gold has taken a major step in its international expansion strategy with the proposed $1.08 billion (R19 billion) acquisition of Australia’s MAC Copper. The transaction, first announced in May 2025, moved closer to completion after MAC Copper shareholders overwhelmingly approved the deal. Headquartered in Randfontein, Harmony Gold is South Africa’s largest gold producer by volume, operating a
Dangote Oil Refinery Increases Exports to Middle East as Regional Refinery Shutdowns Create Market Opportunities Africa’s largest oil refinery, the Dangote Oil Refinery in Lekki, has seen a substantial rise in the volume of refined products exported in recent months, particularly to markets in the Middle East. A report by Punch newspaper highlighted that the surge is largely due to downtime at other regional refineries, creating a supply gap that the $20 billion Lekki-based refinery
