South Africa’s Top Court Blocks Shell Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration South Africa’s Constitutional Court has halted Shell’s offshore oil and gas exploration activities along the country’s Eastern Cape coastline, overturning an earlier ruling that had allowed the company and its partner, Impact Africa, to proceed. The decision follows a legal dispute that has continued for several years over the granting of exploration rights in the offshore area. The court found that affected communities had
Sonatrach Expands Niger Energy Cooperation with New Exploration, Drilling and Fuel Deals Algeria’s state-owned energy company Sonatrach is expanding its cooperation with Niger through a series of agreements covering oil exploration, drilling services and petroleum-product supplies. In June 2026, Sonatrach and Niger’s national oil company SONIDEP signed three memoranda of understanding covering seismic exploration, drilling operations and petroleum products. The agreements build on a cooperation framework established in 2024 and are intended to strengthen technical
Chevron Discovers Oil and Gas Condensate Offshore Angola in Block 0 Chevron has confirmed a new oil and gas condensate discovery offshore Angola, strengthening the company’s exploration programme in the country and adding to its portfolio of discoveries in the region. The discovery was made at the 105-4X exploration well in Block 0, located in Angola’s Lower Congo Basin. Chevron said the well encountered a hydrocarbon column of more than 600 metres, including over 90
ExxonMobil Awards $1.1 Billion in Contracts as Mozambique’s Rovuma LNG Project Advances ExxonMobil and its Area 4 partners have awarded approximately $1.1 billion in pre-investment contracts for long-lead equipment for the Rovuma LNG Phase 1 project in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, marking a significant step towards development of the major offshore gas project. The contracts cover critical upstream equipment, including subsea production systems, large-bore production valves and offshore line pipe required to develop natural gas
Pensana Updates Market on Qatar-Backed Cascade Board Appointment Pensana has provided an update on the previously announced appointment of Sheikh Dr Badr bin Dalhim Al-Faheid Al-Hajri to the board of Cascade Natural Resources, the Qatar-backed strategic investor in the company. Pensana said the appointment process is still underway and has not yet become effective. As a result, the appointment has not yet been filed with the Guernsey Registry. The company had announced the proposed appointment
Petrobras Suspends Studies for $1 Billion Brazil Gas Pipeline as Regulatory Changes Raise Investment Concerns Brazilian energy giant Petrobras has paused studies for a proposed US$1 billion natural gas pipeline in Sergipe, citing uncertainty over planned changes to the country’s gas market rules. The pipeline would connect two planned offshore floating production units to shore and is linked to Petrobras’ Sergipe deepwater development. The project is expected to support future production from offshore fields, with
Dangote Refinery Beats US for Second Month to Become Europe’s Leading Jet Fuel Supplier Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery has retained its position as Europe’s largest external supplier of jet fuel for a second consecutive month, strengthening Nigeria’s growing role in the global aviation fuel market. The refinery supplied more than 400,000 tonnes of jet fuel to Europe in July, accounting for roughly 20% of the region’s 2.06 million tonnes of total imports, according to commodity
Sandvik to Supply 15-Unit Underground Mining Fleet for Lucara’s $779 Million Karowe Project in Botswana Sandvik has secured an order from Lucara Botswana to supply a 15-unit underground mining fleet for the Karowe diamond mine in Botswana, supporting the operation’s transition from open-pit to underground mining. The equipment package includes development drills, loaders, a cable bolter and a longhole drill, along with spare parts, rock tools and aftermarket services. Deliveries are already under way and
Afentra Confirms Up to 70 Million Barrels of Recoverable Oil in Pacassa Field Extension Offshore Angola Afentra and its partners have confirmed an extension of the producing Pacassa oil field offshore Angola following successful drilling at the Pacassa Southwest (Pacassa SW) well in Block 3/05. The well encountered a substantial oil-bearing interval within the fractured Albian Pinda carbonate reservoir. Logging data and oil shows identified about 217 metres of hydrocarbon-bearing section, including an estimated 136
VAALCO Brings New Gas-Supply Well Online Offshore Gabon to Cut Diesel Costs and Boost Field Efficiency VAALCO Energy has successfully drilled, completed and brought the ETBNM-3 gas-supply well into production offshore Gabon, strengthening the company’s operations at the Etame Marin block. The well, located on the North Tchibala structure, targets the Dentale D-15 reservoir and delivered results above pre-drill expectations. It encountered strong porosity and permeability, with more than 10 metres of net reservoir pay.
