Lucara Recovers Rare 36.92-Carat Blue Diamond from Karowe Mine in Botswana Lucara Diamond Corp has announced the recovery of a rare 36.92-carat blue diamond from its wholly owned Karowe Mine in Botswana. The stone has been classified as a high-quality Type IIb blue diamond among the rarest categories of diamonds globally. It was recovered using X-ray transmission (XRT) technology from ore sourced from the mine’s surface stockpiles. In addition to the blue diamond, Lucara Diamond
Nigeria Cuts Petrol Imports as Dangote Refinery Meets 92% of Fuel Demand Nigeria recorded a sharp decline in petrol imports in February as the Dangote Refinery significantly boosted domestic fuel supply, meeting approximately 92% of the country’s demand. According to an official factsheet on Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations, total petrol supply dropped from 64.9 million litres per day in January to 39.6 million litres per day in February. The decline reflects reduced reliance
Ghana’s Damang Mine Set for Local Takeover as Engineers and Planners Prepares Operations Ghana’s mining sector is undergoing a landmark shift as Engineers and Planners Company Limited (E&P) prepares to assume operational control of the Damang Mine in the Western Region. The transition follows the exit of South African miner Gold Fields Limited, which has operated the mine for nearly three decades. The handover comes after the expiry of Gold Fields’ mining lease, with the
Chevron Names Emmanuelle Garinet Director of Exploration for the Americas and Africa Energy supermajor Chevron has appointed Emmanuelle Garinet as Director of Exploration for the Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa, placing one of the industry’s most experienced geophysicists in charge of discovery efforts across two major hydrocarbon regions. The African Energy Chamber (AEC) welcomed the appointment, noting that Garinet’s decades of African exploration experience could attract new investment, accelerate geological understanding, and strengthen collaboration between operators
Cabinda Refinery Prepares for Petroleum Production After Ministry Inspection A delegation from the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas conducted an inspection in the province of Cabinda on Monday, evaluating the commissioning of equipment at the local refinery ahead of the imminent start of petroleum derivatives production. The delegation was led by Secretary of State for Petroleum and Gas José Alexandre Barroso, who met with Cabinda’s provincial governor, Suzana de Abreu, during the visit.
Angola Secures $165M Investment for Longonjo Rare Earth Project, Boosting Africa’s Strategic Supply Chain Mining company Pensana has secured a $165 million strategic equity investment from rare earth-focused investment platform Cascade Natural Resources to accelerate its Longonjo rare earth project in Angola. This funding unlocks a complementary $160 million debt package supported by the U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM), positioning the project on track for its 2027 production target and enabling a broader capital plan exceeding
TotalEnergies Resumes Oil Production at Libya’s Mabruk Field with New 25,000 bpd Facility TotalEnergies has restarted oil production at the Mabruk Oil Field in Libya, where the company holds a 37.5% stake, marking a significant step in reviving operations that were halted during the country’s civil conflict. The Mabruk field is located onshore within concession C17, about 130 kilometers south of Sirte. Production at the site was suspended in 2015 following the escalation of Libya’s
Seplat Energy Targets Up to 155,000 boepd in 2026 with 17-Well Drilling Program in Nigeria Seplat Energy Plc has announced plans to drill 17 new wells in 2026 as part of a strategy to increase production and move closer to its long-term output targets for 2030. The drilling program forms part of the company’s 2026 business strategy, outlined in its 2025 full-year report, which focuses on strengthening production capacity and expanding both oil and gas
Energean to Buy Chevron’s Angola Block 14 Interests for $260 Million to Expand West Africa Presence Mediterranean gas producer Energean has agreed to acquire Chevron’s interests in two offshore oil blocks in Angola for a base price of $260 million, as the company moves to strengthen its presence in West Africa. Energean has recently increased investment in efforts to boost production following geopolitical disruptions that affected some of its existing assets. The company is also
De Beers Board Member and Minerals Development Company Botswana CEO Matome Tsholetsa Malema Dies Global diamond miner De Beers Group has announced the passing of Matome Tsholetsa Malema, the chief executive officer of Minerals Development Company Botswana and a member of the De Beers board. Malema joined the De Beers board in 2023, where he brought extensive operational expertise gained through many years in the diamond mining industry. His experience was shaped by a range
