De Beers has reported an 11% year-on-year decline in rough diamond production for the first quarter of 2025, totaling 6.1 million carats. The drop reflects the company’s continued production adjustments in response to prolonged weak market demand, according to its quarterly production report released on April 24. In Botswana, output declined by 8% to 4.6 million carats, in line with planned production cuts. Namibia’s production remained steady, as lower output from Debmarine Namibia was offset
De Beers Group, in collaboration with business incubator Raizcorp, has launched the third intake of its Enterprise Development Project for Diamond Beneficiators, a flagship initiative aimed at empowering entrepreneurs in South Africa’s diamond industry. In a media statement, De Beers reaffirmed its commitment to fostering growth, transformation, and inclusivity within the local diamond beneficiation sector. A Strategic Investment in Local EntrepreneursFirst introduced in 2016, the three-year programme supports entrepreneurs across the diamond value chain—from rough
ReconAfrica has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Angola’s National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency (ANPG) to jointly explore the Etosha-Okavango Basin in southeastern Angola. The agreement marks a significant expansion of ReconAfrica’s exploration footprint in the Damara Fold Belt and Rift Basin, adding 5.2 million acres in Angola to its existing 6.3 million acres in Namibia. This low-cost entry into Angola’s onshore sector comes with minimal work obligations and aligns with the company’s
TotalEnergies has launched a series of public consultations in Namibia as part of the environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) for its proposed offshore Venus oil project. Consultations will be held this week in Windhoek, with sessions scheduled for April 22 at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre and April 23 at the United Nations Plaza. The Venus project, located offshore Namibia, is expected to produce approximately 150,000 barrels of oil per day in its first phase.
Several multinational oil and gas companies, including Chevron, have withdrawn from Egypt’s Red Sea concession blocks following unsuccessful exploration efforts, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum. In 2019, Egypt awarded exploration licenses in the Red Sea to Chevron, Shell, and Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company through an international bidding round aimed at positioning the country as a regional energy hub. “These companies invested millions of dollars within the agreed timelines,” said Moataz Atef, ministry
BP has successfully exported its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) Phase 1 project, located offshore Mauritania and Senegal. This shipment marks BP’s third major upstream project to begin operations in 2025 and aligns with the company’s strategy to launch 10 new upstream projects by 2027. “This milestone adds a new source of energy to the global market,” said Gordon Birrell, BP’s EVP of Production & Operations. “Launching LNG
At its April 11 Council of Ministers meeting, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) approved a draft decree granting petroleum rights directly to the state-owned Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures du Congo (Sonahydroc). This decree establishes the legal and fiscal framework for the transfer, aligning with the country’s oil and gas law enacted on August 1, 2015. The move signals a renewed push by the DRC to revitalize oil exploration and increase domestic production, aiming to
Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. (ReconAfrica) has announced progress in its drilling operations at Prospect I, the largest target in its Namibian exploration campaign. Located within Petroleum Exploration Licence 073 (PEL 73) in the Kavango Basin, Prospect I marks a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to unlock new oil and gas resources. An updated independent resource assessment by Netherland, Sewell & Associates Inc. (NSAI) estimates that Prospect I holds approximately 365 million barrels of unrisked
Walcot Group, a Nigerian energy company, has officially entered Angola’s oil and gas sector by signing a major Production Sharing Contract with the Angolan National Agency for Petroleum, Gas, and Biofuels (ANPG). The agreement follows Walcot’s successful bid for three oil blocks in a recent international licensing round and marks a significant step in the company’s strategy to expand across Africa’s leading energy markets. The signing ceremony took place in Luanda, where Walcot’s Founder and
Seplat Energy Plc has achieved a major milestone in Nigeria’s energy sector by installing over 850 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) of gas infrastructure to enhance domestic gas supply. Speaking at a press briefing, Seplat’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Samson Ezugworie, stated that the development aligns with the company’s mission to reduce energy poverty and support sustainable national growth. “We’ve installed over 850 MMscfd of gas infrastructure across Nigeria to meet domestic demand,”
