Lucara Diamond Corp has sold the 549-carat Sethunya and the 1,080-carat Eva Star diamonds—both recovered from its Karowe mine in Botswana—for a total of $54 million. The Sethunya, discovered in 2021, and the Eva Star, recovered in 2023, highlight the consistent production of large, high-quality diamonds from the South Lobe of the Karowe kimberlite. Lucara affirms that these exceptional stones reinforce Karowe’s reputation as one of the world’s premier sources of high-value diamonds. “The sale
Azule Energy announced the successful completion of the Quiluma and Maboqueiro offshore platforms this Tuesday, marking a significant step toward the production of “Made in Angola” gas. This achievement is described as a crucial element of the New Gas Consortium (NGC) project and represents a key milestone in Angola’s first non-associated gas development, according to a statement sent to VerAngola. Alister Forder, Azule Energy’s Operations Director, emphasized the importance of this success, noting that the
Chevron has strengthened its position in Namibia’s offshore sector by acquiring an 80% stake and operatorship in Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) 82. Custos Energy and NAMCOR will each retain a 10% interest in the license. Located in Namibia’s Walvis Basin, PEL 82 is part of a region often referred to as an “oil kitchen” due to its rich hydrocarbon source rock and strong potential for commercial discoveries. The Barremian-Aptian source rock, a key driver of
BP has successfully commenced production from the second phase of the Raven field’s development, connecting additional subsea infill wells to its onshore infrastructure as part of the West Nile Delta (WND) project. As the operator of the project, BP holds an 82.75% stake, while Harbour Energy owns 17.25%. The newly drilled wells are expected to produce 220 billion cubic feet of gas and 7 million barrels of condensate. The project was completed safely and ahead
French asset managers Rgreen Invest and Echosys Invest have successfully closed their Afrigreen Debt Impact Fund, securing €100 million ($104.8 million) in total commitments for green energy investments across Africa. Announced on Thursday, the fund has met its funding target, backed by major institutions, including the European Investment Bank (EIB), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Dutch development bank FMO, France’s Proparco, Societe Generale, and BNP Paribas. Following its first close in early 2023, the fund
After more than five years of negotiations, De Beers and the Botswana government have concluded discussions on a new rough diamond sales agreement. However, the deal has yet to be signed. Botswana’s Minister of Minerals and Energy, Bogolo Kenewendo, expressed hope that this would happen later in February, a sentiment met with a nod from De Beers CEO Al Cook at a press briefing on February 3. The only remaining step is the formal issuance
Independent mining group Petra Diamonds has appointed Vivek Gadodia and Juan Kemp as interim CEOs following the immediate resignation of Richard Duffy by mutual agreement. Gadodia will oversee corporate matters, while Kemp will manage operational affairs. However, neither will be appointed as directors at this stage. Gadodia, who joined Petra in 2021, has held roles including Planning and Corporate Planning Executive and Chief Restructuring Officer. Previously, he spent 15 years at Sasol in engineering, project
Brazilian oil giant Petrobras is actively exploring new opportunities in Angola following its return to African oil exploration via São Tomé and Príncipe in 2023. The company confirmed to Lusa that it continuously evaluates strategic areas to replenish reserves and maximize profitability. Petrobras is particularly interested in oil basins along Africa’s Atlantic coast, including Angola, due to their geological similarities with Brazil’s Campos, Santos, and Pelotas basins. In February 2024, Petrobras acquired three exploratory blocks
Africell is leveraging the Lobito Corridor to expand its digital technology and internet services across Angola, aligning with the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the National Development Plan (NDP) 2023-2027. The announcement was made by Jorge Vazquez, CEO of Africell Angola, during the company’s 25th-anniversary celebration in Luanda. He highlighted Angola’s market potential and the strong relationship between the Angolan government and the United States as key factors in Africell’s success. The
Sasol, an integrated energy and chemical company, has signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with diamond company De Beers and global mining giant Anglo American to launch a renewable diesel pilot project in South Africa. The initiative aims to evaluate the commercial and technical viability of producing renewable diesel. The project will use Solaris and Moringa crops to produce vegetable oil, which will then serve as feedstock for Sasol’s existing facilities, designed to produce low-cost
