TotalEnergies Acquires Vantage Drillship Under $199M Binding Agreement

Energy supermajor TotalEnergies and offshore drilling contractor Vantage Drilling have signed a binding agreement to form a new joint venture (JV). Under the agreement, TotalEnergies will acquire the Tungsten Explorer drillship from Vantage Drilling. To the tune of $199 million, TotalEnergies will acquire a 75% majority stake in the JV, with Vantage Drilling owning the remaining 25%. “Through this innovative partnership, TotalEnergies will be able to hedge deep offshore drilling costs: the JV will provide

Loading

Read More Here

DRC Targets ‘Modern Investors’ to Bolster Mining Sector

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is seeking ‘modern investors’ to tap into the country’s mining sector, which boasts over $460 trillion worth of untapped mineral deposits. Miguel Kashal Katemb, Director General of the DRC’s Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting in the Private Sector (ARSP), said the country wants to collaborate with responsible investors, particularly those focused on equity funds and exchange-traded funds, to drive infrastructure development within the mining sector. “We have many big investors

Loading

Read More Here

Nigeria’s Akpo West Field Commences Production under TotalEnergies’ Operation

The French supermajor, TotalEnergies, has initiated production at the Akpo West Field offshore Nigeria. The field has been seamlessly integrated with the pre-existing Akpo Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which exhibited a production rate of approximately 124,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2023. This achievement marks a significant milestone, enhancing the production capacity at the Akpo Field by an additional 14,000 bpd. Furthermore, it is expected to contribute up to four million cubic

Loading

Read More Here

OPEC Fund Allocates $1.7B to Energy Transition in 2023

The OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) allocated $1.7 billion to finance 55 global projects in 2023, according to a recent statement from the organization. In a bid to address climate change, social and economic resilience and sustainable growth, 60% of the funds supported renewable energy initiatives. At 42%, Africa received the largest share of the funding, with recipient projects including solar power initiatives in Niger and Nigeria, as well as an energy security

Loading

Read More Here

Anticipated Developments in the MSGBC Region’s Inaugural Oil Production

Senegal’s inaugural offshore oil project – anticipates first oil in mid-2024. Operated by the Australian exploration and production company Woodside Energy, the project is set to process 100,000 barrels per day through FPSO Léopold Sédar Senghor from subsea wells. Once operational, Sangomar will mark Senegal’s debut in oil production, generating several important impacts for the country and the wider region. Revived Exploration With the arrival of first oil, the MSGBC region will likely see a

Loading

Read More Here

Exploration Milestone Zambia Unveils Ambitious National Geological Survey Initiative

Zambia has launched a national geological mapping program to better understand its mineral resource deposits and untapped potential. Spearheaded by the government, the survey aims to promote mineral exploration in the country by quantifying resources and supporting strategic investments, with a view to capitalizing on the growing global demand for critical minerals. Speaking at a mining conference in Cape Town on Monday, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema stated that “by 2040, an additional nine million tons

Loading

Read More Here

Diamond Industry Gears Up for Tighter Controls

New sanctions on Russia will fast-track the adoption of traceability programs across the supply chain. Should they wish to sell those diamonds into the Group of Seven (G7) countries, companies will have to prove their goods were sourced from non-Russian production. On December 6, the G7 — comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States — announced its latest sanctions, aimed at “limiting Russia’s ability to fund its illegal war,”

Loading

Read More Here

Nigeria’s Dangote refinery set to import US crude Oil

Nigeria’s Dangote refinery, the biggest in Africa, is gearing up to bring in crude from the US in the next few months. Traders with insider information revealed that Trafigura Group has sold 2 million barrels of WTI Midland to the Dangote refinery for delivery at the end of February, Bloomberg reported. Traders have noted that this marks the first occasion where the refinery has procured crude oil from sources outside of Nigeria. The surge in

Loading

Read More Here

Empowering Women in Mining Shaping the Future at Mining Indaba 2024

The ever-changing landscape of the mining industry, marked by bold transformations and rapid shifts, has prompted Raksha Naidoo, CEO of The Particle Group and Chairperson of Women in Mining South Africa (WiMSA), to share valuable insights on positive disruption and the emerging trends shaping the future of African mining in a recent interview with Penelope Masilela. With the focus on the Mining Indaba 2024 theme, “Embracing the Power of Positive Disruption for a Bold New

Loading

Read More Here

Robust U.S. Demand Plays Key Role in Sustaining Stability in the Diamond Industry

The diamond miner, De Beers, reported provisional rough diamond sales of $370 million in its initial sales cycle for the current year. Although this figure was lower than the $454 million recorded in the first sales cycle of 2023, it marked an improvement from the $137 million in sales documented in the tenth sales cycle of the same year. De Beers CEO Al Cook commented on the sales performance, stating, “Solid consumer demand for diamonds

Loading

Read More Here