Namibia’s Petroleum Commissioner Aims to Boost Oil Exploration Investments

Namibia’s Petroleum Commissioner, Maggy Shino, outlined the country’s strategy for the coming years, emphasizing the drive for increased investment in exploration activities and the utilization of technological advancements to enhance data analysis and partnerships. Shino affirmed Namibia’s commitment to maintaining an open licensing regime to attract a diverse range of oil and gas companies to explore the Namibian continental shelf. She highlighted imminent final investment decisions on discoveries by major players like Total Energies, Shell,

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TotalEnergies Achieves Record Profit Despite Challenging Market Conditions

TotalEnergies reported a net profit of $21.4 billion (€19.8 billion) in 2023, marking a new record following its historic result in 2022. Despite depressed prices for gas and oil, the world’s fourth-largest major improved its net profit by 4% compared to 2022, attributed to the “growth in hydrocarbons, particularly liquefied natural gas and electricity,” announced CEO Patrick Pouyanné in the company’s earnings statement released on Wednesday, February 7th. However, this performance falls short of analysts’

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Niger Plans First Oil Export in April via Completed 110,000 b/d Benin Pipeline

The groundbreaking Niger-Benin pipeline, with a capacity of 110,000 barrels per day (b/d), has been completed. This pipeline is expected to boost Niger’s crude production fivefold, transforming it into a major exporter. The initial shipment of crude oil was anticipated to be exported in January, as announced by the military leader of the country, Abdourahamane Tiani, via state television. However, reliable sources said the inaugural shipment from the pipeline may occur as soon as April,

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TotalEnergies, Shell, Chevron Double Down on African Oil, Gas

Leading IOCs are affirming their commitment to African oil and gas – a positive indication for service providers, drilling contractors and the industry at-large. Speaking in Nigeria earlier this month, high-level representatives from TotalEnergies, Shell and Chevron all confirmed multi-million-dollar investment projects in the pipeline, from driving frontier exploration to delivering gas from mature markets. With the Invest in African Energy (IAE) forum in Paris fast approaching this May, now is the time for investors

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Russia Boosts Fuel Exports to Senegal

Russia has increased its fuel exports to Senegal, according to traders and data from financial information company The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG). Oil supplies to Senegal hit 550,000 metric tons in the first two months of 2024 alone. In comparison, exports totaled 1.08 million tons for the entirety of 2023 and 0.37 million tons for 2022. LSEG attributes the rise in exports to heightened demand for bunker fuel as companies redirect cargo via the

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Astra Energy to Develop 100 MW Project in Lesotho

Independent power producer Astra Energy has partnered with the Lesotho National Development Corporation to develop a 100 MW renewable energy project in Lesotho. Under a public-private partnership model established with Astra Energy’s agent Aztec Management Consultants, the project will double Lesotho’s current installed electrical capacity –currently estimated at 77 MW. “The project will improve the reliability of the electricity supply, which is essential for a growing economy. Successful completion of the project will also create

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US Sanctions Zimbabwe President for Diamond Smuggling

The US has sanctioned Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa for corruption in connection with gold and diamond smuggling, as well as human-rights abuses. The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has accused Mnangagwa of “providing a protective shield” to gold- and diamond-smuggling networks that operate in Zimbabwe, it said last week. He is also accused of directing Zimbabwean officials to “facilitate the sale of gold and diamonds in illicit markets” and taking “bribes in

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Petra seeks new CFO following Breytenbach’s resignation

Petra Diamonds has started with a recruitment process to appoint a successor to CFO Jacques Breytenbach, who has resigned owing to personal reasons. Breytenbach will remain in his role until the delivery of the company’s full-year results at the end of September and to ensure a smooth transition of his responsibilities. Should a new CFO be appointed before this, Breytenbach will step down earlier. Petra CEO Richard Duffy says Breytenbach has been a highly valued

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Debswana’s Diamond sales down 25.1% in 2023 on weak demand

Debswana Diamond Company’s sales of rough diamonds fell 25.1% in 2023, data released by Botswana’s central bank late last week showed, as an economic slowdown hit demand for luxury items in the US and China and competition from lab-grown gems increased. Debswana, equally owned by Botswana and Anglo American’s De Beers, sells 75% of its output to De Beers with the balance taken up by State-owned Okavango Diamond Company (ODC). The central bank said Debswana

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De Beers Boosts Provenance Collaboration Pre-G7 Russian Diamond Import Ban

Ahead of new diamond import requirements from Group of 7 (G7) nations, starting on March 1, diamond producer De Beers Group says it anticipates no disruption to its diamond supply. The group reiterates that it fully supports the G7’s intentions to prohibit the import of Russian diamonds and emphasises the efforts it has taken to provide assurance on the provenance of the diamonds it produces. “Over more than a decade, De Beers has developed proprietary

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