Trade union Uasa has signed a five-year wage agreement with the management of the Cullinan mine, owned by London-listed Petra Diamonds. The agreement, effective from July 1, 2023, to July 1, 2028, stipulates a 5.5% or consumer price inflation (CPI) increase for entry-level (C Lower) employees for the first three years and a 6% increase in years four and five. C Upper employees will receive a 5% or CPI increase annually for the first three
Morocco is taking a significant step towards developing Africa’s first offshore wind energy project. The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (Masen) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have issued a tender for a consultant to conduct a feasibility study for this pioneering initiative. The proposed site for the project is located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Essaouira, a resort town renowned among windsurfers for its consistent wind flow from the Atlantic into
De Beers has lowered its production plan for 2024 by 3 million carats in response to the diamond market’s ongoing downturn and following a decline in first-half sales and profit. The miner expects to recover 23 million to 26 million carats of rough this year, compared with an earlier forecast of 26 million to 29 million carats, parent company Anglo American said Thursday in its interim results. Production was 31.9 million carats in 2023. The
De Beers has sold an iron-ore interest in Australia as part of its efforts to streamline the business and offload noncore units. The company has entered into a definitive agreement to sell a royalty right related to the Onslow Iron project in West Pilbara, it said Monday. Taurus Funds Management will acquire the subsidiary company, De Beers Exploration Australia, for $125 million in cash up-front and up to $25 million at a later stage. De
Nigeria’s daily oil production saw a substantial increase in July, as reported by Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). By July 23, Nigeria’s average daily production had risen to 1.61 million barrels per day (mbpd), up from 1.25 mbpd reported earlier in the month. During a two-day public/investigative hearing on oil theft and losses held by the House of Representatives Special Committee, the commission disclosed the latest production
Africa’s largest solar rooftop installation was recently launched in Ghana, announced by Herbert Krapah, the country’s Minister of State for Energy, on Thursday. According to the Russian newspaper Sputnik, the solar installation spans 95,745 square meters—equivalent to 20 football fields—and was inaugurated in the city of Tema, Ghana. Funded by the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), this solar project aims to generate 24.7 GWh of clean energy annually. The project, costing $17 million, is
Nigeria’s prominent Dangote oil refinery has reportedly been reselling cargoes of U.S. and Nigerian crude, according to four trade sources on Friday. Three of these sources cited technical problems at the refinery as the reason for the reoffer. When questioned about the offers and market rumors of operational issues affecting the crude distillation unit (CDU), a Dangote executive confirmed that the CDU was operational, Reuters reported. The Dangote refinery, which began production in January, is
Brent crude oil prices for September delivery closed the week on a high note in the Asian market, reaching $82.44 per barrel on Friday. This marked a significant recovery from the previous day’s low of $78.28 per barrel. International experts attribute the “marginal” rise in oil prices to robust US economic growth figures that surpassed forecasts, indicating a potential increase in demand for crude oil from the world’s largest energy consumer. Data revealed that the
On Sunday, Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique (CFM), one of Mozambique’s largest business conglomerates, began its maritime support operations for the oil and gas sector through its subsidiary, CFM Logistics. Agostinho Langa Júnior, president of CFM’s board of directors, emphasized the significance of this venture during the launch ceremony. “It is a gigantic challenge and an extraordinary opportunity. By fulfilling this aim, we will not only be implementing a Government mandate in the
The Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy plans to increase the country’s electrical capacity by 750 megawatts with two new wind and solar energy projects by October 2024. These projects represent a total investment of $700 million and will significantly advance Egypt’s renewable energy goals. The first project, a wind energy initiative, will be inaugurated in August with a capacity of 250 megawatts. It is being developed through a partnership between Orascom Construction, Toyota,
