Russia held onto its position as the world’s leading producer of rough diamonds by value in 2024, maintaining the top spot it secured for the first time in 2023, ahead of Botswana. Despite facing significant challenges—including ongoing sanctions from the United States and European Union, as well as a broadly weakened diamond market—Russia sustained its rough-diamond output at 2023 levels. The country produced 37.3 million carats in both 2023 and 2024. However, due to market
Eni Rovuma Basin has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) to strengthen their collaboration in enhancing the well-being of communities across Mozambique. The partnership will explore cooperation in several key areas, including agriculture and rural development, the environment and blue economy, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), food security and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, and community health. The agreement reflects a shared commitment by Eni
Mozambique’s Energy Minister Estevão Pale said on Friday that the government has not yet received an official request from TotalEnergies to lift the force majeure on its $20 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, but he remains optimistic about the oil major’s plans to resume development this summer. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo after a meeting with Japan’s Industry Minister Muto Yoji, Minister Pale said the force majeure will be lifted once the project operator
Billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote is considering Namibia as a new frontier for his conglomerate’s expanding investment portfolio. Fresh from completing what he described as the world’s largest oil refinery, Dangote hinted at potential future investments in the southern African nation during a high-level meeting with President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in Windhoek this week. The visit signals a continuation of the Dangote Group’s broader strategy to expand its footprint across the African continent. Already active in over
TotalEnergies plans to restart development of its $20 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Mozambique this summer, according to Chief Executive Patrick Pouyanné. He made the announcement during a session at the Japan Energy Summit in Tokyo on Wednesday. The project has been under force majeure since 2021 due to insurgent attacks in the region. It involves the development of the Golfinho and Atum natural gas fields in the Offshore Area 1 concession, along
The Zambian Government has welcomed a major renewable energy investment from Chinese solar technology giant LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., which plans to develop a 100-megawatt (MW) solar power plant in Zambia. Scheduled to become operational by December 2025, the project marks the first phase of a broader plan to scale up to 200MW—offering a substantial boost to Zambia’s renewable energy sector. The announcement was made during a courtesy visit by LONGi executives to the
Nigeria and Saudi oil giant Aramco are struggling to finalize a proposed $5 billion oil-backed loan, as declining global crude prices raise concerns among potential financiers and reduce the appeal of the deal. If completed, the agreement would represent Nigeria’s largest oil-backed borrowing to date and Aramco’s most significant financial engagement in the country. However, sources familiar with the matter say the falling price of oil may lower the deal’s overall value, complicating negotiations and
Egypt has finalized agreements with several major energy companies and global trading houses to purchase 150–160 cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) through 2026, as the country races to secure fuel for its power grid amid deepening energy and economic challenges. Valued at more than $8 billion based on current market prices, the LNG procurement underscores the growing financial strain on Egypt’s government, already grappling with falling domestic gas production, a foreign currency shortage, and
Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector is bracing for a major shake-up following the announcement by Dangote Petroleum Refinery that it will begin direct, free distribution of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and diesel across the country, starting August 15, 2025. Unveiled on Sunday, June 15, the plan includes the deployment of 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered tankers to deliver fuel directly to petrol stations, manufacturers, aviation companies, telecom operators, and other large-scale consumers. This move bypasses traditional
AMEA Power, in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Egyptian government, is deploying Egypt’s first grid-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). This landmark project marks a significant step toward stabilizing the national grid and accelerating the country’s transition to renewable energy. To fund the initiative, IFC has committed a $72 million loan to the Abydos Solar Project Company, a subsidiary of AMEA Power. The financing supports the integration of a 300 MWh
