Seplat Energy has unveiled plans to revive over 400 dormant oil wells across its assets as part of a strategic move to boost production and reinforce its position in Nigeria’s energy sector. The announcement was made by Chief Operating Officer Samson Ezugworie during the company’s post-Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos on Wednesday. Seplat currently operates eight of the 11 oil blocks in its portfolio—seven onshore and four offshore. Ezugworie described these assets as
Namibia expects TotalEnergies and BW Energy to make final investment decisions (FIDs) on two major offshore oil projects by the fourth quarter of 2026, according to a senior government official. Maggy Shino, Petroleum Commissioner at Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy, stated on Tuesday that TotalEnergies is anticipated to submit a field development plan for its Venus discovery this summer. Meanwhile, BW Energy and the Namibian government are finalizing plans for a smaller offshore project.
Southern Africa is set to welcome a new oil refinery, the result of a strategic partnership between the governments of Namibia and Botswana. The proposed facility is part of broader efforts to deepen regional cooperation in the energy sector and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products. According to The Namibian, the initiative was a key topic during Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s recent working visit to Gaborone, where she held talks with Botswana’s President Duma Boko.
Shell paid $5.34 billion to Nigeria in 2024—the highest amount it paid to any country that year—according to figures released Thursday as part of a UK legal disclosure. The payments, which include taxes and other extractive-related charges, marked an increase from 2023. This surge comes as Shell prepares to exit its onshore oil operations in Nigeria after decades of activity marked by environmental controversies and social unrest. Although the company will maintain its offshore operations,
Namibia has unveiled plans to adopt Ghana’s widely praised Gold Purchase Programme in a strategic bid to strengthen its monetary policy and revive its struggling economy. The initiative seeks to boost the country’s foreign reserves, curb inflation, and reinforce the value of the Namibian dollar by stockpiling gold as a key financial asset. With a robust mining sector and stable political environment, Namibia is one of Africa’s notable gold producers, and the industry remains a
Ghana is calling on investors to support its oil sector as the global shift toward decarbonization risks rendering fossil fuel assets obsolete. President John Mahama made the appeal during the Africa CEO Forum held Tuesday in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. “Oil is in transition, so anybody who has any assets should be pumping like there’s no tomorrow,” Mahama said, signalling Ghana’s openness to increased investment. “We’re rolling out the red carpet for anyone ready to drill.”
Petrobras, Brazil’s state-controlled oil giant, is actively seeking a return to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, with a renewed focus on frontier deepwater exploration. This marks a strategic shift from its earlier divestment approach and signals Petrobras’ intent to expand its global footprint once again. The development was revealed by Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Shettima attributed Petrobras’ revived interest to the economic reforms being implemented under President
French energy giant TotalEnergies has announced plans to begin offshore drilling in South Africa in 2025, pending regulatory approval. The move represents a potential turning point in South Africa’s efforts to grow its oil and gas exploration sector. Mike Sangster, TotalEnergies’ Senior Vice President for Africa, disclosed the company’s intentions at an industry conference on Tuesday. He confirmed that TotalEnergies currently holds exploration rights over four offshore blocks in South African waters. If the drilling
Nigeria’s Dangote Oil Refinery has cancelled a planned maintenance shutdown for June on its 204,000 barrels-per-day gasoline-producing unit, having completed the necessary work during an earlier unplanned outage, according to industry data from IIR (Industrial Info Resources). The maintenance was originally scheduled to last 30 days in June and would have targeted the refinery’s Residue Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) unit, which is critical for gasoline production. However, the refinery used the unexpected downtime between April
Koidu Limited, Sierra Leone’s largest diamond mining company, has suspended operations and laid off the majority of its local workforce—more than 1,000 employees—due to a protracted dispute over wages and working conditions. The conflict began with a strike in December 2024, which workers temporarily paused in hopes of reaching an agreement through negotiations. However, after talks stalled, employees resumed industrial action in early March, according to Reuters. Charles Kainessie, president of the Koidu Limited Workers’
