Azule Energy’s successful farm-in agreement for Block 2914A in Namibia’s Orange Basin marks a pivotal moment in Africa’s offshore oil and gas exploration. The deal underscores the enormous hydrocarbon potential of the Orange Basin and Namibia’s emergence as a key player in the global energy sector. This agreement highlights the growing trust in Africa’s abundant offshore energy resources. Azule Energy now holds a 42.5% interest in Block 2914A, a significant step toward unlocking the basin’s
Australian-based Global Petroleum, an AIM-listed upstream oil and gas exploration company, is in early commercial discussions to secure a farm-in agreement with an undisclosed potential operating partner for its Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) 94 in Block 2011A, located in Namibia’s Walvis Basin. With increased offshore exploration activity in Namibia, particularly in the Walvis Basin—where Chevron recently acquired an 80% operated interest in PEL 82—Global Petroleum has reported heightened interest in the PEL 94 data. The
Namibia has unveiled plans to procure and implement 330 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity as part of its 2024 ministerial determination, the Ministry of Mines and Energy announced. According to Minister Tom Alweendo, the new capacity will be distributed between state-owned utility NamPower and independent power producers (IPPs). This initiative marks a significant step toward Namibia’s energy independence and sustainability goals. “The 2024 ministerial determination reflects a cohesive strategy aligned with our economic
Shell, through its Nigerian subsidiary, has finalized its decision to invest in the Bonga North Deepwater Development project in Nigeria. Located within an extension of the active Bonga field in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 118, the project is designed to sustain production at the Bonga facility, with first oil expected by 2030. The development aims to achieve a daily production target of 100,000 barrels of oil and includes 16 wells—eight oil production wells and eight
Alrosa’s deputy CEO, Vladimir Marchenko, is stepping down from his role to pursue a new opportunity within the diamond industry. Marchenko joined Alrosa in 2017 as vice president of production for Africa and South America, before being promoted to deputy CEO in 2018. In his tenure, Marchenko led key projects in Africa, including efforts to identify new diamond deposits in Zimbabwe. He also currently heads the Russia-Zimbabwe Business Council (RZBC). Alrosa CEO Pavel Marinychev praised
Alrosa predicts that supply and demand for rough and polished diamonds will balance out in the coming months as midstream inventory levels decline. Sergey Takhiev, Alrosa’s head of corporate finance, highlighted strong demand for jewelry and a reduction in diamond-mining capacity—down by up to 20% from 2018-2019 levels—will drive price growth. He also pointed to the rapid rise of online jewelry sales, which has allowed jewelers to reduce inventory requirements. “The normalization of inventories has
Tunisia has signed contracts for four photovoltaic projects totaling 500 MW, marking the first phase of its 1.7 GW renewable energy tender. These projects, set to be operational by 2027, aim to generate 1 TWh annually, contributing approximately 5% to the nation’s electricity supply. The successful bids include three 100 MW projects by Qair International, Scatec, and Voltalia, located in El Ksar (Gafsa), Mezzouna (Sidi Bouzid), and Menzel Habib (Gabes). Additionally, Qair International secured a
BP Plc and Kosmos Energy Ltd. have commenced gas production from offshore fields in Senegal and Mauritania as part of the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project. The $4.8 billion initiative aims to produce approximately 2.3 million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually during its first phase. The project involves wells drilled in deep waters, reaching depths of up to 2,850 meters, with gas directed to a floating storage vessel for processing. On December 31,
Galp, along with its partners NAMCOR and Custos, has completed drilling and logging the Mopane-2A well (Well 4) in PEL83, following its successful spudding. The Mopane-2A well revealed a gas-condensate hydrocarbon column in the AVO-3 reservoir, featuring a thin net pay within the reservoir’s sweet spot. Additionally, the well uncovered a light oil hydrocarbon column in the smaller AVO-4 reservoir. Both reservoirs exhibited high-quality sands with excellent porosity and permeability, elevated pressures, low fluid viscosities,
Uganda’s government is preparing to launch its third round of petroleum exploration licensing in the 2025/2026 fiscal year (July-June), according to Energy and Mineral Development Minister Ruth Nankabirwa. The upcoming licensing round will open new areas for oil and gas exploration, although specific regions, including the Albertine Graben or northern and northeastern basins, have not yet been confirmed. Uganda, which discovered crude oil in the Albertine Graben nearly 20 years ago, aims to commence production
