Angola produced 5.6 million carats of diamonds in the first half of 2024, marking a 36% increase compared to the 4.1 million carats recorded during the same period in 2023. This data was shared in Luanda by Miguel Vemba, Director of Mining Operations and Shareholding Management at Endiama, during a presentation on diamond production and sales for the first half of the year. The event, chaired by the Secretary of State for Mineral Resources, Jânio
The construction of the Cabinda Refinery is advancing steadily, with the project now 72% financially complete and 64% physically complete. The refinery is expected to begin operations in July of next year. This update was provided by Agostinho da Silva, the Deputy Governor for Technical Services and Infrastructure of Cabinda, following the 4th Meeting of the National Council for Public Works (CNOP), chaired by Minister of State for Economic Coordination, José de Lima Massano. The
Azule Energy, a joint venture between Eni and BP, recently awarded Opsealog a two-year contract to enhance data collection, integration, and analysis, aiming to reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from its offshore supply vessels (OSVs) in the Angolan market. According to the company’s press release, Opsealog expects to achieve a 10% reduction in emissions across the fleet. The contract’s first year will cover 28 vessels, with plans to expand to the full
The price of a barrel of Brent oil, which serves as a reference for Angolan exports, for delivery in November, ended today with a sharp drop of 4.86%, to 73.75 dollars, returning to the levels of December 2023. Brent crude hit its lowest level on the London futures market today since December 2023, when it was at an annual low of 73.24, Lusa reports. The price of oil fell below the $75 barrier for the first
The National Agency for Oil, Gas, and Biofuels (ANPG) and Sonangol Exploration and Production are set to launch a geological data acquisition campaign in the Kwanza Basin Onshore Blocks starting this September. This initiative aims to enhance geophysical and geological knowledge of the Kwanza Basin Onshore Blocks, which span the provinces of Luanda, Malanje, and Cuanza-Norte, specifically Blocks KON-11, KON-12, and KON-15. According to a statement from ANPG, the first phase of the project will
Botswana’s state-owned Okavango Diamond Company (ODC) is seeking a $300 million credit facility from local banks to support increased diamond purchases, according to Finance Minister Peggy Serame. The move comes as ODC aims to capitalize on its growing share of diamond production from Debswana, a joint venture between Botswana and Anglo American’s De Beers. Established in 2012 as an independent sales channel for the government, ODC currently receives 25% of its diamonds from Debswana. However,
London-listed Gem Diamonds, owner and operator of the Letšeng mine in Lesotho, has raised its production and sales guidance for the 2024 full year. The company now expects to recover between 98,000 and 101,000 carats, with sales projected between 100,000 and 103,000 carats. This is an increase from the previous guidance of 88,000 to 92,000 carats for recovery and 91,000 to 95,000 carats for sales. Despite ongoing pressure in the global diamond market, which has
Pedro de Sá, Operations Director at SonaGás, announced on Tuesday that there is no need to adjust the price of cooking gas despite a recent surge in demand. In an interview with Rádio Nacional, de Sá explained that the increased demand over the past week led to temporary supply imbalances, but these are expected to be resolved shortly. “SonaGás has a daily supply of 1,200 tons of butane gas available for distribution to the northern
The price of Brent crude oil, a key benchmark for Angolan exports, dropped by 2.31% on Tuesday, closing at $79.55 per barrel in the London futures market. This decline comes after a three-day rally that had pushed prices above the $80 mark. The drop in Brent prices was driven by concerns on Wall Street regarding crude oil’s future outlook. Major banks, including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, recently revised their 2025 price forecasts downward, predicting
Botswana is set to take a significant step towards energy self-sufficiency with the introduction of a 100MW solar power plant in Jwaneng, led by Sinotswana Green Energy, a consortium of Chinese and local firms. This project marks a major milestone in the nation’s shift towards renewable energy. Traditionally reliant on coal for electricity generation, Botswana’s government has recognized the need to diversify its energy sources and reduce carbon emissions. The country has set an ambitious
