The LAR – Lobito Atlantic Railway consortium announced on Friday the successful shipment of its first copper load from the Port of Lobito to the United States. The copper was transported on the container ship MSC SAMU, marking a significant milestone since the consortium took over the Lobito Corridor concession in January 2024. Prior shipments have already been made to ports in Europe and the Far East. According to a statement from LAR, the copper
Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil, and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, has called on national companies in the mineral exploration sector to invest in the global energy transition, emphasizing the need to address the country’s current and future challenges. During his visit to Cuanza-Sul, the minister highlighted the importance of exploiting natural resources sustainably to benefit the population. Regarding the ongoing ban on quartz and gypsum exploration, Minister Azevedo clarified that the government has established a
Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo has launched the construction of a 300,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery, positioning Ghana to become a leading petroleum hub in the region. Despite this ambitious goal, the project has faced criticism regarding potential shortcomings. Since becoming an oil producer in 2010, Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, has seen its crude oil output reach approximately 132,000 barrels per day (bpd) and its natural gas production around 325 million standard cubic feet per day.
Landlocked Niger has resumed crude oil exports via Benin, following a previous disruption caused by a trade dispute. The dispute halted shipments through a newly constructed Chinese-funded pipeline. The conflict began when Niger refused to lift its ban on imports from Benin, leading Benin to block oil exports through the PetroChina-backed pipeline in May, as reported by Reuters. Niger subsequently halted oil flow through the pipeline in June. In response, the junta-led government of Niger
Over the past 20 years, Sasol has exported 2.695 billion gigajoules of the 3.47 billion gigajoules of natural gas produced in Mozambique. This significant milestone has firmly established Mozambique as a key regional natural gas producer and laid the groundwork for the development of the national oil sector. President Filipe Nyusi highlighted this achievement during the 20th-anniversary celebration of the National Petroleum Institute (INP) in Maputo. He emphasized that Sasol’s gas exploitation from the Temane
Between 2019 and 2024, Angola significantly expanded its diamond cutting industry by opening eight new cutting factories. These include the Stone Polished Diamond factories in Luanda, with a combined processing capacity of 24,000 carats per year, KGK (60,000 carats/year), and Pedra Rubra (60,000 carats/year). At the Saurimo Diamond Development Pole (PDDS), KGK opened additional factories with a capacity of 180,000 carats per year, alongside Stardiam (72,000 carats/year), Kapau Gems (54,000 carats/year), Pollaro (60,000 carats/year), and
Sociedade Mineira de Catoca, operating in Lunda-Sul, is actively working to sell its diamond production from March and April to ensure steady cash flow, despite a decline in international diamond prices. Engrácia João, Deputy General Director for Administration, shared these details during a press briefing in Dundo, Lunda-Norte. João noted that, like other operators, Catoca is grappling with less favorable market conditions, where diamond prices have dropped to between 35% and 50% below the expected
Brent crude oil began yesterday’s session on the London futures exchange with a slight increase, opening at $79.71 per barrel, up from $79.66 at the close of last Friday’s session. During the day’s trading, the price climbed to $80.45 per barrel. This upward trend suggests a positive week ahead, driven by strong global demand and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties that continue to influence oil prices. Although Brent is trading below the $100 mark predicted a few
Chevron, a major player in Angola’s oil sector with a 26% market share, has recently made significant strides to further solidify its presence in the country. In mid-June, the U.S.-based giant signed contracts for two license areas off the coast of Angola—Blocks 49 and 50, located in the ultra-deepwater section of the Lower Congo Basin. A few years ago, this deal would not have been possible. The National Oil, Gas, and Biofuels Agency (ANPG), the
Nearly all contracts from Mozambique’s Sixth International Hydrocarbon Licensing Round have been approved by the government and are now pending final clearance from the Administrative Tribunal. Nazário Bangalane, Chairman of the National Petroleum Institute (INP), the regulatory authority for Mozambique’s hydrocarbon sector, expressed confidence that the Administrative Tribunal’s approval would be granted soon. Mozambican law requires that all contracts with public entities undergo a legality review by the tribunal. Bangalane, speaking during a visit to
