The Mozambican government and Chinese oil company CNOOC Hong Kong Holding signed five concession contracts on Thursday in Maputo for oil and gas exploration in the Angoche sedimentary basin, located off the coast of Nampula province. Additionally, a sixth contract was signed with Italian energy company ENI. At the signing ceremony, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Carlos Zacarias noted that this milestone is the culmination of a process that began in November 2021, when
The Mozambican Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy has announced a potential change in the partnership of Area 4 in the Rovuma Basin, located off the coast of Cabo Delgado province. This follows the decision by the Portuguese oil and gas company Galp to sell its stake to the Emirati oil company ADNOC. Galp has reached an agreement with ADNOC to sell its position in the Area 4 natural gas consortium for nearly 600 million
Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Wednesday labeled synthetic gems a significant threat to the country’s economic foundation, as the government prepares to launch a $6-billion project to extend the life of its flagship Jwaneng diamond mine. The natural diamond market has faced challenges over the past two years due to rising consumer demand for cheaper lab-grown diamonds and global macroeconomic volatility. Masisi will attend the JCK Show in Las Vegas this week, the world’s largest
The expansion and modernization of the national electrical system, which includes three million connections, by 2027, foresees the insertion of the private sector in the production, distribution and commercialization of electrical energy in the country, with a view to ensuring financial sustainability, reducing high losses and improve the “weight” in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). To this end, the Executive is already working on the new legal framework that will allow entrepreneurs to enter the
Lucapa, an Australia-based diamond miner, under the helm of its newly appointed chairperson, Stuart Brown, sees Angola as the primary target for diamond exploration globally. Brown, a former De Beers CFO and interim CEO, emphasized Angola’s potential in Lucapa’s strategic direction, citing its largely unexplored diamond-rich provinces as key exploration targets. The company’s 15-year presence in Angola, particularly through its Lulo operation, has been marked by significant success in alluvial diamond production. Brown highlighted Lulo’s
The expansion and modernization of Angola’s national electrical system aims to add three million connections by 2027, with a key focus on integrating the private sector into energy production, distribution, and commercialization. This initiative seeks to ensure financial sustainability, reduce high losses, and improve the sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). To facilitate this transition, the government is working on a new legal framework that will open the energy market to private entrepreneurs.
Lucapa Diamond Company has recovered a 195-carat, type IIa rough diamond from its Lulo alluvial mine in Angola, marking a significant addition to its collection of large diamonds. This find, announced on Tuesday, is the sixth-largest diamond discovered at Lulo since operations began in 2015 and the fourth diamond over 100 carats recovered this year. This discovery follows the unearthing of a 203-carat, type IIa rough diamond in March, processed from stockpiled ore at the
TE H2, a joint venture between TotalEnergies and EREN Groupe, along with Austrian electric company VERBUND, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tunisia to explore the development of a substantial green hydrogen project named H2 Notos. The H2 Notos project aims to produce green hydrogen using electrolysers powered by large onshore wind and solar projects, utilizing desalinated seawater. The green hydrogen produced will be exported to Central Europe. Initially, the project is expected
London-listed Pensana has praised the Angolan government for its attractive policies and growing interest in the country’s exploration potential. This comes as Angola saw a notable improvement in its ranking to 47th out of 86 countries in the 2023 Investment Attractiveness Index, up from 59th out of 62 countries in 2022. The Investment Attractiveness Index, produced annually by the Fraser Institute, combines the Policy Perception Index and the Best Practices Mineral Potential Index. It evaluates
Oil prices ended the week with a 1% increase, closing at $82.12 per barrel, although they experienced a weekly decline due to concerns that strong US economic data could lead to prolonged high interest rates, subsequently reducing fuel demand. Brent crude futures for July delivery rose by $0.76 on Friday, reaching $82.12 per barrel. International experts anticipate an increase in summer demand in the United States starting this weekend, leading some investors to question whether
