Botswana Denies Connection to Oil Tanker Hit by U.S. as Fake Ship Registrations Raise Alarm Botswana has distanced itself from an oil tanker targeted by the United States in the Persian Gulf, saying the vessel was falsely operating under its flag a case that highlights the growing global problem of maritime flag fraud and its impact on African nations. The controversy emerged after U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced military action against the “Botswana-flagged” oil tanker
Afentra Advances Angola Oil Exploration as Rising Crude Prices Boost Development Plans Afentra is advancing both offshore and onshore exploration activities in Angola as the company seeks to expand production and grow its reserves in one of Africa’s leading oil-producing nations. According to CEO Paul McDade, higher global crude oil prices driven by tensions involving Iran and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are strengthening the company’s investment outlook in Angola, Sub-Saharan Africa’s
QatarEnergy Announces Promising Merlin-1X Oil Discovery Offshore Namibia in Orange Basin Exploration Program QatarEnergy has announced a new oil discovery with encouraging results from the Merlin-1X exploration well, drilled in Petroleum Exploration License 39 (PEL 0039) offshore Namibia. Merlin-1X is the tenth well drilled within the license area and has delivered the most promising subsurface results to date. The well encountered high-quality reservoir formations containing light oil, along with limited associated natural gas. His Excellency
Zimbabwe Enters Oil and Gas Era with First Production Sharing Deal for Invictus Energy’s Cabora Bassa Basin Project Zimbabwe has signed its first-ever petroleum production sharing agreement with Invictus Energy for the Cabora Bassa Basin, marking a major milestone in the country’s upstream oil and gas sector. The agreement covers development rights linked to the Mukuyu gas discovery and represents Zimbabwe’s initial formal step into production sharing arrangements for hydrocarbons exploration and development. The Cabora
Dangote Considers Mombasa for 650,000 bpd Refinery as Kenya Competes with Tanzania for Mega Energy Project Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote is considering Kenya as the preferred location for a proposed 650,000 barrels-per-day oil refinery in East Africa, a landmark project that could reshape the region’s fuel supply landscape. According to a Financial Times report, Dangote made the remarks during an interview in Nairobi, stating that he now favours Kenya’s port city of Mombasa over Tanzania’s
ExxonMobil Plans Up to 100 MMcf/d Gas Production from Owowo Field as Offshore Projects Near Investment Decision ExxonMobil expects to produce significant volumes of natural gas from its planned development of the Owowo and Bosi offshore fields in Nigeria, both of which are still progressing toward final investment sanction. According to Jagir Baxi, Lead Country Manager of ExxonMobil Nigeria and its affiliates, the Owowo development includes plans for a dedicated gas pipeline as part of
TGS Wins Offshore Angola 4D Seismic Contract, Extending Ramform Vessel Operations to 2027 TGS has secured a significant 4D seismic acquisition contract offshore Angola, reinforcing its presence in Africa’s offshore energy sector and ensuring continued utilisation of one of its Ramform vessels through early 2027. The project is scheduled to commence in July 2026 and will run for approximately eight months. TGS will deploy its Ramform vessel equipped with GeoStreamer technology to acquire high-resolution marine
Petralon Energy Adds 2,800 BOPD from DI-3, Boosting Dawes Island Production to 4,800 BOPD in Niger Delta Petralon Energy has commenced production from DI-3, its second consecutive development well on the Dawes Island field in the eastern onshore Niger Delta Basin, marking another milestone in its ongoing drilling campaign. The DI-3 well was brought onstream on March 14, 2026, adding approximately 2,800 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) to production. With the new well online,
Dangote Refinery Boosts Processing Capacity to 700,000 BPD, Plans Expansion to 1.4 Million BPD by 2028 Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has increased its crude oil processing capacity to 700,000 barrels per day (bpd), surpassing its installed nameplate capacity of 650,000 bpd and marking a significant operational milestone for Africa’s largest refinery. The achievement follows a performance assessment conducted by the refinery’s process licensors, confirming the facility’s ability to process higher volumes of crude oil
Eni Enters The Gambia’s Oil and Gas Sector with Offshore Block A1 Exploration Licence Italian energy major Eni has officially entered The Gambia’s upstream oil and gas sector after signing a Petroleum Exploration, Development and Production Licence Agreement with the Gambian government for the offshore Block A1 concession. The agreement was signed by The Gambia’s Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Nani Juwara, granting Eni the rights to explore the deepwater Block A1, which covers approximately
