South Africa’s Top Court Blocks Shell Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration South Africa’s Constitutional Court has halted Shell’s offshore oil and gas exploration activities along the country’s Eastern Cape coastline, overturning an earlier ruling that had allowed the company and its partner, Impact Africa, to proceed. The decision follows a legal dispute that has continued for several years over the granting of exploration rights in the offshore area. The court found that affected communities had
Sonatrach Expands Niger Energy Cooperation with New Exploration, Drilling and Fuel Deals Algeria’s state-owned energy company Sonatrach is expanding its cooperation with Niger through a series of agreements covering oil exploration, drilling services and petroleum-product supplies. In June 2026, Sonatrach and Niger’s national oil company SONIDEP signed three memoranda of understanding covering seismic exploration, drilling operations and petroleum products. The agreements build on a cooperation framework established in 2024 and are intended to strengthen technical
Niger Plans $1.9 Billion Refinery as Country Targets West African Energy Hub Status Niger is planning a $1.9 billion oil refinery and associated petrochemical complex as part of efforts to expand its domestic refining capacity, increase value from its crude resources and strengthen its position in West Africa’s energy market. The proposed development would significantly expand Niger’s ability to process crude oil locally, reducing reliance on imported refined petroleum products while creating opportunities to supply
Chevron Discovers Oil and Gas Condensate Offshore Angola in Block 0 Chevron has confirmed a new oil and gas condensate discovery offshore Angola, strengthening the company’s exploration programme in the country and adding to its portfolio of discoveries in the region. The discovery was made at the 105-4X exploration well in Block 0, located in Angola’s Lower Congo Basin. Chevron said the well encountered a hydrocarbon column of more than 600 metres, including over 90
Zambia Approves Tanzania and Namibia Fuel Pipelines to Strengthen Energy Security Zambia’s Cabinet has approved two major regional pipeline projects aimed at diversifying the country’s fuel supply routes, improving energy security and meeting growing petroleum demand. The projects are the Tanzania-Zambia Multi-Products Pipeline (TZMPP) and the Namibia-Zambia Refined Petroleum and Natural Gas Pipeline (NZPGP). The government has also approved a shareholding structure for the new Tanzania-Zambia pipeline. The projects are intended to reduce Zambia’s reliance
Angola Faces Worrying Fuel Shortage as Rising Consumption Puts Pressure on Sonangol Angola is facing a fuel supply shortage, with rising domestic consumption putting increasing pressure on the country’s petroleum distribution system and state-owned oil company Sonangol. Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas Diamantino Azevedo acknowledged the situation, describing the shortage as a matter of concern. The government is working with Sonangol to address supply constraints and restore more stable fuel availability across the
Angola Authorises Oil Potential Study as Government Targets New Exploration Areas Angola has authorised the hiring of a specialised consulting firm to assess the oil potential of new areas, as the country continues efforts to expand exploration and strengthen its long-term petroleum production base. The authorisation forms part of the government’s broader strategy to identify new hydrocarbon opportunities and attract investment into areas that could contribute to future oil and gas production. The consultancy will
Angola Confirms Oil and Gas at Katambi-2 Well in Benguela Basin Angola has confirmed significant oil and gas potential in the Benguela Basin following successful drilling and testing of the Katambi-2 appraisal well on Block 24. The results, announced by the National Agency of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG) and Sonangol Exploration and Production (Sonangol E&P), confirm the presence of high-quality hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs and strengthen the prospects for developing Angola’s non-associated gas resources. Located about
ExxonMobil Awards $1.1 Billion in Contracts as Mozambique’s Rovuma LNG Project Advances ExxonMobil and its Area 4 partners have awarded approximately $1.1 billion in pre-investment contracts for long-lead equipment for the Rovuma LNG Phase 1 project in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, marking a significant step towards development of the major offshore gas project. The contracts cover critical upstream equipment, including subsea production systems, large-bore production valves and offshore line pipe required to develop natural gas
DRC, Angola Finalise Offshore Oil Deal with $27.8 Billion in Potential Revenue for Kinshasa The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Angola have finalised an agreement governing the joint development and exploitation of offshore oil resources, marking a major step in efforts to unlock the country’s petroleum potential. The agreement is expected to generate up to $27.8 billion in potential revenue for the DRC, strengthening the economic significance of its offshore petroleum assets. The deal
