Benin Resumes Oil Drilling at Sèmè Offshore Field After 27-Year Hiatus with Akrake Petroleum After nearly three decades of inactivity, drilling has resumed at one of West Africa’s oldest offshore oil fields. Singapore-based Akrake Petroleum is leading a major redevelopment of the historic Sèmè field, located off the coast of Benin. The site, first discovered in 1969, was last active in 1998, when operations ceased due to low global oil prices and excessive water production.
Chevron Advances Angola’s Gas and Deepwater Oil Development Energy giant Chevron continues to play a significant role in Angola’s growing oil and gas sector, focusing on expanding natural gas development and deepwater oil opportunities. The company’s efforts support Angola’s economic diversification and aim to strengthen its position as a key LNG exporter. Chevron’s involvement in Angola includes the Sanha Lean Gas Connection project, which began producing gas in December 2024. This project, led by Chevron’s
Angola Launches Production at Agogo FPSO, Aims for 175,000 Barrels/Day with First Carbon-Neutral Offshore Facility Angola’s Agogo Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) unit has officially commenced oil production, marking a significant milestone in the country’s energy sector. The project—operated by Azule Energy in partnership with Sonangol P&P and Sinopec International—is part of the larger Agogo Integrated West Hub (IWH) Project in Block 15/06 offshore Angola. With estimated reserves of 450 million barrels and a
Shell Downscales Namibia Oil Exploration Priority in New Global Strategy Shift Shell has signaled a strategic shift away from prioritizing Namibia in its oil and gas exploration plans, as the company adopts a more selective and focused global investment approach, CEO Wael Sawan announced. While Shell maintains an active presence in Namibia’s offshore sector, the country is no longer considered a top exploration priority, Sawan said, citing a broader reevaluation of the company’s exploration portfolio.
Namibia to Power New Walvis Bay Oil Refinery with South African Modular Nuclear Reactor Namibia has chosen cutting-edge South African nuclear technology to power a new oil refinery planned for Walvis Bay, a move that marks a significant step toward energy independence and industrial expansion. The project is being spearheaded by the Dune 7 Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and enjoys the backing of the Namibian government. The planned facility will have a capacity of 300,000
BW Energy Commits Up to US$700 Million in 2025 Capex, Targets Major Developments in Namibia and Brazil BW Energy has allocated between US$650 million and US$700 million (approximately N$12 billion to N$12.95 billion) in capital expenditure for 2025, focusing on upstream oil and gas developments in Namibia and Brazil. In its latest half-year report, the company confirmed plans to drill an appraisal well on Namibia’s Kudu gas field in the fourth quarter of 2025, following
SARW and IMD Call on African Lawmakers to Champion Just, Sustainable Energy Transition MAPUTO – The Southern African Resources Watch (SARW) has called on African parliaments to take a leading role in steering the continent toward a more inclusive and sustainable energy transition. Speaking at the Regional Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Climate Change, Energy Transition, and the Oil and Gas Sector—held this week in Maputo—SARW Executive Director Claude Kabemba emphasized that the shift to cleaner energy
Nigeria’s Oil Production Increases Amid Security Boost and Regulatory Reforms Nigeria’s oil production increased last month, continuing a steady upward trend, according to the head of the country’s upstream petroleum regulator. As Africa’s top crude oil producer, Nigeria depends heavily on oil revenues for government funding and foreign exchange. Sustained production growth is therefore critical to the nation’s economic stability. In recent years, the sector has faced significant challenges, including oil theft, insecurity in the
ReconAfrica Starts Drilling Kavango West 1X in Namibia, Targets 1,500m Otavi Carbonate Reservoir Reconnaissance Energy Africa (ReconAfrica) has officially commenced drilling operations for the Kavango West 1X exploration well, located within Petroleum Exploration Licence 73 in northeastern Namibia. The well is expected to reach a depth of approximately 3,800 meters by late November 2025, with a key target of more than 1,500 meters of Otavi carbonate reservoir—the primary zone of interest within the Damara Fold
BW Energy to Drill Kharas Appraisal Well in Namibia’s Orange Basin Using Deepsea Mira Rig BW Energy has signed a contract to mobilize the Deepsea Mira semi-submersible rig for drilling the Kharas appraisal well on the Kudu license, located offshore in Namibia’s Orange Basin. The rig is operated by Northern Ocean Ltd., under a previously announced platform-sharing agreement with Rhino Resources Ltd. The rig will be deployed through BW Kudu Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary
