Sonangol is continuing preparations for its privatization process but is taking a cautious approach to avoid “mistakes or hasty decisions,” according to Sebastião Gaspar Martins, Chairman of the company’s board of directors. Speaking at a press conference on the company’s 2024 results, Martins emphasized that Sonangol is making progress on internal matters related to the privatization but noted that there are still external factors to be addressed before up to 30 percent of the company’s
On Tuesday, Sebastiao Gaspar Martins, President of Sonangol, confirmed that the Cabinda Refinery is set to begin operations in the second half of this year. Meanwhile, the construction of the Lobito Refinery is advancing, with Sonangol financing the project while actively seeking investment partners. Martins acknowledged that Angola has received multiple proposals for partnership but emphasized the need for more concrete offers. “We are certain that we don’t want to proceed alone. We are open
Consultancy firm Oxford Economics forecasts that Angola will experience a slight increase in daily oil barrel production this year, building on a 4.1% rise in 2024, which saw production reach 1.176 million barrels per day. The firm projects a further 1% increase in 2025, bringing production to 1.187 million barrels per day, signaling continued modest growth in the medium term. In a detailed commentary on Angola’s oil sector, Oxford Economics analysts highlighted several factors that
The Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MoPMR) has announced a new round of investment opportunities, inviting bids for seven undeveloped fields in the Mediterranean Sea and six exploration blocks in the Gulf of Suez and Western Desert. This initiative is part of Egypt’s strategy to boost oil and gas output. The bidding process will be facilitated through the Egypt Upstream Gateway (EUG) platform, and bids will remain open until May 4, 2025. This announcement
SBM Offshore is positioning itself for significant deepwater developments in Namibia as part of its strategic outlook for 2025 and beyond, capitalizing on its strong project visibility in the offshore sector. The company is confident in the promising outlook for key markets such as Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, and Namibia, driven by ongoing exploration activities. “As deepwater developments often emerge after years of extensive exploration, we already have strong visibility on projects for 2025 and 2026.
Dangote Refinery has made its first purchase of Algeria’s light sweet Saharan Blend crude, acquiring a 1 million-barrel cargo from Glencore, according to market sources cited by Argus Media. Delivery is expected between March 15 and 20. The $20 billion, 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery, built by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, began producing diesel, naphtha, and jet fuel in January last year, with petrol production following in September. On February 10, Dangote Industries Limited Vice President Edwin
Ghana’s new central bank governor, Johnson Asiama, has suspended the country’s gold-for-oil program and expressed confidence that the cedi will stabilize after last year’s volatility. Asiama, who was sworn into office by President John Mahama on February 25, emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced monetary policy to support exchange rate stability. “We intend to maintain an appropriate monetary policy stance,” he stated, adding that fiscal discipline under Mahama’s administration should help stabilize foreign exchange
Oando Plc, a leading Nigerian oil and gas company, has been selected as the preferred bidder for the 165,000-barrel-per-day Guaracara Refinery in Trinidad and Tobago. Acting Prime Minister and Energy Minister Stuart Young cited Oando’s strong financial track record and ability to secure upstream oil sector financing as key factors in the decision. The Guaracara Refinery, formerly part of the state-owned Petrotrin, has been inactive since its closure in late 2018 due to financial struggles.
Algeria’s state-owned energy giant, Sonatrach, has signed an $850 million agreement with China’s Sinopec for the exploration and development of the Hassi Berkane-North (HBAN) oil field. The contract, signed on February 25, was formalized by Sonatrach’s Vice President of Exploration and Production, Farid Djettou, and Sinopec’s General Manager, Xue Weisong. Located 80 km southwest of Hassi Messaoud, the HBAN field spans 9,700 km² and includes hydrocarbon-rich blocks 428 and 429. The agreement, valid for 30
Custos Energy has provided an update on the second exploration and appraisal campaign for Blocks 2813A and 2814B in Namibia’s Orange Basin, a rapidly emerging oil and gas hub. These blocks fall under Petroleum Exploration License 83 (PEL 83), operated by a subsidiary of Galp Energia. Custos and Namibia’s National Petroleum Corporation (NAMCOR) each hold a 10% working interest in PEL 83. The PEL 83 Joint Venture partners have successfully drilled, cored, and logged the
