Africa
Global News - March 2023
Latest industry news and developments
French Court Dismisses Lawsuit Against TotalEnergies Over Uganda Pipeline Project
Under the case filed in 2019, six French and Ugandan activist groups had accused the company of not doing all it could to protect people and the environment from the Tilenga oil development and the $3.5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline.
East Africa Pipeline Project Kicks Up Climate Change Controversy
(P&GJ) — Construction of the 896-mile (1,443-km) cross-border East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) project continues to elicit objections, as well as strong arguments in its favor by the governments of Uganda and Tanzania. The main contentious issues are the possible adverse effects of the project might have climate change, and alleged human rights violations.
Tanzania Approves Construction of New 900-Mile Crude Pipeline
(P&GJ) — The construction of a crude oil pipeline for $3.5 billion has been approved by Tanzania's government. The 1,443-km (900-mile) pipeline will carry crude from sizable oilfields being built in Lake Albert in northwest Uganda to a Tanzanian port on the Indian Ocean for distribution to global markets.
Report: Galp Planning to Sell 10% Stake in Mozambique Gas Project
Portugal's Galp Energia has mandated Bank of America to prepare a sale of its 10% stake in a multibillion-dollar natural gas project in Mozambique's Rovuma basin, the Negocios newspaper said on Thursday, citing an unidentified source linked to the energy sector.
Enagas: Algeria Regains Spot as Spain's Top Natural Gas Source
Enagas said 25%, or 8,545 GWh, of total gas deliveries to Spain in January of this year came from Algeria. Both countries are linked through the 757-kilometer (470-mile) submarine Medgaz pipeline.
Indian Energy Company ONGC Videsh Eyes Oil, Gas 'Hot Spots' in Africa, Latin America
ONGC Videsh is looking for exploration and production investment opportunities in Africa and Latin America, such as in Ghana and Surinam. OVL currently has a stake in 32 oil and gas projects in 15 countries, spanning projects in various phases, including exploration, development, production and pipelines.
TotalEnergies' Head Met Mozambique President with Key Gas Project at Stake
The head of TotalEnergies met Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi on Friday to discuss the humanitarian situation in the Cabo Delgado area, where a 2021 attack on civilians led to a key LNG project being halted.
Uganda to Unveil First Commercial Oil Production Drilling Program
Uganda will commission on Tuesday the first of its four planned oil drilling rigs and start drilling the first production well, its petroleum agency said, a key milestone as the country races to meet its target of first oil output in 2025.
Uganda to Announce Oil Blocks Licensing Round in May
Uganda said on Friday it plans to announce a third oil licensing round in May in an effort to further develop a sector on track to produce its first oil in 2025. The country is also developing a crude export pipeline and a domestic crude refinery that will help to commercialize the country's oil resources.
Uganda Approves Construction for 898-Mile Crude Pipeline Costing $3.5 Billion
Uganda has approved an application by a company controlled by France's TotalEnergies to construct a $3.5 billion oil pipeline spanning 1,445 km (roughly 898 miles) that will transport the country's crude to international markets.
Congo Awards Lake Kivu Gas Blocks to US, Canadian Producers
Democratic Republic of Congo has awarded licenses to three natural gas blocks in Lake Kivu on its eastern border, with some production expected to start as early as next year, the hydrocarbons ministry said on Monday.
Eni, Snam Join Forces on Algeria-Italy Gas Pipelines
Italian energy group Eni and gas grid operator Snam have clinched a partnership to jointly manage their assets in the gas pipelines connecting Algeria to Italy, the companies said on Tuesday.
Global Pipeline Construction Outlook 2023
(P&GJ) — Seldom has a new year arrived with the degree of supply and demand uncertainty facing global energy markets at the start of 2023. Pipeline & Gas Journal's annual survey of global construction activity reflects a renewed emphasis on energy security after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
German Companies Plan to Invest More in Africa in 2023
A poll of businesses shows German companies want to boost their activities in Africa next year, especially in areas such as green hydrogen and LNG.
Cross-Border Pipelines Seen as More Critical to Africa’s Future
(P&GJ) — Africa’s domestic demand for both oil and gas is estimated at 75% of the region’s total production, creating opportunity for development of efficient cross-border pipeline networks to ship fuels aimed at plugging the deficit especially to landlocked countries.
Savannah Energy Acquires Exxon’s 672-Mile Chad-Cameroon Pipeline
Exxon Mobil Corp. on Friday closed a $407 million sale of its operations in Central Africa's Chad and Cameroon to London-listed firm Savannah Energy Plc. The deal will see the firm take over Exxon's 40% indirect interest in the Chad-Cameroon export transportation system — a 1,081-km (672-mile) pipeline and floating storage and offloading facility offshore in Cameroon.
East African Pipeline Company’s Hits and Misses on Inline Inspection
(P&GJ) — East Africa’s leading oil pipeline operator, Kenya Pipeline Company, has seen its inline inspection (ILI) program – for its portions of its 1,113-mile (1,792-km) product pipeline – swamped in legal hurdles in the last three years. Since 2020, only one of the three tenders were floated, proceeding to contract award.
Exxon to Exit Africa in Crude Phaseout, Eyeing Low-Carbon Natural Gas Options
Exxon's departure reflects a wider move by major oil producers to reduce crude production in West Africa and shift investments to lower-carbon natural gas development on the continent, and to more lucrative projects in the Americas.
Canada, Nigeria Target Oil and Gas Methane Emissions with New Laws
Oil and gas producers Canada and Nigeria have become the latest countries to tackle the potent greenhouse gas methane with laws to rein in emissions in the fossil fuel energy sector.
Uganda Says First Oil in April 2025, Eyes China for Pipeline Funding
Uganda aims to start commercially pumping its oil reserves in April 2025, with China being considered as a potential source of funds to develop an export pipeline, Uganda's energy minister said on Tuesday.
Mozambique to Ship First Batch of LNG Exports to Europe by Early November
Mozambique expects to ship its first LNG exports to Europe from the Eni-operated Coral Sul floating plant later this month or early November, petroleum regulator INP said on Friday in a supply boost for the energy-starved region.
Uganda Criticizes EU for Passing Resolution Delaying $3.5 Billion Pipeline
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni criticized the European Union parliament after it passed a resolution this month urging TotalEnergies to delay development of a $3.5 billion pipeline that would help ship Uganda's landlocked crude to the world markets via a port on Tanzania's Indian Ocean coast.
Egypt Reports $500 Million Monthly Income from Natural Gas Exports
Egypt is earning about $500 million monthly from natural gas exports and aims to raise that figure to $1 billion "in the coming period," Finance Minister Mohamed Maait said in a statement on Thursday.
Portugal to Face Supply Shortage If Nigeria Fails to Deliver All LNG Due
Portugal could face supply problems this winter if it does receive all of the LNG it is due from Nigeria, the European Union country's environment and energy minister said on Monday.
Slow Economy, Fuel Theft Hampers Transnet Pipeline’s Output
(P&GJ) — South Africa’s slow economic recovery, the national lockdown triggered by the outbreak of COVID-19 and pipeline product theft adversely affected the 2021 performance of the country’s biggest operator of fuel pipeline systems, Transnet Pipelines.
Central African Nations Enter Deal to Construct Over 4,000 Miles of Pipeline
Central African countries signed a deal on Thursday to create a regional oil and gas pipeline network and hub infrastructures with the intent to construct three multinational oil and gas pipeline systems of around 6,500 km (4,000 miles) as well as LNG terminals and at least three refineries.
Two Oil Pipelines Destroyed by Explosives in Nigeria, Officers Arrest Four
Nigerian police said on Tuesday two oil pipelines that feed the Brass export terminal, one of Nigeria's export streams operated by Italian group Eni, were recently blown up by explosives.
Eni Acquires Floating Liquefaction Facility to Produce LNG in Congo Republic
Energy group Eni said on Friday it had acquired Tango FLNG to produce and export LNG from the Republic of Congo, as Italy rushes to find alternative supplies to Russian gas.
Algeria, Niger and Nigeria Sign Deal for $13 Billion Saharan Gas Pipeline
Algeria, Nigeria and Niger have signed a memorandum of understanding to build a natural gas pipeline across the Sahara Desert, Algeria's energy minister said on Thursday.
- Keystone Oil Pipeline Resumes Operations After Temporary Shutdown
- Freeport LNG Plant Runs Near Zero Consumption for Fifth Day
- Biden Administration Buys Oil for Emergency Reserve Above Target Price
- Mexico Seizes Air Liquide's Hydrogen Plant at Pemex Refinery
- Enbridge to Invest $500 Million in Pipeline Assets, Including Expansion of 850-Mile Gray Oak Pipeline
