Maguga Dam in Eswatini

Progress At Last For Kingdom Of Eswatini's Energy Mix Dream

By: Koketso Lediga After a long wait, the Kingdom of Eswatini issued a request for the qualification and development of a 40MW solar PV plant to be developed via the First Tranche Procurement Programme and a 40MW biomass-to-energy plant to be developed via the Second Tranche Procurement Programme. Surprisingly, the announcement was made public through the Eswatini Energy Regulatory Authority (ESERA) and not the Eswatini Electricity Company on the 7thof June 2019. The later is a state-owned utility previously known as Swaziland Electricity Company (SEC) and currently operates a number of hydropower plants with an estimated installed capacity of 60MW to date. Needless to say, the generated power levels are inadequate since it provides a mere 10% to the Kingdom's electricity demand.The request for qualification comes delayed given that Eswatini has publicised its intent to have a 46MW solar PV power plant online since 2017. However, the decision is an…
President Lourenço of Angola to attend Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) 2019 in Malabo to push for partnerships on Angola’s gas monetization

Angola's To Push For Angola's Gas Monetization At Gas Exporting Countries Forum

In a major development for the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), President João Lourenço of Angola will attend and address the fifth annual summit, hosted by Equatorial Guinea as part of its "Year of Energy." Angola joined the GECF as an observing member in November 2018. President's Lourenço active participation in this year's summit reflects the growing importance of the natural gas sector to his administration's long-term plan to grow and diversify Africa's third largest economy.Angola's oil sector has faced challenges in recent years. Production has fallen from a peak of 1.9m barrels per day in 2010 to just above 1.4m bopd. Furthermore, with limited refining capacity, Angola's large oil production has done little to power the economy's industrial sector, leading to fuel shortages like the one which hit Luanda recently.Upon taking office in September 2017, President Lourenço's priorities were clear: reform oil and grow gas.In May 2018, President Lourenço…
Equatorial Guinea To Build West Africa's First LNG Storage Plant

Equatorial Guinea To Build West Africa's First LNG Storage Plant

Located at the Port of Akonikien, the landmark regasification plant will enable the storage, transportation and distribution of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to the country's mainland. 12 bullet tanks will carry 14,000 cubic meters of storage capacity, supported by a truck loading station and 12-kilometers of ten-inch gas and diesel pipelines. The project will be led by local construction and engineering firm Elite Construcciones; The project forms part of Equatorial Guinea's regional LNG2Africa initiative which seeks to drive gas monetization through in-country gas-to-power projects.Equatorial Guinea is set to construct the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage and regasification plant in West Africa, advancing efforts to monetize gas resources through the creation of a domestic gas-to-power infrastructure.Located at the Port of Akonikien on the country's mainland, the plant will enable the transportation and storage of LNG from the EG LNG plant at the Punta Europa Gas Complex on Bioko Island, to…
US Shows Appetite To Develop Africa's LNG

US Shows Appetite To Develop Africa's LNG

With record-breaking US gas production this year, and the promotion of gas as a "cleaner, cheaper" energy source a continued priority for the current White House, the US Department of Energy is now looking towards Africa to develop opportunities in the exploration, production and monetization of LNG. In the words of Energy Secretary Rick Perry, "increased amounts of US LNG on the world market benefit the American economy, American workers, and consumers and help make the air cleaner around the globe."Appetite for imported gas is growing steadily across the African continent. Just recently, South Africa announced plans to open its first LNG import terminal in 2024. Meanwhile, US gas production is skyrocketing. Currently at 6 billion cubic feet (bcf) per day, production is forecast to grow to 10 bcf by the end of 2020. This confluence of circumstance makes Africa a common-sense partner for the US as it sets out…
Denis Sassou Nguesso, President, Republic of Congo

Oyo Discovery Is A Game Changer For Congo And Africa

The recent onshore discovery made in the Delta de la Cuvette deposit in the Republic of Congo is a game-changer for Congo and Africa. The discovery was announced on August 10th by SARPD Oil and PEPA, a Congolese consortium working as operators on the Block.Early projections indicate that the discovered deposits could produce up to 359 million barrels of oil, or 983,000 bopd, from Congo’s central province. This could in effect quadruple Congo’s production, which currently stands at over 330,000 bopd according to OPEC’s latest figures. Production has been steadily increasing in recent years, with a target set by the government of reaching 400,000 bopd by 2020. “This is our first onshore discovery and it gives us a lot of hope that we shall make more discoveries especially now that we are to award more blocks for oil exploration in the ongoing oil licensing round,” said the H.E. Jean-Marc Thystère-Tchicaya,…
Tullow Oil Terminates Mugerwa’s Job In Uganda

Tullow Oil Terminates Mugerwa’s Job In Uganda

British oil company Tullow Oil has fired its managing director Jimmy Mugerwa for alleged abuse of office. Departing Mugerwa was replaced by Marian Nampeera Mbowa, a seasoned lawyer with vast experience in the oil and gas sector. Mugerwa was reportedly recalled by the oil company and awaits fresh deployment. Tullow didn’t give a reason for the decision. Media reports say Tullow bosses in London were very much enraged by the negative publicity their employee had attracted after assuming the chairmanship of DFCU Bank board. As DFCU board chairman, Mugerwa has been receiving heavy negative publicity regarding his role in managing the financial institution. Dfcu Bank has been in the limelight following its controversial takeover of Crane Bank Limited. Recently President Yoweri Museveni allegedly dismissed Mugerwa from a meeting at State House ‘after receiving credible intelligence information that the oil executive was heavily involved in dubious activities including money laundering, fraud…
Total E&P Uganda has donated medical supplies to Buliisa district

Total E&P Boosts Buliisa District Ebola Response Preparedness

By George Busiinge Total E&P Uganda has donated medical supplies to Buliisa district in a bid to support its Ebola response preparedness. The donation follows an outbreak of the virus in neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo with which the district encounters a number of cross border interactions. Buliisa district is of strategic importance to Total as the host community of the company’s oil and gas development activities. Therefore as part of the company’s health and safety community initiatives, Total made a donation comprising an assortment of medical supplies. This was done in order to reinforce the efforts of the district local government is undertaking to combat the potential outbreak of the Ebola in the district. The donation which was received by the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Buliisa district Amos Asiimwe. The medical donation included items such as: thermometers, jik, chlorine, gum boots, aprons, protective goggles, tents, hospital beds, mattresses, 100…
Uganda Law Society and PAU officials

Lawyers Want Oil & Gas Legal Services Ringfenced

The Uganda Law Society (ULS) has called upon the Government to ringfence legal services in the oil and gas sector, for the benefit of Ugandans. This was during a meeting between ULS and the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU). Section 125 of the Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Act 2013 states that preference will be given to goods which are produced or available in Uganda and services which are rendered by Ugandan citizens and companies. The law provides that where the goods and services required are not available in Uganda, they shall be provided by a company which has entered into a partnership with a Ugandan company. The Upstream Petroleum National Content Regulations 2016 further list sixteen (16) categories of goods and services that are ringfenced for Ugandans, although the list does not include legal services. Mr. Ali Ssekatawa, the PAU Director, Legal and Corporate Affairs, welcomed the proposal and…
A presentation at the Africa Oil Week in Cape Town, South Africa

Africa Oil Week, Releases 2019 Africa Oil And Gas Outlook

A report released by Africa Oil Week and Menas Associates about what lies in store for Africa’s oil and gas industry has concluded that, on balance, the continent’s economic performance is promising, particularly as global oil markets finally recover from their 2015-2016 lows. Africa’s proven oil and gas reserves respectively account for 7.5% and 7.1% of global totals.Experts predict that 2019 and beyond will see deep offshore exploration and mega gas finds, with the development of trans-continental pipelines, gas-to-power initiatives and refining potential.The report delves into major trends for 2019, including political transitions and regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) which promises to reduce barriers to intra-African trade, facilitate the movement of people and strengthening Africa’s prominence on the world stage.A rosy picture is painted for natural gas as global consumption rises. Africa’s gas production grew by 8% between 2017 and 2018 – largely out of…
African Development Bank and South Sudan Recruit Pan-African Centurion Law Group to Strengthen Capacity in the Oil & Gas Sector

AfDB, South Sudan Recruit Centurion To Strengthen Oil & Gas Sector Capacity

Following an open tender and a highly competitive international bidding process, the African Development Bank through its African Legal Support Facility and the National Petroleum and Gas Commission, representing the government of the Republic of South Sudan, selected the Centurion Law Group to build capacity in the Republic of South Sudan’s oil and gas sector.The project is a result of the ALSF’s commitment to foster legal and technical best practices and transparency across South Sudan’s oil & gas value chain. It will focus on providing specialized capacity building training to officials from the National Petroleum and Gas Commission, including the development of best practice procedures for the negotiation, evaluation and monitoring of contracts in the oil and gas sector.As South Sudan continues to increase oil production – its most important export commodity – and attract foreign investment into its oil & gas sector, this project will enhance the National Petroleum…
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