The Rovuma Area 1 gas project in Mozambique is currently facing lack of investment as the commencement of production is now uncertain. With no binding agreement from possible Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) buyers, it is still not sure when operations will begin on the field as few buyers were willing to sign long-term contracts in this declining oil and gas pricing environment.Two government...

Ghana's National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) expects first oil from the offshore Sankofa field in H2 of 2017 and first gas output by early 2017, an official revealed. The exploration and commercialization of the gas is currently being carried out by Eni and Vitol in partnership with GNPC. The start of operation from the Sankofa offshore field which is supported by the World Bank will assist in...

The government of Mozambique intends to spend $150 million on 3D seismic surveys in the blocks included in the fifth international tender for oil and gas exploration, the president of the National Oil Institute (INP) revealed. The fifth international tender for oil and gas exploration which was opened on October 23, 2014 by INP, comprises of a total of 11 areas in the sea in the Rovuma...

The Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) has announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Minjingu Mines & Fertilizer Company Ltd of Arusha to join forces in performing detailed assessments in the Songo Songo West license. According to TPDC’s Managing Director, James Mataragio (photo) the agreement between Minjingu and TPDC has provided the chance...

Ghana plans to commence the importation of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) by early 2017, the acting chief executive of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) revealed. According to Alex Mould (photo), GNPC is in talks with a range of traders and the company is in the market for between 250 and 500 Mmscf/d of gas to be used to assist in the generation of power in the country. “GNPC will be...

The World Bank, in a report published on June 6, revealed that Uganda’s economy should grow by 5.9%, between July 2016 and June 2017, against 5% the previous year, as a result of private investment in major infrastructure projects. “The main driver for growth will be the construction industry, whose development will be spurred by major public investments in infrastructures,” the institution...

In Botswana, the net result of Standard Chartered Bank’s subsidiary slumped by 85.26% in 2015 to 47.3 million Pula ($4.34 million), from 311 million Pula ($28.5 million) in 2014, financial results published at the end of last week shows. The firm’s management said the poor performance is due to fall in commodity price which affected mining companies, that contributes significantly to...

Ethiopian Airlines plans to buy between 10 and 15 Boeing 777-8s to increase the size of long-range fleet, announced the CEO of the firm, Tewolde Gebremariam, on June 2. A Boeing 777 is considered as standard in terms of long-range large carriers. Launched in 1995, the 777 series includes six versions of which a cargo plane. Ethiopian Airlines which currently serve close to hundred...

In Burkina Faso, bread and pastry makers will go on strike from June 9 to 12, 2016. According to their national federation, the move aims for the provision of better working conditions. Among the workers’ claims, there is the respect of syndical freedom and the signing, by all bakeries’ owners, of a collective convention adopted by all of the sector’s actors. Due to absence of this...

Iranian car manufacturer Saipa will open in Tiaret (in the Western part of Algeria) a car assembly unit in collaboration with the local firm Tahkout, said official Algerian press agency APS, citing a high official from the ministry of industry. “Construction works for Saipa’s car assembly unit will start before the end of 2016,” announced the director of industry and mines, Djameleddine...