Equatorial Guinea, has launched bids for 37 oil and gas exploration blocks of which 32 are offshore, till November 30, 2016 and plans to grant licences in January 2017. According to the Minister of Mines, Industry and Energy, Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima (photo), the country wants Exxon Mobil Corp. to continue as an operator in the country, even though the company has not renewed its licence for...

Ophir Energy Plc has announced that it is in negotiation with a range of shareholders as well as gas buyers to assist in funding its Fortuna FLNG project in Equatorial Guinea, following Schlumberger’s exit. “We've done all the work in a very difficult environment to deliver a very investable project, (including) bringing down the capital costs of first gas by half to what they were 12 months...

The former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan (photo), has said that dialogue is the best way to end the conflict with the Niger Delta Avengers in the Delta region. Jonathan has said he is confident that the authorities can arrive at an agreement with the militants to stop their activities, which have made Nigeria’s production drop tremendously. “Definitely, it will be resolved. Yes,...

Ghana's oil production is expected to reach 110,000 bpd in 2016, as output is being increased at Tullow Oil's Jubilee field, a senior government official revealed. According to the Chief Director at the Ministry of Petroleum, Thomas Mba Akabzaa, output at the Jubilee field was halted at the beginning of 2016, as a result of a technical problems but was resumed in May at 30,000 bpd. He added...

In Libya, Eni’s CEO Claudio Descalzi (photo) met with the Prime Minister, Fayez Serraj, to confirm the company’s commitment in ensuring the continuity of its Libyan operations as well as support the National Oil Corporation (NOC) in its struggles to boost production. “Eni has also been cooperating with NOC to sustain the Libyan economy by contributing to increase domestic gas consumption,...

On June 3, Tunisia signed with the USA a loan guarantee agreement to obtain $500 million at low cost on international financial markets, minister of finance, Slim Chanker announced. “It is a $500 million loan which is to be reimbursed over five years. The American guarantee should bring the interest rate to 2% or less, instead of 6 to 7% if we had gone to the loan market...

Distribution group Leader Price should implant in Morocco at the beginning of this month. Landing in the country is part of group’s expansion strategy which plans for the opening of 50 shops across it, by 2020. In a statement published by the French company, Nicolas Belleste, Vice-President of Leader Price, said: “We wish to receive Moroccan consumers in warm shops, with international...

Simba Energy has announced that it will begin 2D seismic in Kenya’s Block 2A in the next 7 to 12 days as all necessary preparations have been completed. According to new CEO of Essel Group ME and Simba Energy, Punkaj Gupta, the seismic will be followed by the start of a drilling programme later this year.“Simba Energy is at an extremely exciting stage of its development, with preparations...

Angola's liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project has opened a tender for the sale of its first cargo after the unexpected shutdown in April 2014. This LNG export plant was closed in April 2014, 10 months after it sent its first cargo of LNG due to a major break on a flare line. According to trader sources, the cargo was laden on the Sonangol Sambizanga tanker and the submission of bids for...

Aminex, in its operation update on gas production from its Kiliwani North Development Licence in Tanzania, announced that it has issued its first invoices for the licence. According to the company, the commissioning of the licence’s power generation system and other secondary facilities has been completed. In the course of the commissioning, gas rates are scheduled to increase to 30 Mmscfd...