Last month, Robex Resources processed at its Nampala gold mine 55 000 tons of ore. This volume exceeds preliminary targets by about 35%. Average production at the plant, which runs on a 24/7 basis, with an availability rate of 80%, was about 1,800 tons per day. The mine’s construction is currently at the final stage and the firm plans to reach a processing capacity of 4,000 tons/day. The...

Morocco has signed with Portugal an agreement for the feasibility study of its 1,000 MW interconnection program.  The connection project will allow the kingdom to boost its energy-related transactions with Portugal, and Europe also, thus improving its integration to the region’s power system. Morocco back in 1997, implemented a 700 MW interconnection program with Spain. The system was...

Eni has announced that it has concluded the drilling of the third gas well at its Zohr gas field in Egypt. The first estimates of the third deepwater well is bigger than the first and the second, with estimated reserves of 30tcf. According to a senior official from Eni, first production from the third gas well is very promising and Eni plans to commence the drilling of the fourth gas well in...

Cairn Energy has drilled the fourth exploration well in the current evaluation program offshore Senegal. According to joint venture partner, FAR Ltd, the SNE-4 well was drilled using the Ocean Rig Athena drillship. The appraisal well in the SNE field will help in moving ahead to confirm the commercial capability of the field. Situated 5km south-east of the SNE-1 discovery well, the well was...

Rockhopper Exploration PLC has announced the acquisition of a range of non-operated production and exploration interests from Beach Energy Ltd in Egypt under a revised agreement. Rockhopper, before now owns assets in the North Falkland Basin and in the Mediterranean region. The company said the assets will be procured from Beach Energy for $11.9 million in cash, to be paid when...

Niger’s sole refinery, Soraz has resumed operations after it was shut down due to a strike over working conditions and pay, a union official revealed. The strike which hindered the delivery of oil products from the plant for three days began last week Wednesday and ended during the weekend. The Soraz refinery, is a joint venture between China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) and the Niger...

The much awaited deal between members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-members to freeze output has finally come and gone, dashing hopes of a stabilized market. Eighteen oil countries which includes Russia, met in Qatari for what the world anticipated to be the last phase of the declining oil prices in the global market but the deal had failed following Saudi...

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), in its Monthly report revealed that Angola was the world’s second biggest supplier of oil to China in February after Saudi Arabia, representing 15% of all China’s imports. According to the report, China received 8 million bopd from Angola, representing a 20% rise from February of 2015. In January of 2016, China imported 1.7 million...

After a positive year in 2015, Moroccan firm Dari Couspate now eyes expansion. With a turnover of 525 million dirham (+18.9%) for a net profit of 38 million dirham (+52.7%), the company said it plans to inject 50 million dirham (€4.5 million) in the expansion of its factory in Salé. According to the firm, “construction will start in this first quarter”. With this, it intends to reinforce...

African economies once again are under pressure as talks by oil producers on April 17, 2016 in Doha, Qatar, over output freeze failed. The talks lasted 11 hours more than required, but finally, Saudi Arabia, who produces 30.8% of OPEC’s output, said Iran must be present before reaching any agreement. Iran however could not be present given tensions with Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, oil price...