Morocco investigates Vitol’s Vivo unit
Vivo Energy has acknowledged it is being investigated in Morocco over its part in the country’s fuel retail sector.
Africa
Israeli gas flows into Egypt
Gas exports from Israel’s Leviathan field to Egypt began on January 15.
Mozambique’s Nyusi starts anew as terror threatens LNG boom
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi was sworn in for a second term Wednesday, three months after his landslide election victory.
Trafigura invests in Malian sunshine
Trafigura has made its first investment in solar power in Africa, via PASH Global, buying a stake in a Malian project.
Petrobras finally out of Africa
Petrobras has concluded the sale of its 50% stake in Petrobras Oil & Gas BV (POGBV), through which it held stakes in Nigeria’s Egina and Agbami fields.
Hopes for Libyan peace shift to Berlin
The Russian-Turkish ceasefire talks for Libya fell apart on the opposition of General Khalifa Haftar on January 13, with the head of the Libyan National Army (LNA) walking away from meetings in Moscow.
BW Energy plans Oslo IPO this quarter
BW Offshore intends to hold an IPO of its BW Energy unit, which is producing oil in Gabon, in the first quarter of 2020 on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
Tullow takes write down on lower for longer prices
Tullow expects to report pre-tax impairments and exploration write-offs of around $1.5 billion for 2019, as a result of a lower oil price forecast and a reduction in 2P reserves at the TEN project, offshore Ghana.
Coral Sul hull hits the water
The hull of the Coral Sul floating LNG (FLNG) has been launched at a ceremony in Geoje, in South Korea, on schedule.
Senegal sets out bid round timetable
Senegal is officially launching its licence round on January 31, with applications required to be in by July 31.
Sudan oil stops as NISS protests
Gunfire broke out in Khartoum today as former intelligence officers took to the streets to protest the loss of their jobs.
Extra time for Arsenal acquisition as Dangote faces refinery delays
Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote is considering following the completion of the continent’s largest refinery with the acquisition of north London football club Arsenal.
Maersk Drilling lines up record-breaking well for Total
Total has awarded contracts to Maersk Drilling for three wells, in Angola and Namibia, using the seventh-generation Maersk Voyager drillship.
We were had, Lekoil admits
London-listed Lekoil was the victim of a scam that has all the hallmarks of a classic advance fee fraud case, the company admitted at the close of January 13.
New oil law in Somalia tests uneasy peace
Somalia is taking steps to attract foreign investment to its energy sector but challenges remain, most notably in how the federal government can integrate its policies with those of the state governments.
Russian-Turkish ceasefire for Libya takes flight
A ceasefire in Libya driven by Turkey and Russia has received backing from the two major factions in the North African country, with hostilities having officially stopped on January 12.
Zenith approved for AAOG acquisition
An offer from Zenith Energy has won a shareholder vote at Anglo African Oil & Gas (AAOG).
Lekoil suspends shares on questionable Qatari financing
Lekoil’s plans in Nigeria have been thrown into doubt, and trading in the company’s shares suspended, as a finance deal that was supposed to have been signed with the Qatari Investment Authority (QIA) appears to have been bogus.
Lekoil starts OPL 310 survey
Nigeria’s Lekoil has begun a site survey on OPL 310, marking the restart of progress after the discovery well was drilled in 2013.
Congo Wants to Sell Gertler’s Oil Blocks on Ugandan Border
Congo Kinshasa is forming a plan to take back two oil blocks from sanctioned Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler and sell them to another company.
Woodside pulls trigger to start work on Senegal’s Sangomar
Australia’s Woodside Energy has approved the 100,000 barrel per day Sangomar project, offshore Senegal, launching agreements with suppliers and putting the field on course to begin production in 2023.
South Sudan launches environmental review tender
South Sudan has announced a tender for an environmental review of its producing oilfields.
Second success for Vaalco in Gabon
Vaalco’s Etame 11H well in Gabon is producing at rates greater than had been expected before it was drilled, the Texas-based company said, boosting production.
Tecnicas, Samsung sign on to Algerian refinery work
Algeria’s Sonatrach has signed an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Tecnicas Reunidas and Samsung Engineering on a new refinery at Haoud El Hamra, in Hassi Messaoud.
Senegal’s Sangomar inches closer to FID for Woodside, Cairn
Senegal’s government has approved the plan to develop the Woodside Energy-led Sangomar field.