Libya’s Energy Future: Industry and Political risk outlook was launched at a Chatham House seminar in London on 20 July.
Based on African Energy’s unparalleled track record in following Libya’s energy story and careful, originally sourced reporting from Libya and global markets, this updated and enlarged special report analyses the major issues and the financial and political trends influencing development of Libya's energy industries. Read more
A detailed guide to electrification in Africa
A 400-page study published in Paris by Karthala, L’Electricité au Coeur des Défis Africains (available in French only) includes an overview of the continental electricity supply industry and examples of generation, transmission and distribution projects. A chapter on decentralised rural electrification is followed by another on the establishment of decentralised services companies.
The book draws on articles and materials from a number of experts and sources, including African Energy.
Order a copy now, priced €36 / £30 plus postage and packing. Email: nick@africa-energy.com
AfricaHardball is an executive dialogue that brings together policy-makers, industry leaders and analysts to discuss the key political issues affecting the African energy industry in frank and open terms.
The last AfricaHardball roundtable was held on 29 June, prior to the start of EnergyNet Ltd’s annual Africa Energy Forum (AEF), in Basel. Read more
On the page below you will find a selection of articles from the African Energy archive. All items preceded by a padlock symbol require a subscription.
Libya energy maps - link to the Libya page in the African Energy map library
Latest news
Libya's Energy Future – read more about this revised and expanded African Energy special report, published July 2010
General Electric Company of Libya chairman Belgasem Mohamed Younis and United Nations Development Programme resident representative Costanza Farina signed an agreement on 16 June to improve the electricity company’s management and systems. Issue 189, 25 June 2010.more
Generation policy rethink, nuclear options
The General People’s Committee (GPC – cabinet) has asked the Supreme Council for Energy Affairs (SCEA) to establish a new strategy for the increase and diversification of generation capacity. At a meeting in December, the GPC also directed the Atomic Energy Organisation (AEO) to study and negotiate offers from international companies for the use of nuclear energy in electricity production and desalination projects. Issue 178, 12 January 2010.more
Gecol asks Hyundai to build Tripoli West
General Electricity Company of Libya has invited South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction to build the 1,400MW Tripoli West power plant in its entirety, MEED reported quoting project sources. Issue 174, 13 November 2009.more
North Africa renewables update – steady development while Europe waits on mega-projects
African Energy’s new listing of solar, wind and other renewables projects in five North African economies reveals a steady pace of development for wind schemes, notably in Egypt and Morocco, and a gradual acceleration in the number of solar projects. Southern Mediterranean planners are examining a range of other technologies – to generate power from urban waste, for example – and, for the longer term, nuclear options. The spread of projects is shown graphically by map-maker David Burles, while Our Casablanca Correspondent reports on recent legislative developments in Morocco Issue 173, 30 October 2009.more
Gecol toys with IPP plan to solve finance problems
Gecol’s leadership problems are exacerbating the state utility’s already serious financial and management problems. But despite a lack of organisation at the top levels of the company, speculation is mounting that Gecol could usher in the Jamahiriya’s first independent power project as it seeks to mobilise financing for Libya’s ambitious generation plans. Issue 168, 4 August 2009.more
Slow start for wind and solar
Libya has been slow to start developing renewable energy projects. Unlike neighbouring Algeria, where a large solar project is under discussion and an experimental hybrid gas/solar plant is already under construction, Libya has no major projects in the pipeline. Issue 168, 4 August 2009.more
Nuclear – Former pariah gets international support
After years of political isolation, Libya has emerged from isolation by signing agreements with France, Russia, Ukraine and Canada to develop a civil nuclear energy programme. The Canadian MoU to co-operate on nuclear energy was signed in Tripoli on 29 July. It covers co-operation in nuclear research and in the mining, processing and transport of uranium, as well as its use in medicine and desalination projects. Issue 168, 4 August 2009.more
In the eye of the storm triggered by the Deepwater Horizon disaster, BP is looking to divest more assets, and remains under pressure from Congress and a range of lobby groups over its plans to start drilling in the Libyan offshore (AE 191/12). Senior congressmen are threatening to descend on London and Edinburgh in search of ‘the truth’ about convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohammed Al-Megrahi’s release on grounds of ill health. Issue 192, 6 August 2010.more
Libya charts new course for NOC to weather the coming storm
New management, new strategy and possible new institutions are shaking up Libya’s energy sector, but first it must get over the recent lack of commercial discoveries and a number of thorny political issues Issue 191, 23 July 2010.more
New management at NOC
National Oil Corporation has a new management committee. The General People’s Committee (GPC – government) decided on 13 July to restructure the national company’s executive board, replacing three of its members with four newcomers, all but one of whom has virtually no public profile. Issue 191, 23 July 2010.more
Revised oil law enters legislative process
The much discussed rewriting of Libya’s ancient petroleum law has moved from the realm of discussion and speculation to reality with an official announcement of the procedure through which the legislation must now pass to enter statute. Issue 191, 23 July 2010.more
Libyan E&P, sovereign wealth could play a big role in BP’s future
Pressure from Democratic Party Senator Frank Lautenberg and other congressmen on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to open an investigation into BP ’s role in lobbying for the release of the convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Al-Megrahi has added to pressure on the British company in the United States. Issue 191, 23 July 2010.more
Libya’s NOC confirms capacity ramp-up has been restrained by Opec-inspired budget cuts
Opec production restrictions will continue to curb international companies’ ability to produce oil in Libya, further slowing the advance of development projects, writes John Hamilton Issue 189, 25 June 2010.more
NOC’s Gazprom talks continue
As it awaits final approval of its deal to buy into Eni’s Elephant field, Gazprom has continued its long-running negotiations with NOC over further co-operation (AE 184/20). Gazprom EP international director-general Boris Ivanov met NOC chairman Shukri Ghanem and management committee adviser Ahmed El-Ghaber on 14 June to discuss possible joint projects. Issue 189, 25 June 2010.more
NOC declares ‘outstanding performance’
National Oil Corporation has approved its 2009 annual report, with the Libyan state company’s chairman Dr Shukri Ghanem describing the results as “an outstanding performance”. Issue 189, 25 June 2010.more
Libya says Deepwater Horizon spill is no reason to delay BP offshore drilling
Libya will allow UK-based supermajor BP to go ahead with its planned deep-water offshore drilling which it plans to begin this July, despite questions which have been raised about the safety of the technology following the blowout of the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico and the ensuing environmental catastrophe along the United States’ Gulf coast. Issue 189, 25 June 2010.more
NOC announces six discoveries
National Oil Corporation has announced six oil discoveries in the past month (AE 186/17). On 24 May, NOC’s Arabian Gulf Oil Company (Agoco) subsidiary said it had made a pair of oil discoveries at wells in areas NC4 and NC8A in the Ghadames Basin. Issue 187, 28 May 2010.more
Neptune order thought to mark start of Gazprom project
Neptune Marine Services said it had been contracted to provide a range of offshore hydrographic survey and positioning services for a major international oil company. Issue 187, 28 May 2010.more
Downstream hydrocarbons update: too many Maghreb projects stalled on the drawing board
The first of a new series of Downstream hydrocarbons update tables suggests there are plenty of projects awaiting lift-off to add value to North African oil and gas producers. But too many schemes in the Maghreb remain stalled for lack of finance and serious development partners Issue 191, 23 July 2010.more
Revised oil law enters legislative process
The much discussed rewriting of Libya’s ancient petroleum law has moved from the realm of discussion and speculation to reality with an official announcement of the procedure through which the legislation must now pass to enter statute. Issue 191, 23 July 2010.more
Pipeline delays on the agenda
Sirte Oil Company (SOC) and Indian construction company Punj Lloyd met in early May to discuss progress on the construction of the Khoms-Tripoli-Mellitah pipeline, which was due to be completed last year. Issue 187, 28 May 2010.more
Lerco sees profit in 2009
Libyan Emirates Refining Company (Lerco) made a profit of $65m in 2009, its first year of operation, on a turnover of $580m, according to National Oil Corporation (NOC) board member Abu Qasim Mohamed Zuwari. Issue 187, 28 May 2010.more
Marsa Al-Brega LNG retender
Shell Exploration and Production Libya and Sirte Oil and Gas Production and Manufacturing Company, a subsidiary of Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), plan to retender the contract for the rehabilitation of the Marsa Al-Brega liquefied natural gas plant to get a lower price. Issue 186, 14 May 2010.more
NOC pushes projects
National Oil Corporation continues to push to bring foreign investors into refinery and other downstream investment projects. Issue 185, 30 April 2010.more
Ghanem proposes new law to streamline oil legislation, but faces colossal challenge
Libya’s energy authorities are consulting on draft hydrocarbons legislation to replace the current law which has been in place since 1955. But getting a replacement onto the statute books will be difficult, writes John Hamilton Issue 183, 26 March 2010.more
Tripoli-Mellitah gas pipeline delays
The companies involved in building the Tripoli-Mellitah gas pipeline have met to discuss problems hindering completion of the project. Issue 175, 27 November 2009.more
Tripoli looks to partners for refineries’ expansion
Like many African countries, Libya has its share of refining projects that have never been built, but the authorities’ new enthusiasm for joint ventures has seen the pace pick up. Now’s the time to see how long investors’ pockets really are Issue 168, 4 August 2009.more
In the eye of the storm triggered by the Deepwater Horizon disaster, BP is looking to divest more assets, and remains under pressure from Congress and a range of lobby groups over its plans to start drilling in the Libyan offshore (AE 191/12). Senior congressmen are threatening to descend on London and Edinburgh in search of ‘the truth’ about convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohammed Al-Megrahi’s release on grounds of ill health. Issue 192, 6 August 2010.more
Libya charts new course for NOC to weather the coming storm
New management, new strategy and possible new institutions are shaking up Libya’s energy sector, but first it must get over the recent lack of commercial discoveries and a number of thorny political issues Issue 191, 23 July 2010.more
New management at NOC
National Oil Corporation has a new management committee. The General People’s Committee (GPC – government) decided on 13 July to restructure the national company’s executive board, replacing three of its members with four newcomers, all but one of whom has virtually no public profile. Issue 191, 23 July 2010.more
Revised oil law enters legislative process
The much discussed rewriting of Libya’s ancient petroleum law has moved from the realm of discussion and speculation to reality with an official announcement of the procedure through which the legislation must now pass to enter statute. Issue 191, 23 July 2010.more
Libyan E&P, sovereign wealth could play a big role in BP’s future
Pressure from Democratic Party Senator Frank Lautenberg and other congressmen on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to open an investigation into BP ’s role in lobbying for the release of the convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Al-Megrahi has added to pressure on the British company in the United States. Issue 191, 23 July 2010.more
Libya’s NOC confirms capacity ramp-up has been restrained by Opec-inspired budget cuts
Opec production restrictions will continue to curb international companies’ ability to produce oil in Libya, further slowing the advance of development projects, writes John Hamilton Issue 189, 25 June 2010.more
Gazprom declares force majeure to avoid collateral damage from Switzerland
Offshore drilling company Transocean registered in Switzerland two years ago, and this month took a secondary listing on SIX Swiss. But it could not have predicted that it would be hit by the fallout from the Libyan leader’s family vendetta with the Swiss authorities, writes John Hamilton Issue 185, 30 April 2010.more
NOC pushes projects
National Oil Corporation continues to push to bring foreign investors into refinery and other downstream investment projects. Issue 185, 30 April 2010.more
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