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
Below is a listing of African Energy’s regular update features. This series started in February 2008, building on African Energy's long experience of tracking projects across the continent. Each update report features a country or region, either examining its energy industry in full or focusing more specifically on sectors such as the electricity supply industry or upstream exploration and production. They are essential reading for anyone interested in doing business in these countries.
Each update includes the following:
• an overview article highlighting key trends in the countries and industries involved,
• a listing of projects identified by African Energy, including project details and chronology, the companies involved, financing, and back references
• a full-colour map drawn by African Energy’s expert cartographic team
Supporting documentation for the updates is lodged in the subscriber Reference Library
Buy an Update report
The update reports were each originally published as part of an issue of African Energy and may be viewed online by Internet subscribers.
Non subscribers may purchase the PDF versions of issues listed below for £45/issue. Email: nick@africa-energy.com
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 more
PROJECTS: Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia more
Issue 190, 9 July 2010
Upstream update: Slow pace of work but hope for new boom in the Sahel
Mauritania is getting renewed attention, Mali is seeing some exploration work and new Asian partners are bringing fresh impetus to Chad’s infrastructure development despite the country’s recent conflict. more
PROJECTS: Offshore and onshore exploration blocks more
South Africa eyes new offshore tight gas field as region’s power demand drives upstream activity
Companies and their advisers are sounding bullish about the prospects for gas fields offshore South Africa, while Namibia is waiting to see if anything will come of Gazprom’s stated intention to develop the Kudu field to supply power to both countries. The latest instalment of African Energy’s West coast upstream update sees an upturn in activity in the south more
MAP: South Africa's infrastructure and potential more
Issue 188, 11 June 2010
West coast upstream update: Nigeria remains unpredictable
Oil production and exports continue to rise as Niger Delta peace holds up, but uncertainties surrounding the future of NNPC and the fiscal regime make Nigeria an unpredictable market for new investors, writes David Slater more
PROJECTS: Licensing rounds, exploration and development more
MAP: Exploration acreage, producing fields and transportation more
MAP: Niger Delta and offshore fields and pipeline network more
Crude exports levelled off in Q2 10, but African Energy’s updated table of Angolan exploration and production projects shows the sector has plenty of upside left as majors work to bring new fields on stream more
PROJECTS: Licensing rounds and cross-border potential more
West Coast upstream update: Gabon slow to open up pre-salt potential
African Energy’s latest update reveals a degree of inertia in Gabon’s push to reverse the decline in oil production from mature fields more
MAP: Oil licensing and hydrocarbons industry infrastructure more
PROJECTS TABLE: Exploration and development projects more
Issue 185 - 30 April 2010
West Coast upstream update: Mixed fortunes for E&P operators in DR Congo and Congo-B
The fifth instalment of African Energy’s West Coast upstream update series shows an upturn in Congo-B’s crude output as more offshore developments enter production, while IOCs remain anxious to get into DRC’s new frontiers. But while Brazzaville provides a sometimes opaque but still manageable working environment, key dossiers in DRC’s exploration drive remain on President Kabila’s desk more
MAP: DR Congo oil infrastructure and exploration blocks more
Issue 184 - 16 April 2010
West coast upstream update: Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea
Two established oil provinces, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, are looking increasingly to ways of monetising their gas resources for local power generation or for export more
MAP: Cameroon, Bakassi permits and Chad pipeline more
MAP: Equatorial Guinea fields and gas infrastructure more
West coast upstream update: Unfashionable Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Senegal
A range of political and economic circumstances have combined to hinder energy development in Senegal, Guinea and their immediate neighbours, but bold players who have stayed the course remain optimistic more
PROJECTS TABLE: Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau & Senegal more
Sub-Saharan renewables popular with donors and policymakers, but implementation remains elusive
Everyone is talking about renewables, but African Energy’s new listing of sub-Saharan projects shows that very few schemes are up and running, while in most countries major problems remain in funding and implementing all but a few pilot schemes, though Kenya is a notable exception more
MAP: Indicative larger renewables projects in sub-Saharan Africa more
West coast upstream update: Ghana, Togo and Benin – new success story
Ghana has been by far the biggest story in West African oil in recent years, and while its immediate neighbours have yet to share its success, the opening up of the new Africa Transform Margin play is reviving interest more
West coast upstream update: Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone – new activity on Transform Margin
Discoveries in Ghana and Sierra Leone have sparked interest in the Africa Transform Margin play’s potential all along the Gulf of Guinea coast. The pace of exploration is picking up and the authorities are getting tough on dormant acreage more
East power update: Sudan – South left behind as Khartoum beefs up its infrastructure
The Khartoum authorities’ steady work to develop new generation and transmission facilities is shown in the final part of African Energy’s revised East power update. But while the north is installing a substantial grid to be supplied by a growing number of generation projects, the region administered by the Government of Southern Sudan remains painfully under-developed. If the south opts for independence in the planned referendum, lack of power will be among the major challenges the Juba administration faces more
MAP: Existing and planned electricity infrastructure more
The third part of African Energy’s East power update focuses on two more East African Community members more
Issue 175 - 27 November 2009
East Power update: Kenya and new EAC members
The second part of African Energy’s East Africa power update focuses on Kenya and the two newest East African Community members, Burundi and Rwanda more
MAP: Kenya's generation and transmission infrastructure more
Issue 174 - 13 November 2009
East Power update part one: Horn of Africa
Ethiopia has developed a go-it-alone attitude, and state company EEPCo’s record stands up well against many other African utilities that have taken a more traditional approach to developing power projects. But part one of African Energy’s new East Africa power update shows that, in one respect at least, Ethiopia is in line with its peers: it has entered into a strategic alliance with China more
PROJECT UPDATE: Power projects in Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia more
East African upstream update – wider region boosted by Uganda, Tanzania success
While East Africa’s main exploration focus remains on Uganda and Tanzania, Sudan has seen something of a downturn in its fortunes and Ethiopia has seen exploration activity pick up, but political complexities have slowed progress in Madagascar and Somalia more
UPDATE TABLE: Oil and gas projects in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Seychelles, Somalia and territories, Sudan more
Issue 172, 16 October 2009
Nigeria upstream update – looking beyond the shut-ins to create a more transparent industry
The prospect that a militant ceasefire in the Niger Delta may eventually form the basis for an enduring peace process provides a ray of hope for the Nigerian oil and gas industry, which is still waiting for Rilwanu Lukman’s Petroleum Industry Bill to set the pace for reform, writes Leonard Lawal in Lagos, with Jon Marks. more
East Africa upstream update – dash for offshore gas and onshore oil
The success of the Albertine Graben remains the main story in the East African Community area, with Uganda emerging as an oil producer, but there are high hopes for more offshore gas, and for drilling due onshore Kenya, as well as for Tanzanian gas more
MAP: East African licensing and infrastructure more
PROJECT UPDATE: Oil and gas projects in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania & Uganda more
Less attractive to explorers than West or East Africa, the southern region needs more big finds to generate industry excitement. Where there has been activity, fiscal terms and tariff negotiations have delayed development more
MAP: Southern E&P and hydrocarbons infrastructure more
PROJECT UPDATE: Oil and gas projects in Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia more
For Mozambique Energy projects also seeIssue 167 - 17 July 2009
Issue 169 - 4 September 2009
Nigeria power update – still searching for 6,000MW
There are many generation projects lining up, and huge potential from indigenous sources of energy and capital. As African Energy’s new Nigeria power update shows, a crisis in the Niger Delta and chronic governance problems continue to keep many schemes on the drawing board – and have driven away Globeleq and other investors more
From hydropower to natural gas and biofuels, Mozambique offers big potential – and a relatively welcome business environment. The government’s roster of proposed projects suggests the country could in the next few years replicate the spate of big generation and transmission projects, gas field and industrial developments that marked the late 1990s and early 2000s – provided standards of governance and investor-friendliness can be maintained. more
PROJECT UPDATE: Power schemes, Upstream O&G, Downstream and pipelines more
Issue 166 - 3 July 2009
Downstream update – West and Central Africa’s plentiful crude supply doesn’t mean big profits
West and Central African states have no shortage of refinery projects, but access to crude oil alone is not enough to make a refinery economic, as producing states like Nigeria and Republic of Congo can testify. more
Upstream update - Algeria goes into overdrive with licensing round and $4.2bn-worth of contracts
Critical energy sector developments moved slowly while the presidential election dominated public life. But in a recent flurry of activity, the country has put gas infrastructure investment at the top of its agenda, writes John Hamilton. more
ALGERIA MAP: Gas and power investments 2009-2015 more
For project listings also see the previous Algeria upstream update; Issue 155 - 23 January 2009
Downstream update – projects abound in East and Southern Africa, some will be built
Big crude producers such as Angola, also non-producers such as South Africa and Mozambique, are planning major refinery projects to improve regional access to petroleum products – although, given the costs and technical challenges involved, a proportion of the projects announced across the continent will probably not leave the drawing board. more
Power sector finance update – multilaterals dominate with banks under pressure
Privately financed projects remain few and far between, according to African Energy’s listing of power financings recorded since January 2008. With many projects put on hold by the credit crunch, multilaterals and bilateral DFIs are playing at least as important a role in 2009 as they were a decade ago – indeed, more so perhaps, write Kevin Godier and Jon Marks. more
UPDATE TABLE: Power financings since January 2008 more
Upstream update – ExxonMobil steps back as Europeans scramble for EG gas
US influence seems to be waning as Equatorial Guinea turns increasingly to European players to meet its energy ambitions. While not all the region’s mooted gas schemes will be realised, what seems certain is that any discovery will find a market. more
Energy update – Congo-B toes reform line ahead of debt relief, but little change seen from election
In the absence of any significant opposition, President Sassou-Nguesso is certain of victory in July’s presidential election, and while some new appointments are expected there is little sign of policy change, writes Our Brazzaville Correspondent. Meanwhile international companies are developing a number of fields, shown in African Energy’s Republic of Congo upstream update. more
UPSTREAM UPDATE: Exploration and development projects more
Issue 162 - 8 May 2009
Egyptian power update – diversifying energy sources key to developing Egypt’s power sector
After years of poor planning, Egypt appears to have a firm grasp on demand in its domestic power market. It has an ambitious plan to increase the use of alternative and renewable energy sources, and is trying to make itself more attractive to private investors. It has also become a significant source of power for regional and European markets. But energy subsidy and price reforms are needed if Egypt is to continue meeting local and external demand, writes Nadine Marroushi. more
EGYPT: Coal-fired schemes under consideration more
Nigeria dominates part two of African Energy’s latest West African power update. Blighted by ridiculously low generating capacity, successive governments have promised to raise output to 6,000MW, committing billions of dollars on paper at least, only for production to remain at half or less that number. The table below shows the substantial number of projects being promoted, of which a few may start up in 2009/10 helping to ease pressures. Elsewhere in the region, the situation looks a bit more promising, helped by progress in developing the West African Power Pool. more
UPDATE TABLES: Mauritania – Niger – Nigeria – Senegal – Sierra Leone – Togo more
MAP: Nigeria’s electricity and gas infrastructure more
Issue 160 - 3 April 2009
West Africa power update – Benin to Mali
Despite delays to the West African Gas Pipeline, African Energy’s latest West African power update shows that the West African Power Pool is taking shape, with a number of new power plants and transmission projects under development to smooth energy inequalities through the region. more
Egypt upstream update – contradictions emerge as licensing rounds disappoint
Disappointing results from the latest upstream bid rounds reflect difficult global market conditions, but Egypt can still point to significant levels of IOC activity in everything from small-scale crude production to big ticket gas projects, reflected in the pace of exploration and work reported in African Energy’s latest Egypt upstream update. more
CORPORATES: MidCaps grow with Egyptian business more
Tunisia upstream update – production moves to surplus but credit crunch slows some investments
With only a fraction of its well-endowed neighbours’ hydrocarbons wealth, Tunisia has worked hard to exploit its resources, drawing in around 60 companies, many of them minnows and independents attracted to its relatively small fields. African Energy’s latest Tunisia upstream update shows an impressive amount of E&P work under way, but even as the country breaks into energy surplus there are worrying indications that the financing model which made this rapid expansion possible is coming under strain because of the credit crunch. more
Nigeria upstream projects update – majors and top indies push on despite delays and frustrations
The Niger Delta’s political violence, unresolved issues of joint venture funding and sector reform, and the problems faced by IOCs who are called upon to deal with often untested – and in many cases unknown – local partners have hampered the growth of upstream projects. But Nigerian E&P retains great potential, especially in its deep offshore, which majors with deep pockets continue to develop. A few well-connected and focused independents, such as Addax and Afren, are also building significant portfolios, analysis of ongoing projects listed in African Energy’s latest Nigeria upstream update shows, even if too many permits remain all but ignored by their equity holders. more
The Angolan industry continues to report progress with a welter of major oil field developments and the Angola Liquefied Natural Gas project on track to produce its first cargoes in 2012, despite potential funding constraints brought on by the global credit crunch and falling oil prices. Crude output has reached some 2m b/d, proven crude reserves exceed 9bn bbls and there are substantial volumes of gas to tap to keep IOCs excited. more
African Energy’s latest Algeria upstream update shows there are plenty of major development projects under way, but IOCs are concerned the investment climate is not as friendly as it seemed when they committed to new schemes in mid-decade. Although Algiers is putting on a brave face after a disappointing licensing round performance, an inquest is under way that might persuade the authorities to take a more welcoming stance to IOCs, write Our Algiers Correspondent and Jon Marks, with research by Dagmara Ginter, John Hamilton and Nadine Marroushi. more
MAP: Algeria’s oil and gas infrastructure and acreage. more
Issue 154 - 9 January 2009
Upstream update – Morocco: waiting for a big one
Morocco’s attractive investment environment continues to draw in explorers, but what state company Onhym really needs is a big find to stimulate interest and show that exploration of North Africa’s western margins is a worthwhile exercise. Circle Oil’s recent gas find may signal the shape of things to come. more
State utility ONE has plenty of projects in the pipeline, and Morocco is an African leader in developing renewables and working with the private sector. But after a difficult year when industry and domestic consumers have had to confront power cuts, the electricity industry is under pressure. more
MAP: Morocco’s generation and transmission capacity. more
Issue 151 - 28 November 2008
Upstream oil and gas update: Chad, Central African Republic and Niger
China is the main player in three states with significant security and logistical challenges, offering refineries and other development projects and seeking other minerals as well as oil in return. more
UPDATE TABLES: Exploration projects in Chad, CAR and Niger. more
Political upheavals in Mauritania and problems encountered by Taoudeni Basin pioneer Baraka Petroleum have not deterred oil companies interested in exploring the region. Activity is brisk and drilling is planned next year. more
Projects are lining up but the supply situation remains critical.
The addition of 150MW of thermal power has helped plug the supply gap caused by lower water levels in Lake Victoria, but privatised distributor Umeme expects evening load shedding on a six-day cycle to continue into November. The main Kiira and Nalubaale dams at Jinja are producing just 135MW of power, compared with installed capacity of 380MW. more
UPDATE TABLES: Hydropower and other projects. more
UGANDA MAP: Electricity supply infrastructure. more
Issue 148 - 17 October 2008
Tanzania power update: big plans for regional hub
In the space of a couple of years Tanzania has reversed its fortunes, from being hydro-dependent and power-starved to planning a series of new gas-fired and hydro projects to widen the energy mix and potentially become a net exporter to the region. more
MAP: Planned and actual electricity infrastructure. more
Issue 147 - 4 October 2008
East Africa power update: Kenya mixes it
Financial close on the Rabai diesel IPP is welcome news for Kenya’s power consumers. The authorities are planning new capacity from a range of sources to come on stream over the coming months as demand soars and regional interconnections develop. more
DRC energy update: opportunities and pitfalls in Africa’s malfunctioning main artery
Few countries offer the subsoil resources or long-term business potential that Democratic Republic of Congo could offer to tempt investors; equally, few present such a challenging operating environment for investors or their own populations. The vast majority of Congolese struggle to scrape a decent living in a vast country that should serve as Africa’s economic artery but which instead gave rise to the term ‘kleptocracy’ and now, in its ‘post-conflict’ state, remains in a dangerously fragile condition. Ongoing ‘reviews’ of major minerals contracts and some energy projects are preoccupying firms already operating in DRC, and point to the pitfalls entrants might face. But there are signs that some key energy projects may at last happen, which will encourage more companies and financiers to consider entering Congo. There are still plenty of projects to go around, as African Energy’s new DRC Energy update table suggests. François Misser, Jon Marks and African Energy staff writers update a complex situation. more
Though the long-term production trend may be downward, Gabon continues to attract brisk interest from smaller players seeking to balance their portfolios with lower risk assets. Sterling Energy’s spate of bad luck has not daunted newcomers such as Oranje-Nassau Energie, which took over Devon’s blocks, and ambitious Addax Petroleum sees in Gabon a handy income stream. more
PROJECTS UPDATE: Exploration and development. more
The latest well in the Tullow/Kosmos Jubilee field has raised the reserves estimate for Ghana’s nascent offshore industry, adding further to the excitement being expressed by IOCs, other investors and analysts about the E&P potential of this often ignored corner of the West African coast.
African Energy’s latest update table of activity in the countries from Côte d’Ivoire down the coast to Sierra Leone reflects an upturn in interest sparked by the ever more positive reports coming from the West Cape Three Points and Deepwater Tano blocks, which holds the key to Ghana becoming a substantial oil producer by 2010. Many IOCs are looking more bullish about the region’s prospects and some veterans are seeing potential for new farm-outs of acreage in Côte d’Ivoire and other territories that have proved something of a hard sell in recent years. more
PROJECT LISTING: Côte d’Ivoire to Sierra Leone. more
The second half of African Energy’s Southern power update takes in Mozambique, whose investor-friendly government is looking at a range of potential projects; Namibia, which is still trying to work out how to encourage IPPs and make the Kudu gas-to-power scheme work; and Zambia, whose commodity price-driven economic upturn is providing more resources for projects. It also includes Zimbabwe, whose slide into political chaos has been reflected in enormous pressures on its utilities, despite help from Namibia and South Africa. Regional projects involving these SAPP/SADC members were included in part one of this Update, in African Energy issue 141. more
MAP: Mozambique’s electricity and hydrocarbons industries more
Issue 141 - 20 June 2008
Southern power update: Angola-Malawi and regional projects
African Energy’s latest update table of southern African projects shows an upturn in work across the region, with Angola spending more of its windfall oil income on reconstruction.
Part one of the table covers schemes from Angola to Malawi, plus regional projects. Mozambique to Zimbabwe will be published in the next edition of African Energy. more
PROJECTS UPDATE: From Angola to Malawi and regional. more
MAP: Southern infrastructure and interconnections.
PROJECTS UPDATE: Ongoing generation and T&D schemes. more
MAP: SA and region electricity supply developments. more
Subscriber Area
Sections
