US takes on Chinese dominance in the race for African minerals
Diplomats, executives and analysts have said that the U.S. uses offtake agreements and state-backed financing to compete with China?in a short time frame? in order to secure supplies of African cobalt, copper and other essential minerals. Washington is focusing on Zambia, Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
TotalEnergies and Petrobras purchase land north of Namibia's massive Mopane discovery
Both TotalEnergies, the French oil giant, and Petrobras, the Brazilian firm acquired a 42.5% share in an offshore exploration license. The firms are looking to "develop" oil in one of last frontiers in exploration. Total has expanded its holdings in South Africa, where the company hopes to become the first oil producer by the end decade.
Merz, Germany's Merz, promises arms cooperation while he seeks to increase Qatari energy
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz promised to take a more-restrictive approach to arms exports to Gulf States during a visit to 'Qatar' on Thursday. The trip came as Europe’s largest economy seeks to deepen economic ties and to diversify its sources of energy. Merz has launched a campaign aimed at promoting Germany as an attractive country for doing business, as the U.S.
Oil majors buy up West African oil blocks to prepare for the next Brazil
Chevron, TotalEnergies and other oil majors are snatching up offshore blocks off the coast of West and Southern Africa. Geology, regulatory reforms and the need to replenish the reserves have prompted the search for the next Brazil. Companies are restocking oil and gas assets as fossil fuel demand is expected to remain higher than forecasted just a few short years ago.
S.Africa energy regulator approves power cost relief for ferrochrome makers
South Africa's Energy Regulator approved Eskom's application on Thursday to reduce electricity rates?by 35 percent for two distressed ferrochrome plants that are battling high power costs. In recent years, more than a dozen smelters in South Africa have closed, resulting in thousands of job losses. This…
Standard Bank provides $250 million in financing for Nigerian energy company Aradel
Standard Bank in South Africa has closed a $250m strategic financing facility for Aradel Energy Ltd. The Nigerian oil company will use the money to finance its acquisition strategy. Aradel Energy is one of Nigeria's biggest indigenous oil companies. It's a major shareholder in the consortium that will buy Shell's assets onshore in West Africa for $2.5 billion in 2024.
Floods in Mozambique force thousands of people to flee, President cancels Davos trip
Witnesses and officials reported that severe floods in Mozambique caused by heavy rainfall forced thousands to leave their homes. Some were left stranded atop roofs while surging waters swamped settlements. Daniel Chapo, the president of Venezuela, cancelled his trip to Davos to attend a World Economic Forum…
Mozambique president cancels Davos trip due to severe floods
Mozambique President Daniel Chapo cancelled his trip to Davos for the World Economic Forum this week because of severe flooding that has?damaged the infrastructure and affected hundreds of thousands in the Southern African nation. Chapo said in a Facebook post late Sunday night that Mozambique is "going through a difficult?time" and the priority right now is to save lives.
South Africa relaxes antitrust rules for companies facing high electricity costs
South Africa has loosened its antitrust regulations to allow firms battling high energy costs to build energy infrastructure together and negotiate contracts collectively. In a government announcement seen by on Tuesday, South Africa's Trade Minister Parks Tau stated that the new measure was meant to help?distressed industry.
JETP estimates Indonesia requires $92 billion for decarbonising the captive power sector by 2050
In a recent report, the Just Energy?Transition Partnership stated that Indonesia will need to invest an estimated $31 Billion by 2030 and a total $92 Billion by 2050 in order to switch?to a greener energy sector in its captive power sector. In recent years, the captive power sector in Southeast Asia, which includes?electricity production?developed by industry for its own use…
Eskom reports that South Africa is looking for ways to assist ferrochrome companies.
Eskom, the state-owned power utility, announced on Monday that it is looking for ways to support South Africa's ferrochrome sector. Eskom stated in a press release that the memorandum with the two companies was the result of constructive discussions on Friday between the minister of electricity and the energy of the country and the trade unions.
Document shows that Shell has been approved as the majority partner of PetroSA in the block offshore South Africa.
A document obtained by revealed that South Africa's national oil company PetroSA has approved the deal for Shell Offshore to receive a 60% share in Block 2C off its west coast. The agreement, if it is successfully concluded, will increase Shell's exposure in the Orange Basin. This area has been dubbed one…
Merafe starts layoffs after proposal for electricity tariff fails to save South African Smelters
Merafe Resources announced on Tuesday that its chrome joint venture, with Glencore, has started formally laying workers off after a proposal for an electricity tariff failed to ensure the viability of two South African ferrochromesmelters. According to Glencore's estimates, South Africa has approximately 80% the known world chrome ore reserves.
Takeaways from COP30 Climate Summit in Brazil
The U.N. Climate Change Summit ended this year with a shaky compromise that ignored most of the countries' main demands, except for one: wealthy countries were obligated to triple their expenditures to help other countries adapt to global warming. Here are some key takeaways from COP30, the climate summit that took place in Brazil's Amazonian city of Belem.
South Africa plans to revive its small-nuclear reactor technology
The electricity and energy Minister said that South Africa expects its Pebble Bed Modular Reactor to be removed from the status of care and maintenance by the first quarter next year, or even sooner. South Africa, once considered a leader in the field of small modular reactors (PBMR), halted research on PBMR in 2010…
Exxon Mobil eyes South Africa as a top LNG destination
Exxon Mobil has its eye on projects in South Africa, which it considers to be a top destination in the world for liquefied gas (LNG), said a senior gas executive at an African Energy Conference in Cape Town. The U.S. has the highest natural gas production and is the largest LNG exporter in the world. With several new projects expected to come online…
PowerChina focuses on renewables for growth in Africa
A company executive revealed that China's Power Construction Corp. (PowerChina), a state-owned corporation, is targeting significant growth in Africa by focusing on renewable projects as part its overseas expansion strategy. Chinese lending to African countries has dropped sharply since a peak in 2016 of around $28 billion per year…
South Africa coal heartland is home to a small solar city
Even though the locals are coughing up grey smog, coal keeps them at work, heats their homes during winter, and cooks dinner. Now, however, things are slowly beginning to change. South Africa, one of the largest coal exporters in the world, has launched a plan that will wean itself off coal pollution and embrace green industries to create jobs.
South Africa will lift the shale-gas moratorium in this month
The South African government will lift its long-standing ban on shale exploration once new regulations are published this month. In 2011, the regulator was prohibited from processing any new applications for exploration or production rights, as well as reconnaissance permits. This ban followed a public outcry…
Made in Nigeria: Africa's drive to become a solar superpower
In pink overalls they pack the tested products to be shipped from the Salpha Energy solar assembly plant near Calabar, West Africa. It's not happening at home anymore. Salpha Energy, which began in 2017, has produced solar power systems for over two million Nigerian households and businesses. It aims to produce up to 300,000.