Eco seeks deals to unlock drilling, with Orange Basin focus
“We have a very strategic position in the basin,” Eco CEO Gil Holzman said this week. “Block 3B/4B is exactly on trend with Graff and Venus”, Shell and Total’s finds respectively.
South Africa
Karpowership’s South Africa dreams receive port boost
The move comes as Eskom has warned that load shedding is on the rise. It has warned this could reach Stage 8 in the coming winter, in a worst-case scenario.
South Africa aims to tackle NGOs’ “veto power” on exploration
Mantashe made it clear that he blamed foreign-funded NGOs for the slow process of development. “They block development in our country”.
Total sets out drilling plans for South Africa’s Orange Basin
The Department of Mineral Resources (DMRE) accepted the scoping report on March 24.
De Ruyter and the Eskom files come under fire
“We are deeply concerned about reports that the erstwhile CEO solicited funds from unknown sources that were channelled through Business Leadership,” the ANC said. The organisation should “reveal how much was paid to apartheid era agents” the statement continued.
CGG sets out seismic plan offshore South Africa
CGG aims to carry out the work in the 2023-24 summer window, with seismic taking around four or five months to complete.
South Africa denies bending rules on REIPPPP
The first five bidders, named in December, were to build 860 MW of capacity. The ministry was seeking 1,000 MW. The DMRE said the IPP office and the bid adjudication committee had recommended Ngonyama.
South Africa concedes power disaster defeat
OUTA also celebrated another success today in its efforts to enforce public transparency. Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana withdrew an exemption that would have limited disclosures from Eskom. This would cover “any irregular expenditure and fruitless and wasteful expenditure” in its annual statements.
Total hammers out development plan on Luiperd
As the gas market grew, Africa Energies said the development of the Paddavissie Fairway would expand. The company believes there is more to be found in the region, based on 2D and 3D seismic.
Eco Atlantic sets out Orange Basin drill plans
Eco Atlantic has begun the regulatory process of applying for an exploration well offshore South Africa in the Orange Basin.
Construction begins on privately backed Msenge wind farm
Sasol signed on to the PPA in January. The petrochemical company is shifting away from coal to gas, ultimately aiming to focus on green hydrogen.
iMbokodo shuffles leadership, eyes expansion
De Bruyn said iMbokodo had been set up with an eye on the draft bill and that the company was “compliant with government expectations”.
Red Rocket orders Vestas turbines for Cape projects
The government made the Round 5 awards in October 2021. Red Rocket reached financial close on the plans in November 2022. Absa and Standard Bank were mandated lead arrangers for the project financing.
NGO predicts the end for Karpowership’s SA plans
The company won the work on the basis of generating emergency power. However, the contract would have seen Eskom commit to a 20-year purchase agreement. There has been widespread criticism of the way in which the government awarded the contracts.
Renergen targets US IPO as it scales up gas plans
Phase 2 will cost $1.16 billion over the next three years, with the company aiming to reach commercial operations by 2026.
New electricity minister for South Africa faces “mammoth task”
The immediate priority is to “turn around the performance of existing power stations and stabilize our energy supply, whilst adding new capacity to the grid”, Ramokgopa said.
US’ IRA major pull for Topsoe’s energy transition interest
The challenge over the next 10 years will be in scaling up SAF production. Green hydrogen production is relatively niche, as yet. “A lack of green power and electrolysis capacity, this will not make a dent” in the projected SAF demand.
South Africa power disaster triggers FCDO warnings
The FCDO said people should prepare for “prolonged power outages”.
WBHO raises prospect of return to Mozambique LNG this year
Earlier this month, CEO and chairman Patrick Pouyanné visited Cabo Delgado and announced the appointment of a human rights rapporteur, Jean-Christophe Rufin.
Following explosive interview, Eskom appoints new CEO
“We’ve started closing the taps and that doesn’t make you any friends. There’s a long list of people” who might have wanted to kill him, de Ruyter said.
South Africa bails out Eskom, cuts tax for private power
The government has said it is keen to establish – with Eskom, Treasury and the Department of Public Enterprises – a means to build new transmission infrastructure. This would allow more private sector participation in transmission, it said.
Sasol sticks to disciplined plans, talks up green moves
While drilling is ahead of schedule in Mozambique, gas production was 2% lower, Sasol said. This is “due to reduced demand from our own operations and the external market largely due to the ongoing power outages”.
Power disaster declared as South Africa seeks new way forward
A greenfield LNG project requires “absolute harmonisation of business objectives and risk allocation and for the state-owned enterprises to be singing from the same hymn sheet”.
Petronas exits Engen with sale to Vivo
Engen has 1,300 service stations in seven sub-Saharan states and islands of the Indian Ocean. Combining Engen with Vivo gives the group more than 3,900 service stations and more than 2 billion litres of storage capacity. It will have presence in 27 African countries.
Sasol launches solar car competition – with bonus pothole challenge
The Brunel Solar Team won in 2022, covering 3,780 km, just 10 km more than the runners up Agoria.