continent were made in West Africa. This contrasts with previous
years in which substantial resources were found across the
African continent.
AFRICAN ENERGY HIGH ON
AMERICA’S LIST
Last December the United States (US) administration launched
its Prosper Africa initiative with the vision to open markets for
American businesses, grow Africa’s middle class, promote youth
employment opportunities, improve the business climate, and
enable the US to compete with China and other nations who have
business interests in Africa.
The USD50-million programme will offer technical help to
companies looking to enter or grow in Africa, which is urbanising
more rapidly than anywhere else on Earth. The region is projected
to have 1.52 billion consumers by 2025 — nearly five times the size
of the US population.
A continued priority for the US Department of Energy is now
looking towards Africa to develop opportunities in the exploration,
production and monetisation of LNG. In the words of Energy
Secretary Rick Perry, “increased amounts of US LNG on the world
market benefit the American economy, American workers, and
consumers and help make the air cleaner around the globe.”
BP MAKES MAJOR DISCOVERY
IN MAURITANIA
deploying extra security at the Tharjath field. The Block – which
had a 10% production cap enforced by Sudan – has the potential
to produce up to 15 000 barrels per day (bpd), according to an
agreement signed between Sudan and South Sudan in 2018.
RUSSIANS RETURN TO
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Russian company Rosgeo and the Ministry of Mines and
Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding during the Russia-Africa Summit in
Sochi late last year.
According to Sergey Gorkov, director general and chairman of the
Board of Rosgeo, the company’s subsidiary JSC Zarubezhgeologia
successfully operated in Equatorial Guinea in the 1970s and formed
the basis for the country’s geological exploration industry. The MoU
gives us opportunities for long-term cooperation in geological
exploration,” says Gorkov.
Rosgeo’s return to Equatorial Guinea will materially improve
the country’s understanding of the subsurface, unlocking new
prospectivity and boosting their oil and gas reserves. It will also be a
game changer for our nascent mining industry.
In accordance with the signed document, the parties will cooperate
mainly in airborne geophysical operations, 2D and 3D regional
seismic survey in transit and deep water offshore zones, but also in
the processing and interpreting of seismic data (including gravity
and magnetic survey, electrochemical and geochemical studies),
engineering studies and other works.
Oil and gas company BP announced a major gas discovery off the
coast of Mauritania that has been rated as the largest of 2019.
According to Palzor Shenga, a senior analyst on Rystad Energy’s
upstream team, BP’s find at Orca-1 offshore the African country is
the deepest and largest discovery so far this year. “Rystad Energy
estimates Orca-1 holds around 1.3 billion barrels of oil equivalent of
recoverable resources,” Shenga said. The discovery lies in the MSGBC
(Mauritania-Senegal-Gambia-Bissau-Conakry) basin.
SPOC RAMPS UP IN
SOUTH SUDAN
South Sudan is preparing to restart production in various oil
fields, including Block 5A operated by Sudd Petroleum Operating
Company. A new discovery in the Dar Petroleum Operating
Company-operated Adar field will drive investment into the country.
Sudd Petroleum Oil Company (SPOC) has proactively started
corporate social responsibility activities for local communities
surrounding Block 5A in the Tharjath field, which it operates. The
activities precede production resumption, which is expected to
restart by the end of the year.
Work includes the provision of treated water supply, as well as the
provision of medical supplies, which currently benefits an estimated
5 000 people in the area.
The South Sudanese government has been in talks with SPOC to
re-open the block since 2016 by consulting with companies and
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