CHINESE INTEREST IN
EQUATORIAL GUINEA GROWS
The Equatorial Guinea Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons recently held
an extremely successful investment drive, called the EG Ronda Licensing
Round Roadshow, with Chinese investors, in an event organised by the
Africa Energy Chamber in Beijing, China. More than 100 Chinese investors
participated and discussed investment in oil, gas and minerals with the
Ministry. Major Chinese energy companies, including CMEC, CPP, CNOOC,
PowerChina, Sinochem, Sinopec, Zhenhua Oil and China Minmetals
responded to Equatorial Guinea’s invitation to invest in the country.
The government of Equatorial Guinea has been focusing on reform in
order to provide a stable regulatory framework and attractive business
environment. As a result, the country’s energy sector is attracting a lot of
attention from foreign investors.
MODULAR BLOCKS EMPOWER
MINES
Having a power supply serving only the mine, fully independent of the grid,
to provide the company with reliable and economic electricity has not always
been a viable solution. Remote locations with a minimal on-site infrastructure,
or mining operations where the power requirements are likely to vary, are
just two examples of sites where normal fixed power plants are not always a
feasible investment. The new Wärtsilä Modular Block provides mining sites the
opportunity of having their own captive power generating capacity.
The Wärtsilä modular block concept comprises a pre-fabricated, modularly
configurated and expandable enclosure. It incorporates medium-speed
engine technology with fast-starting and load-taking capabilities, and is
able to handle a mine’s large motor starts. Furthermore, it provides a viable
opportunity to use power from renewable sources, such as wind and solar,
for both environmental and economic gains.
The Modular Block concept includes most of the process equipment needed
for converting a simple generating set into a compact power station. Its pre-
fabricated, modular design means that it can be quickly and easily installed
in just a few weeks. Similarly, it can be disassembled and re-installed at an
alternative location should it be necessary or expanded with additional
modular blocks to adapt the power supply should the mine capacity increase.
Incremental expansion allows the investment costs to be cascaded accordingly.
Its rapid deployment from delivery to start-up minimises possible loss of
revenues for the mine.
OIL COMPANIES LINE UP IN
ANGOLA
Luanda, the capital of Angola, recently hosted a plethora of global CEO’s and
energy investors, and over 1000 oil industry stakeholders at the Angola Oil &
Gas 2019 Conference, organised by Africa Oil & Power. The summit was opened
by the president of Angola João Lourenço, who highlighted the various
reforms made by his administration to revitalise the industry and insisted on
the role of gas monetisation to spur industrialisation and economic growth.
The spotlight was on exploration, given to an exciting panel, sponsored by
Schlumberger and moderated by NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African
Energy Chamber and CEO of Centurion Law Group. The ‘Restructuring
and Remodeling of Upstream Angola’ panel provided the opportunity for
leading Angolan and international executives to look at the status of current
exploration efforts globally, amidst reduced spending and decreasing
production across most African oil producing nations.
On one of the panels, Stephen Willis, regional president of BP Angola said
that reduced exploration is not only an ‘Angola effect’ but a global one. He
further said that Angola has a very high exploration success rate. “Despite
reduced exploration, Angola’s success rate is over 50%, against a global
average of 30%,” he said.
Wärtsilä Modular Block features pre-fabricated, expandable enclosures for
sustainable power generation.
A panel discussion underway at the recently held Angola Oil & Gas 2019
Conference that was held in Luanda, Angola recently.
The series of reforms enacted by the Angolan administration since 2017 has
also been lauded as the result of a purpose-driven government focused on
restoring investors’ trust. “What the Angolan government has done over the
past years is nothing short of a revolution,” said Willis. “We are witnessing
a complete revitalisation of the contractual and governmental framework
which will show up in the form of increased market activity.”
FLOATING SOLAR PROJECT A
FIRST FOR AFRICA
Wärtsilä Modular Block is a scalable and redeployable power generation
solution with fast delivery and installation.
54
African Mining September 2019
Africa’s first floating solar project will be launched in the island state of the
Seychelles. The project, launched by the Seychelles Ministry of Environment,
www. africanmining.co.za