The Dangote Petrochemicals refinery in Nigeria will commence its operations by 2018 a senior manager has announced.   Speaking at a press briefing during his tour at the plant site at Lekki Free Trade, Kelkar said that the construction work on the project is expected to be completed by 2017 adding that live streaming will kick off by 2018.   The 650,000 barrels per day capacity Dangote petrochemicals refinery in Nigeria is.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 27th October 2015

President Yoweri Museveni has said that as the petroleum, gas and oil resources are finite and not renewable, the money that accrues from that energy sources should not be squandered but rather be invested in durable areas to build the country’s infrastructure needs and further develop capacity of the country. Speaking at the ceremony of the inauguration of the Board of Directors of the new National Petroleum Authority and the National.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 26th October 2015

Swala Energy Limited has said it has agreed with Magna Equities II LLC the provider of an interim financing mechanism entered into by way of provision of Convertible Notes in December 2014. Under the agreement Swala Energy says it shall undertake to redeem all of the outstanding 452,381 Convertible Notes currently held by Magna at a cost of US $598,500. According to the Australian explorer’s CEO Dr. David Mestres Ridge the Company.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd October 2015

Oil exploration and production in Uganda require extreme caution to prevent environmental damages according to Dr Peter Blomeyer the German ambassador to Uganda. The ambassador noted that Uganda’s oil and gas resources have been discovered in environmentally sensitive areas such as forests, national parks, lakes and rivers. Uganda’s Petroleum resources are now estimated to be 6.5 billion barrels of oil in place. This is up from.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd October 2015

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has promised to deploy drones in fighting crude oil theft. The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps perhaps, as a result of synergy with the NNPC, has been reported to have procured one to fight pipeline vandalism. It is certain that other agencies will find the machine invaluable in the days ahead. Some tips have been put together, in conjunction with a United Kingdom based drone expert,.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 22nd October 2015

KAMPALA, Uganda – Governments of Tanzania, Uganda,  French firm, Total E&P (Uganda) and the Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation (TPDC) have signed  a Memorandum of Understanding for a crude oil export pipeline framework writes SAM OKWAKOL. “If we can be able to get a least cost pipeline route to the East African coast, our crude oil will be exported cheaply,’’ Dr Fred Kabagambe-Kaliisa, the.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st October 2015

GPB Global Resources, a Russian oil and gas company, is embarking on an oil exploration project in the Afar Regional State of Ethiopia. The country’s Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Natural Gas, and GPB Global Resources signed petroleum production sharing agreement whereby the company would prospect for oil in the Gewane-El Wiha block, in the Afar Regional State. The exploration area is located in the Afar region in the north-eastern.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 21st October 2015

The Managing Director of Oil and Gas Council, a global business network for senior oil and gas executives, Mr. Drake Lawhead has stated that foreign investors in the oil and gas industry are currently watching Nigeria, stressing that it is undeniable that Nigeria's foreign direct investment has been hampered by the perception or fact of corruption and theft.   Speaking on the forthcoming West Africa Energy Assembly scheduled for December.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 20th October 2015

The race to build Uganda's oil pipeline has been thrown open, realigning the regional power play after Tanzania inked an agreement with Uganda over a possible southern route early this week.   Tanzania argues that its route will offer a cheaper option in transporting Uganda's crude oil.   Kenya has now taken a tough stance to guard its interests that include the Lamu Port Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) corridor project.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 20th October 2015

Oil companies Total and Tullow agree with the Ugandan government on low tariffs for the transportation of the crude oil through a pipeline, but they differ over the choice of route.   Tullow Oil has no objection to the northern route (Hoima-Lokichar-Lamu Port) as proposed by the Kenya government, but Total has raised concerns over the route, while China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) is neutral.   The differences were clear.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 20th October 2015

The Department of Environmental Affairs has issued an environmental authorisation for Shell South Africa Upstream B V's proposed exploration drilling in the Orange Basin Deep Water Licence Area, off South Africa's west coast.   This gives Shell permission to drill up to two offshore exploration wells in the northern portion of the licence area, which covers about 37 290km². Successful exploration of gas will be a major step towards.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 20th October 2015

Fuel prices in Kenya are expected to increase sharply next year as the government plans to increase taxes on the commodity to raise an additional Ksh16 billion ($152.62 million).   The government will impose 16 per cent value added tax (VAT) on oil products to shore up its domestic revenues, which have come under pressure in the wake of burgeoning spending, corruption and wastage.   The tax, which is to be enforced by September.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 19th October 2015