Competition for oil and gas production in Africa steps up

 Many countries in Africa remain a beacon for investment in theoil and gas industry, with around 8% of the world’s untapped proven oil reserves on the continent,  The continent’s share of global production dropped from 12% in 2013 to 10% in 2014, but competition remained “extremely tight”. In addition to multinationals, a rising number of national oilcompanies were moving in to also compete. “There’s more competition when you look at.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014

Tanzania Gas Gains at U.S.$3 Billion

 Dar es Salaam — Tanzania value of export of gas which is a net of repatriate earnings is set to be $3 billion per annum over the period 2023 - 2050.     This means in 27 years the value of gas exports will be $81 billion once the international oil companies start the actual extract of the natural resources.     Tanzania estimates of gas reserves are frequently being updated. The reserves of natural gas in the offshore are about 30 trillion cubic.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014

Kenya: Lake Turkana Wind Power signs financing agreements

 After eight years in the pipeline, the 300MW Lake Turkana wind power project finally signed financing agreements worth €498m ($687m) on 24 March. The much-publicised project, described as the largest private investment in Kenyan history, has the support of a wide range of financiers, led by a revitalised African Development Bank (AfDB), but the time taken to reach financial close highlights the difficulty, even in private sector friendly Kenya, of developing a renewables.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014

Tanzania lines up new private power projects

 Irish-registered Kibo Mining is in the early stages of planning a 300-350MW mine-mouth plant at the Rukwa coal field in the Mbeya region. Chief executive Louis Coetzee told African Energy the proposed open-cast mine method and on-site development should keep generation costs low, with power then fed into the national grid to help tackle Tanzania’s growing power supply deficit. “It is impossible to deny the business opportunity when power demand is rising by 10-15% a.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014

Tanzania: Green power for rural south

 A new investor consortium plans to develop a series of small-scale distributed renewable energy projects in the southern Morogoro region. Kastan Mining announced on 26 May that it had entered into a consortium with Indonesia-based Continental Energy Corporation, Pan African Management and Development Company (Panafra), a US-based infrastructure fund and asset manager, and local energy group, Kitonga Power Electric Company (Kepoco), to form Ruaha River Power Company. Kastan.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014

Kenya Power thinks big on electricity access

  Ministry of Energy and Petroleum cabinet secretary Davis Chirchir has said that negotiations with the African Development Bank (AfDB) for a KSh60bn ($680m) loan for a project to expand access to electricity from 32% to 70% over five years are at an advanced stage and should be completed by December. Disbursement of the first Sh12bn instalment is anticipated in this financial year. Speaking at a media briefing for transmission and distribution company Kenya Power on 28 July, he.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014

Kenya: Milk Coolers for Pokot South Farmers

West Pokot County: Dairy farmers from Tapach and Sina areas in Pokot South Sub County have a reason to smile after the County government purchased two milk cooling plants to boost milk production.   Addressing residents outside his office after flagging off the machines, West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin said the project is aimed at improving dairy farming in the region.   He said the County government has spent Sh.25 million to purchase five coolers and already three.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014

Tanzania: New Geothermal Firm Established

 BLESSED with the potential to generate over 4,000 megawatts of electricity from geothermal sources, the government has formed a company to steer the country into effectively and beneficially tapping it.   Operating as a subsidiary of Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco), the Tanzania Geothermal Development Company started operations in July this year, according to the Energy and Minerals Minister, Professor Sospeter Muhongo.   "We have huge potential in.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014

Kenya: Railway Project to Employ 30,000 Kenyans

 Nairobi — More than 2,400 Kenyans have already been hired for the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).   Assistant President of China Communications and Construction Company Wen Gang says they also intend to sub-contract about 40 percent of the project to local companies.   At a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House Nairobi on Monday, Wen said at its peak, the SGR project will employ more than 30,000 Kenyans directly. He added that.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014

Kenya: What Kenya Has Lined Up in Race for U.S. Investments

Kenya is in a good position to wrestle a significant share of the billions of dollars promised during the recent US-Africa Summit in renewed investment plans as a major hub in East Africa.   However, its neighbour Ethiopia and West Africa's Nigeria and Ghana are seen as Kenya's main competitors in drawing the investments from US companies and government.   President Barrack Obama gave the clearest indication two weeks ago that the US is taking a different approach to.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014

Kenya: Sh2.8 Million Banana Project for Ungunja Farmers

Farmers in Unguja will benefit from a Sh2.8 million programme that seeks to enhance production of bananas and sweet potatoes in the subcounty. Ugunja Community Resource Centre has initiated the programme.   The centre's chief executive officer Aggrey Omondi said the programme will benefit 4,075 farmers. Omondi was speaking on Thursday at Savannah Hotel in Ugunja during the launch of the programme.   He said the pilot project will be implemented in six demonstration plots.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014

Angola produced 1.7 million barrels of oil per day in July

 Angola produced 1.7 million barrels of oil per day last July, Petroleum Minister José Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos announced on Wednesday in Luanda. The production figure shows a growing tendency toward achieving the production target of 2 million barrels of oil per day in 2015, Botelho de Vasconcelos said during a seminar on dispersants and on-site burning. Cited by Angop news agency, he specified that more than 99 percent of Angolan production is offshore, with.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 19th August 2014