Africa needs pragmatic free market policies to attract capital into gas markets
When I spoke at the International Petroleum (IP) Week on February 25, 2021, I commended Nigeria for its efforts in driving gas monetisation. However, we have to be clear that the oil and gas industry and hardworking people remain frustrated by the delays and inability to pass and sign the...
Energy Chamber resolves to raise funding for new projects in Africa
Investment committee of the African Energy Chamber has prioritised capital mobilisation for investment in new energy projects on the continent. The committee, which met virtually for the second time since its inception last year, resolved to make capital mobilisation a top agenda of the industry in the post-Covid era. The...
A competitive oil and gas sector will drive growth in Angola’s economy
Angola’s oil wealth has by no means spared it from criticism about the unfair distribution of wealth, inequality in society and, in some cases, the misappropriation of state funds. These concerns are legitimate and should be looked into by the state. Where people are found to have profited unduly, it...
Sixty-five years of oil history has been good for Angola despite economic challenges
Angolan lawmakers last week approved the revision of current legislation, allowing for oil and gas pre-exploration studies to be carried out in some areas previously designated as natural reserves. The government, however, stressed that this law was by no means a relaxation of the stringent environmental provisions required for oil...
Unions condemn Facebook bullying, call for bolder steps to tackle ‘news deserts’
Journalists all over the world have, through their unions, told Facebook and Google to recognise the media as an essential service and stop exploiting them. In speaking out against Facebook and Google, journalists say they want to secure, support and sustain public-interest journalism on radio and television, in print and...
Facebook ‘re-friends’ Australia after revenue sharing law standoff
Facebook announced it would reverse its decision to block Australian news from the platform after a breakthrough in negotiations with Australia’s government over its proposed News Media Bargaining Code, the International Federation of Journalists reports (IFJ). In response, the IFJ and its Australian affiliate the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance...
Backslash from publishers as Facebook shuts out Australia over revenue
Facebook has faced a backlash from publishers and politicians after blocking news feeds in Australia in a surprise escalation of a dispute with the government over a law to require it to share revenue from news. Facebook wiped out pages from Australian state governments and charities as well as from...
Tanzania gets $50m Opec Fund to finance poverty reduction projects
Opec Fund for International Development (Opec Fund) has agreed to finance the fourth phase of Tanzania’s poverty reduction project that will cost the East African nation of approximately 60 million people $50 million. Dar es Salaam says it will use the loan to build rural infrastructure to boost economic opportunities...
Kenya’s Global Interjapan Ltd joins league of 2,297 AfDB blacklisted firms
A Kenya registered civil engineering company Global Interjapan (Kenya) Limited has been slapped with a 36-month debarment by the African Development Bank Group o for involvement in fraud. The announcement by the African bank means Global Interjapan will be on the dishonourable league of more than 2,297 companies and at...
Lessons from Mexico: How Africa can push for better oil, gas project execution
Mexico’s constitutional reform that injected impetus in the oil and gas industry was swift and it benefited from the support of the major political parties in the country following the Pacto por Mexico (Pact for Mexico) agreed right after the election and signed the day after by President Peña Nieto...
