Sunday, December 22, 2024

South Africa News

TotalEnergies targets new offshore exploration area

Documents from environmental consultants SLR on Tuesday showed that TotalEnergies has requested environmental authorization to drill up seven exploration wells off the west coast South Africa in the southern part Deep Water Orange Basin. Shell and other oil companies are looking at the west coast of South Africa…

Anglo sells Australian coal mines for up to $3.78 billion to Peabody

Anglo American agreed on Monday to sell the remaining Australian steelmaking mines to Peabody Energy, for up to $3.78 Billion in cash. This is its first large disposal under a restructuring plan. After fending off BHP Group's $49 billion bid in May, the mining giant has reshaped its business to focus mainly on iron ore and copper.

COP29: Climate agenda clashes with trade demands

At the COP29 Climate Summit, trade tensions are escalating. According to U.N. documents, and negotiators, China, Brazil, and a number of other developing countries have complained that perceived barriers, like the European Union’s carbon border levy will undermine climate efforts. Nearly 200 nations are…

Officials say that South Africa has a significant reworking of its long-term energy plan.

Officials said that a reworked long-term South Africa power plan would be soon presented to the cabinet. The plan is designed to put an end to the electricity blackouts which have plagued the country over the past decade. Only in January was the last plan released, which laid out scenarios for power supply up to 2050.

Nel is appointed as the new CEO of South Africa's largest gold miner amid a copper pivot

Harmony Gold, South Africa’s largest gold producer in terms of volume, announced on Thursday that Beyers Nel had been appointed chief executive officer, to replace Peter Steenkamp who is retiring. Nel is a mining engineer with Johannesburg's gold producer. He has worked there since 2003. His new role will begin on January 1, 2025. Nel is Harmony's chief operating officer.

Gates-backed nuclear company, ASP Isotopes, plans plant to manufacture nuclear fuel

TerraPower, a Bill Gates-funded reactor company, and ASP Isotopes announced on Wednesday that they had struck a deal for the production of a new fuel. This fuel is currently only produced in Russia in commercial quantities, but will be used in a future generation of nuclear power stations. Both major U.S.

Petrobras' focus remains Brazil despite Africa plans, director says

Petrobras, the state-owned oil company in Brazil, has its main focus on its own country. Its director of exploration, production, said this Thursday. He added that Brazil remained a top priority, even though it plans to expand into Africa. Petrobras, which is looking to replenish its oil reserves in the future…

European and Southern African Development Banks to lend an extra $220 million to clean energy projects

The European Investment Bank and Development Bank of Southern Africa announced on Wednesday that, together, they will lend an additional 200 millions euros ($220.16million) to renewable energy project in South Africa. The EIB and DBSA have pledged 400 million euros at the COP27 Climate Summit in 2022 for…

Russia invites Saudi Crown Prince to October BRICS Summit

Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, announced on Monday that Russia had invited Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman from October 22-24 to attend a BRICS Summit in Kazan. Last year, the bloc of developing countries invited Saudi Arabia and Iran to join, as well as Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates.

Sources: Exxon pulls out of race to purchase stake in Namibian oil block from Galp

Exxon Mobil pulled out of the race for half of Galp Energia’s stake in a major oil discovery in Namibia, which has drawn interest from other top energy companies. Sources have previously stated that more than 12 oil companies, including Exxon Shell and Brazil's Petrobras, had expressed an interest in Galp’s 40% stake in Mopane's offshore discovery.

China and South Africa agree on balanced trade, increased investments

A joint statement released on Tuesday revealed that China and South Africa's top leaders, who met in Beijing, had agreed to promote a balanced trade, and also discussed the importance of boosting bilateral investments between their commercial and industrial communities. President Xi Jinping met with his…

South African private energy producers seek fair deal on output curbs

Industry executives claim that South African private energy producers want compensation for revenue lost due to Eskom's request to limit the electricity supplied to the national grid. Eskom has sent a proposal to South Africa's energy regulator for the introduction of a compensation mechanism to compensate Independent Power Producers (IPPs)…

Canada's benchmark TSX index edges up on oil gains and local acquisitions

Canada's benchmark stock index edged up slightly on Monday, as calm returned to the market after a turbulent week. However, rising tensions in Middle East and the upcoming U.S. data this week kept investors on the edge. The S&P/TSX Composite Index closed at 22,406.31, up 95.01, or 0.43%. Two major acquisitions in Canada also contributed to the increase.

Fratelli Cosulich Inks Charter Deal for LNG Bunkering Vessel

(Credit: Fratelli Cosulich)

Italian shipowner Fratelli Cosulich and PETCO Trading Labuan Company Limited (PTLCL), a trading arm of Malaysian energy company Petronas, have signed a two-year charter agreement for Paolina Cosulich LNG bunker barge.Operating under PTLCL, a global energy solutions provider in key bunker hubs with network in Southeast Asia…

New JV to Explore Floating Wind Farm Development in South Africa

Illustration; Image Credit - Hexicon

Swedish floating windfarm developer Hexicon has teamed up with South African wind developer Genesis Eco-Energy Developments to explore the development of offshore wind in the country.For this purpose, two companies have established a joint venture company GenesisHexicon."The purpose is to jointly develop large scale floating wind projects…

Offshore Accounts for 60% of Oil Discoveries

Offshore discoveries accounted for more than 60% of global discoveries in 2019, up significantly on previous years, according to a study by GlobalData.GlobalData report reveals that while Colombia and Norway saw the highest number of discoveries drilled in 2019, Guyana, Mauritania and Russia hosted the most significant finds.In Guyana…

Oil And Gas Discoveries Hit 4-Year High

The global oil and gas explorers powered ahead and discovered 12.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) in 2019, the highest volume since 2015.According to Rystad Energy, last year recorded 26 discoveries of more than 100 million boe, with offshore regions dominating the list of new oil and gas deposits.Guyana’s success story from 2018 continued in 2019…

Africa: Strong Scope for Offshore Licensing in 2020

Throughout 2019 Africa has led licensing round activity; looking forward to 2020 this is set to continue, however results of the recent rounds have had limited success in a global context.Eight licensing rounds are open or have closed in Africa during the quarter and going forward 13 countries may offer acreage in 2020…

U.S. Ingenuity Will Solve Climate Challenge: US DOE

AdobeStock / © xmentoys

The United States can tackle threats to the climate through technological advances as fossil fuels will remain a priority for the U.S. government and business, the assistant secretary for fossil energy said on Tuesday.The world should look to the United States' ability to reduce its emissions, the Department…

Brazil Federal Police Investigate Greek Ship in Connection with Oil Spill

Brazil's federal police on Friday announced a potential breakthrough in the investigation into the causes of a mysterious oil spill that has baffled authorities and Brazilians for about two months.Police said they were investigating a Greek-flagged ship allegedly responsible for the oil spill, which they…