In The Spotlight
The President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed an Executive Order for US$10bn investments in oil and gas.
Tinubu was speaking at the opening of a two-day retreat on economic transformation and development organised by the House of Representatives.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, Tinubu also disclosed that the Federal Government signed the consolidated guidelines for implementing fiscal incentives for the oil and gas sector.
He said, “The Executive Order streamlines contracting processes, procedures, and timelines from 36 months to six months. The order also seeks to ensure that local content requirements are implemented without impeding investments or the cost competitiveness of oil and gas projects.
“All of these have the same objective – to reduce government interference with the commercial imperatives of businesses in the country so that businesses based here can be competitive and focus on their core objectives of economic growth through innovation and trade.
“We will need the support of the National Assembly to fully implement some of these reforms, as statutory changes will be required in some areas.
“I am confident that when the time comes, the governing partnership we have established between the Executive and the Legislature will ensure that these changes are effected swiftly to benefit our nation.
"Your actions have substantially fortified the legal framework of the Students Tertiary Education Loan Program, ensuring its efficient implementation. These achievements are a testament to the power of our partnership and the positive impact it can have on our nation.
“The legislature must have the capacity to monitor the executive, and the executive, in turn, should be willing to comply with the legislative enactments.
“It is not just a coincidence but a strategic advantage for our country that the governing relationship between the Executive and the Legislature perfectly reflects this ideal.
“As you know, my administration is implementing significant policy changes to reform how we govern and position our country for progress and shared prosperity for all citizens.”
Tinubu said, “These reforms, while necessary and, in some cases, long overdue, are not without their challenges. I am deeply grateful for your unwavering support and understanding during these times. Your understanding and support have been invaluable, and I am confident that with our continued collaboration, we can overcome any challenges that lie ahead.
“The oil and gas industry has long been the lifeblood of our national economy. My administration is working tirelessly to change this and diversify our economy from overreliance on the production of fossil fuels. However, we are also determined to maximise revenue potential from this critical industry.
“For this reason, we are pushing policies to attract investment in the oil and gas sector.”
He continued, “We can only justify our collective mandate and the trust our people repose in us through constructive collaboration between the National Assembly and the Executive. This joint effort is the minimum the people who voted for us expect from us.
“However, the very essence of checks and balances means there will be times when the executive and legislative prerogatives inevitably collide. Above all else, the national interest must guide our decisions in those moments. We share a common responsibility in shaping the future of our nation, and it is through our collaboration that we can effectively fulfil this duty."
Wildcat Petroleum has signed an MOU with the Ministry of Petroleum (MOP) covering the following:
To establish a collaboration agreement to form a Production Sharing Service Agreement (PSSA) between the MOP and WCAT to work together to advance the development and commercial exploitation of the hydrocarbon assets in selected fields in the Republic of South Sudan.
A working party made up of members of both WCAT and MOP will be established to select suitable fields for development and agree suitable terms and conditions.
The MOU is valid to 31 May and recognises the current status of existing exploration and production contracts in South Sudan including pre-emption rights. It can be terminated on 30 days' notice by either party.
Chairman Mandhir Singh said, "It was very disappointing that the Company was unable to secure the Bamboo field in Sudan (North), however the Company hopes to make up for this disappointment by concentrating on South Sudan."
Yinson Production is pleased to announce the successful closing of the limited recourse term loan facility of up to US$1.3bn for the pre- and post-delivery financing of the Agogo FPSO.
The financing is provided by a consortium of 13 lenders, including international banks and institutional investors, and will be utilised over the course of the construction of the FPSO. The financing comprises three pari-passu secured tranches with staggered maturities of up to 10 years post-delivery of the FPSO. Subject to satisfaction of certain conditions, the financing will become non-recourse post-delivery of the FPSO. Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Ltd. acted as Global Coordinating Bank for the financing.
Yinson Production entered into a firm contract for the provision, operation and maintenance of the Agogo FPSO with Azule Energy, a 50/50 joint venture between BP and Eni, Angola’s largest independent oil and gas producer, in February 2023. The contract has a firm operation period of 15 years, with additional optional periods of up to 5 years and a total contract value of up to approximately USD 5.7 billion. The Agogo FPSO will have a production capacity of 120,000 barrels of oil per day. Once construction is completed, the Agogo FPSO will be deployed to the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development Project located in the West Hub of Block 15/06 offshore Angola.
The Agogo FPSO is designed with a comprehensive suite of carbon emission reduction technologies, including the first-ever carbon capture technology onboard an FPSO. With an estimated reduction of carbon emissions of 27% compared to a conventional design, the Agogo FPSO also incorporates other technologies to reduce emissions including closed flare system, hydrocarbon blanketing, combined cycle technology, automated process controls and all electric drives systems. These features are integral to Yinson Production’s transition towards achieving carbon neutral by 2030 and net zero by 2050.
Commenting on the successful closing of the financing, Yinson Production’s chief financial officer, Markus Wenker said, “This transaction is a significant milestone for Yinson Production. It not only is our single largest financing to date, but the commercial multi-tranche structure – the first of its kind in the industry – significantly increases the efficiency of the financing compared to traditional structures, whilst diversifying the funding base by combining different lender groups in a single transaction. We thank all our lenders for their trust in us and support in passionately delivering this powerful financing solution for the Agogo FPSO.”
Air Products, a provider of liquefied natural gas (LNG) technology and equipment has announced its dual mixed refrigerant LNG Process technology (AP-DMR) and equipment, which has been deployed at the Coral South floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) plant in Mozambique, Africa, has successfully passed its performance test achieving LNG production above 3.4 mn tons per year.
Air Products’ proprietary AP-DMR LNG Process was selected because of its high efficiency, reliable operation, and compact footprint. AP-DMR’s superior process efficiency combined with the use of aeroderivative machinery translates to a lower carbon intensity than all other LNG processes in floating service.
Coral South FLNG is Mozambique’s first operating LNG project, and the first deep-water FLNG project for Africa. It is the second largest FLNG facility in the world. Air Products’ involvement with this project started in 2013 with conceptual work, resulting in the selection of the AP-DMR LNG process technology and equipment, including the supply of two proprietary coil-wound main cryogenic heat exchangers (CWHEs), one for precooling and one for liquefaction within the facility.
The CWHEs for the Coral South project were fabricated at Air Products’ LNG equipment manufacturing facility in Port Manatee, Florida. Additionally, Air Products provided expert, technical advisory services for the installation, commissioning, start-up, and performance testing.
“Having been selected to participate in this landmark project is a significant achievement and the first project to leverage our very efficient AP-DMR LNG process. Our supplied equipment having successfully completed performance testing is the direct result of the expertise and experience of our team, from all areas of the LNG business, working in close collaboration and in support of TP JGC Coral France (the EPC joint venture of Technip Energies France SAS and JGC Corporation) executing the project and Coral FLNG S.A. (the owner/operator),” said Dr. John Palamara, general manager – LNG at Air Products.
Air Products’ AP-DMR LNG Process has also been selected for the Energía Costa Azul LNG land-based project in Mexico which is currently under construction.
PGS has announced that early-out data is now available for the EGY23 Merneith & Luxor MultiClient programme
Aberdeen-based Deep Casing Tools has won a King’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category.
The firm, a provider of innovative solutions for the global oil and gas industry, has been recognised for its robust international trade growth strategy, which has successfully driven an increased footprint in the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Latin America. In response to increasing demand for its technology, the company recruited an additional seven people last year, including three strategic appointments in Saudia Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, increasing the total number of employees globally to 25.
David Stephenson, Deep Casing Tools CEO said, “We have significantly increased our overseas footprint in recent years by entering new territories, and it is fantastic to see our efforts recognised with a King’s Award for Enterprise. By diversifying our business internationally, prioritising markets with the highest growth potential and building strategic alliances, we have built a strong track record across the regions we operate.
“Our global growth strategy has been led by a combination of robust research and development with in-depth market knowledge to identify opportunities for expansion and development, whilst continuing to deliver a personal, bespoke service to each of our customers. I am delighted for our team, this award is a testament to their continued hard work and dedication and I look forward to building on this success in the coming years.”
Deep Casing Tool’s suite of technology includes the TurboCaser, TurboRunner, MechLOK and Rubblizer. All were deployed around the world in 2023, delivering a total of 64 projects, with the TurboCaser accounting for 73% of its global commerce.
The high-speed, turbine-powered casing running system helps drilling teams to land casings and intermediate liners at target depth in even the most complex wells. It’s 75% faster than conventional technology and can save up to three days per project, delivering significant efficiencies.
The company has experienced significant demand for the solution, particularly in Saudia Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. During a recent project offshore Abu Dhabi, the application of the TurboCaser enabled a major operator to save more than 1,500 rig time hours, US$13.7mn in operational costs and 4,247 MT in CO2 emissions when compared to traditional methods.
Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a 10-year Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Agreement for a captive power plant providing the energy for a Nigerian cement producing facility.
The new cement plant is owned by Mangal Industries and is located in Kogi State, Nigeria. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q2, 2024.
The power plant is critical to the facility’s cement production since the site is remotely located with limited access to the electricity grid. It operates with five Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engines delivering an output of 50 MW. The O&M agreement is designed to ensure that the facility can reliably maintain its cement production target of three million metric tons per year.
“We are reliant on the power plant for our operations. This is why we have opted to take advantage of Wärtsilä’s depth of experience and know-how to run and maintain the power plant. Not only will the agreement provide the assured reliability we need, but it also gives us cost predictability,” said Fahad Mangal, Managing Director, Mangal Industries Limited.
The ten-year agreement starts immediately as the facility commences operations in Q2, 2024, running on liquid fuel initially. The facility will switch to natural gas operation when the natural gas pipeline will be commissioned. The power plant’s dual-fuel engines can be operated both on liquid fuel and natural gas and could be converted to operate with future low- or zero-carbon fuels when they become available.
“Wärtsilä now has more than 400 MW of installed capacity for the cement industry in Nigeria, and we are operating three captive power plants in three different states. This successful track record clearly indicates our capabilities and highlights the added value we can deliver to our customers through our experience and expertise in supporting their operations,” comments Patrick Borstner, Director, Operations Africa at Wärtsilä Energy.
Nigeria has an increasing demand for cement for its many infrastructure projects, and there has been a domestic supply gap. With this new plant, Mangal will partly address this issue.
The US$20bn, 650,000-bpd Dangote Refinery in Nigeria has completed its first shipment of diesel and jet fuel to the local market since it started production in January
Boasting an estimated 3.5 billion barrels of oil and producing an average of approximately 149,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2023, South Sudan’s oil sector plays a vital role in the country’s economy. During the forecast period 2022-2027, South Sudan’s oil market is poised to grow at a compound annual rate of 1.5% - rising from 134,000 in 2021 to approximately 160,500 bpd by 2027.
Serving as the sole oil producing nation in East Africa, South Sudan is well-positioned to serve as a facilitator of investment, technology and expertise across the broader regional energy landscape. As such, the country will leverage this year’s South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) 2024 conference and exhibition to invite investors to explore and engage with opportunities across the upstream, refining, power generation and mining industries to drive projects and maximize oil production.
Driving Upstream Investment
According to the Ministry of Petroleum – the regulatory body in charge of the country’s oil sector – nearly 90% of South Sudan’s oil and gas reserves remain untapped. As such, through the country’s parastatal Nile Petroleum Corporation (Nilepet), South Sudan aims to attract investment through ongoing or upcoming upstream licensing rounds to boost liquid fuels production for export and for domestic use.
South Sudan launched its first-ever licensing round in 2021, offering five exploration licenses to foreign investors in an attempt to accelerate exploration and production. With a total of 14 available blocks ranging between 4,000 and 25,000km2 in the Muglad Basin, which currently produces approximately 100,000 bpd, the licensing round is set to attract significant investor interest from international companies.
The Muglad Basin produces the highly attractive Nile crude oil blend at Blocks 1, 2A, 2B, 4 and 5A, which boasts medium waxy characteristics that are suitable for refining due to its high fuel and gasoil yields. Meanwhile, South Sudan’s Dar blend, which is a heavy crude oil with a low sulfur content, is produced at Blocks 3 and 7 in the Melut Basin. The country’s third blend, the Fula blend, is a highly acidic crude oil produced at Block 6 in the Muglad Basin, which is processed primarily for domestic use.
Increasing global interest
Major foreign oil companies in South Sudan’s oil sector are based in Asia, with the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Malaysia’s Petronas holding large stakes in the country’s petroleum industry.
The leading consortia operating in South Sudan’s oil sector include the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company (CNPC, 40%; Petronas, 30%; ONGC, 25%; Nilepet, 5%), the Dar Petroleum Operating Company (CNPC, 41%; Petronas, 40%; Nilepet, 8%; Sinopec, 6%; Tri-Ocean, 5%) and the Sudd Petroleum Operating Company (Petronas, 67.8%; ONGC, 24.2%; Nilepet, 8%).
In February 2024, upstream company Wildcat Petroleum passed a due diligence process in South Sudan, enabling the company to undertake petroleum deals in the country, including large-scale oil production purchases. According to the company’s Chairman Mandhir Singh, Wildcat Petroleum has been invited by the Ministry of Petroleum to visit Juba and enter discussions on current oil production opportunities.
Meanwhile, in June 2023, corporate social investment company the Strategic Fuel Fund (SFF) and Nilepet signed an agreement that will allow South Africa to use South Sudan’s geophysical plans to kick off exploration activities in the highly prospective Block B2 in the Muglad Basin. Under the six-year exploration period, the SFF and Nilepet will launch an aerogravity survey exploration, seismic acquisition and drilling campaign while investing in capacity building initiatives and infrastructure development projects.
Advancing midstream and downstream scope
South Sudan has one operational refinery - the Bentiu Refinery - which is situated in the northwest of the country and capable of producing approximately 7,000 bpd. In an effort to drive the country’s downstream capabilities, Nilepet is calling on investors to secure funding for the construction of an oil refinery in Block 5A. The project has amassed a total investment of $29 million, with the refinery’s estimated initial costs currently standing at $3 billion. Completion of the proposed refinery is expected to double the country’s oil production to 350,000 bpd while catering heavy fuel oil to potential markets in Kenya, Uganda and the Republic of the Congo.