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Tullow Oil plc has completed the sale of its entire working interest in Kenya to Auron Energy E&P Limited, an affiliate of Gulf Energy Ltd, following satisfaction of all conditions precedent under the previously announced Sale and Purchase Agreement

Tullow has received the full proceeds of Tranche A (US$40mn) under the terms of the SPA. The transaction represents the sale of 100% of the shares in Tullow’s subsidiary Tullow Kenya BV, which holds Tullow’s entire working interests in Kenya, for a minimum cash consideration of US$120mn, subject to customary adjustments. The transaction proceeds will be used to strengthen Tullow’s balance sheet.

The sale of its Kenya subsidiary marks Tullow’s exit from the country after 14 years. Tullow retains royalty payments, subject to certain conditions, and a no cost back-in right for a 30% participation in potential future development phases.

Ian Perks, CEO of Tullow, said, “The successful completion of this transaction marks a significant milestone for the company and the achievement of another one of our key 2025 strategic priorities. The use of proceeds helps to further strengthen our balance sheet and I would like to thank the team for their hard work and commitment, which have helped position the company strongly as we look to refinance our capital structure this year.

"On behalf of everyone at Tullow, I extend our best wishes to the people and Government of Kenya and wish Gulf Energy every success as they advance this project.”

Paul Limoh, CEO, Gulf Energy Ltd, said, “We are delighted to complete this transaction and to bring these assets under the stewardship Gulf Energy Ltd. This project will play an important role in advancing Kenya’s domestic energy sector, creating opportunities for growth and development in the Turkana region, as well as supporting the country’s long-term energy security. We thank Tullow for its years of investment and commitment, and we look forward to building on that foundation as we work with partners and stakeholders to take the project forward.”

Exploration services company, Argas, has purchased 30,000 Range+ STRYDE nodes and Stryde’s Nimble Seismic System, marking the first-ever deployment of nodal technology for onshore seismic acquisition in Egypt

The first deployment of the newly acquired Stryde system will be on a very large 2D seismic survey in Egypt. The technology will be used to acquire high-quality seismic data across highly prospective sedimentary basins, supporting oil and gas exploration efforts in one of Egypt’s most promising frontier regions.

Impressed by its cost-efficiency and operational agility, Argas made the strategic decision to integrate Stryde’s technology into its operations.

Stryde’s technology offers true scalability for large-scale seismic acquisition. Its ultra-lightweight Range+ nodes, coupled with a state-of-the-art, high-capacity charging, harvesting, and QC ecosystem, enable thousands of nodes to be rotated daily.

This ensures faster acquisition cycles and rapid delivery of high-quality seismic data, giving Argas a competitive edge in Egypt’s rapidly evolving energy sector.

“After working with Stryde’s system on previous projects, it became clear that this technology brings a significant advantage to both us and our clients,” said Soufiane Azzi, Director of Commercials and Collaborations of Argas.

“The system has proven to drastically reduce deployment time, reduce headcount and vehicles count, simplifies logistics, improve recording time window, and delivers excellent seismic data. We are proud to be the first to bring node technology to Egypt.”

“This is a major milestone, not only for STRYDE and ARGAS, but for Egypt’s energy sector as a whole,” said Mehdi Tascher, sales director at Stryde.

“ARGAS’s purchase is spot on, and reflects the growing demand for scalable and efficient seismic acquisition systems that enable high-density data capture for superior subsurface imaging, empowering more confident and informed exploration decisions. This sale underscores the global trust in STRYDE’s technology and its proven ability to transform seismic operations through operational excellence and data quality.”

In a first divestment development for FrontRow Energy Technology Group, its subsidiary, WellSense, a rapid fibre-optic well diagnostics provider, has sold FiberLine Intervention licence to oilfield services company, Halliburton

The agreement terms secure a global licence for Halliburton to deploy WellSense FiberLine Intervention (Fli) technology for use in well stimulation monitoring.

A FrontRow Energy Technology Group company, WellSense, will continue to deploy the technology globally for all other oil and gas applications, including well plug and abandonment (P&A), well integrity and leak detection, as well as carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS).

Annabel Green, CEO of WellSense, said, “The successful completion of this deal is a defining moment for WellSense and for our parent company, FrontRow Energy Technology Group. Not only is it a strong industry endorsement of our technology and the value it delivers, but also our business model of bringing new and innovative solutions to market.

“Our unique bare fibre dynamic despooling technology delivers superior data quality for a detailed subsurface understanding. Unlike other well monitoring techniques it provides a lightweight offline intervention solution with disposable probes for significant efficiency savings and reduced risk.

“Meeting the complex challenges of upstream oil and gas requires the adoption of technologies that fundamentally improve how the industry operates. This agreement is the result of a decade of focused innovation, collaboration and delivery and I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all our employees, past and present, whose dedication has built the strong foundation that made this success possible.”

Steve Kent, CEO of FrontRow, said,“This deal is a major milestone for FrontRow and is a clear example of how UK-born innovation can solve industry challenges and attract global attention.

“This is FrontRow’s first commercial licence sale and a landmark in our journey. It demonstrates that innovation, when nurtured with the right expertise and support, can deliver technical success as well as real commercial value.”

GTT will be delivering the tank design of a new floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) unit for Samsung Heavy Industries before it is ready for deployment in the African waters

The deal, which was made during the third quarter of 2025, will see GTT designing the cryogenic membrane containment system for the LNG storage tanks, with a total capacity of 238,700 cu/m. The tanks will be fitted with GTT’s Mark III technology.

This project underscores GTT’s central role in enabling major floating LNG developments in new markets and demonstrates how FLNG solutions can rapidly deliver offshore liquefaction capacity without relying on onshore infrastructure.

Philippe Berterottiere, chairman and CEO of GTT, said,“We are proud to contribute our unique expertise to this major FLNG project, which will help harness Africa’s energy potential to support sustainable growth and energy supply. This order confirms the trust of our long-standing partner Samsung Heavy Industries and demonstrates the relevance of GTT’s technologies to support the development of efficient, reliable and safe floating LNG infrastructure.” 

Major refining projects  are set to transform Africa’s energy landscape and boost self-suffciency

Africa is set to add 1.2mn barrels per day (bpd) of new refining capacity by 2030, representing one of the fastest downstream expansions globally, according to the newly released 2025 OPEC World Oil Outlook.

At the forefront of Africa’s refining expansion is Nigeria’s 650,000-bpd Dangote Refinery, which began operations in 2024 and is already reshaping regional fuel trade dynamics. Further developments include the 200,000-bpd Akwa Ibom Refinery, also in Nigeria, and Angola’s state-driven push to bring online the 200,000-bpd Lobito Refinery and 100,000-bpd Soyo Refinery by 2030.

Uganda’s refining ambitions are taking shape with a 60,000-bpd facility in Hoima, part of the country’s broader Lake Albert basin development plan, while modular refinery projects in Ghana, Guinea-Conakry, the Republic of Congo and additional sites in Nigeria are buiding capacity in markets where infrastructure and financing hurdles persist. In North Africa, Algeria (Hassi Messaoud), Libya (Ubari) and Egypt (Soukhna) are all advancing refinery projects aimed at capturing higher margins, improving domestic supply security and reducing dependency on imports of refined petroleum products.

According to OPEC, Africa will need over US$40bn in refining investments by 2030 to meet its mid-decade objectives, and beyond that, an additional US$60+ billion for refinery construction, modernisation and secondary processing capacity upgrades. This opens a US$100 billion investment opportunity for project developers, institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds and energy-focused private equity.

Africa’s rising domestic consumption of crude – forecast to reach 4.5 million bpd by 2050 from just 1.8 million bpd in 2024 – further underlines the need for investing in downstream infrastructure.
If the continent seizes this momentum, it can move beyond being a raw crude exporter to becoming a competitive, resilient and integrated energy producer.

The 2025 edition of African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies in Cape Town will provide a platform for governments, operators and financiers to align on next-phase refinery projects, policy incentives and deal pipelines, as countries seek to reduce costly imports and capture more value from domestic crude,

Ovation Data, a global leader in data management and digital transformation, has announced its expansion into Africa, joining forces with the ETK Group

The partnership aims to tackle mounting concerns in global energy markets about the risks tied to non-digitised legacy data, particularly in African energy sectors.

The company’s latest industry survey, presented at IMAGE 2025 in Houston, highlights widespread concern about the preservation of legacy geological and geophysical data. The survey, which included significant input from African operators, regulators, and technical professionals, reveals a substantial gap in data readiness across the energy sector. In particular, it points to the growing challenge of non-digitised data in countries rich in exploration potential, like many across Africa.

“Effective data management means more than digitising archives,” said Gregory Servos, executive chairman of Ovation Data. “It involves collaborating closely with operators, regulators, and technical teams to recover historical data, capture its context, and respect the social and cultural dynamics unique to each market.” As energy projects focused on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), and the broader energy transition gain momentum, Ovation believes that securing data readiness will be critical for supporting operational efficiency and securing investments.

The survey’s results paint a concerning picture: 82% of respondents expressed fears about the permanent loss of legacy geological and geophysical data, while 50% highlighted project delays and incomplete data as serious concerns. Additionally, 61% of respondents feel that digitisation and data structuring aren’t receiving adequate investment or attention, and 12% remain unaware of the risks associated with holding non-digitised data.

The study also underscores a significant concern about losing undocumented knowledge as senior professionals retire or move on. “In Africa, this challenge extends beyond data trapped in obsolete formats,” Servos adds. “It’s also about preserving decades of technical insight, decision-making, and cultural context that will otherwise be lost when experienced professionals retire.”

ETK Group, with its deep understanding of African energy markets, will play a pivotal role in helping Ovation navigate the continent’s diverse and evolving landscape. Bolaji Sofoluwe MBE, managing director of ETK Group, said, “Africa’s energy sector offers immense potential, and data-driven solutions will be key to unlocking efficiency, regulatory compliance, and long-term sustainability.”

The findings of Ovation's survey serve as a wake-up call not only for Africa but for the global energy sector. As projects ranging from carbon storage to LNG development and renewable energy integration become more data-intensive, it’s evident that decades of seismic and well data must be preserved, accessible, and trusted.

Trudy Curtis, CEO of the PPDM Association, emphasises the importance of long-term stewardship in maintaining the value of energy data. “Without deliberate, intentional and sustained stewardship, these valuable assets are at risk of being lost, degraded, or rendered unusable,” she states.