Read the Digital Magazine

Technology group Wartsila has concluded an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC), along with a five-year-long operation and maintenance (O&M) agreement with Elektron Energy-affiliate Victoria Island Power Ltd for the installation of a power generation equipment for a new 30 MW power plant being set up on Victoria Island in Lagos

The equipment will enhance the availability and reliability of power supply from the natural gas-run power plant.

“Elektron has conceptualised, developed, and funded the IPP and has secured the implementation by engaging  Wartsila to assume single point responsibility for the major construction and operational aspects related to the eventual power generation facility. This pioneering project relies on reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE) technology that has the efficiency and flexibility to deliver clean and reliable electricity to our customers,” said Deen Solebo, co-CEO and CFO at Elektron Energy.

“ Wartsila’s core competence in the engine power plant and services aspects represents a unique combination of a global company with a local presence that provides developers and financiers the comfort to invest and gives end-customers the confidence to sign up for PPA’s with medium to long-term tenures. The  Wartsila solution is extensively adopted by industrial, utility and IPP customers worldwide and the excellent credentials and track record have been recognised as a great value proposition by lenders, insurance companies, and multi-lateral funding institutions,” said Marc Thiriet, energy business director, Africa at  Wartsila Energy.

“Elektron is especially grateful to the invaluable contributions of its institutional investors and funding partners who have made this project possible including ARM Harith Infrastructure Fund LP, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, InfraCredit, Bank of Industry, FBN Quest, and Stanbic Infrastructure Partners,” Deen added.

The facility will comprise three Wartsila 34SG gas engine-generator sets with related auxiliaries and is configured to accommodate an extension with one additional engine-generator set at a later stage. The Wärtsilä modular power plant design concept enables this in a cost-effective manner with minimal disruption to ongoing operations.

With two new sandstone leads identified from petroleum exploration licence (PEL) 94 in Block 2011A offshore Namibia following an independent geoscience evaluation, Geo Exploration Limited has confirmed a materially de‑risked resource base  

The sandstone leads are Emerald (in the Albian) and Beryl (in the Cenomanian), which has a combined value of 792 MMbbl of unrisked gross mean prospective resources, with 726 MMbbl attributable to Emerald and 66 MMbbl to Beryl. 

Geo Exploration, which holds a 78% working interest in PEL94, is anticipating an yield of approximately 4.31 billion barrels.

Seismic mapping has delineated robust, dip and fault‑bounded structural closures. The seismic data interpretation has also highlighted direct hydrocarbon indicators in the area—including gas
chimneys and flat spots—providing strong evidence for an active petroleum system, migration of hydrocarbons throughout the section and therefore increasing the chance that the leads are charged with oil. The water depth is c.750 m at the location of the leads identified. 

The promising seismic results have encouraged the company to move ahead with potential farm-out agreements.

Omar Ahmad, chief executive officer of Geo Exploration, said, "Before commenting on these exciting results, I would first like to congratulate Her Excellency Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on her appointment as President of Namibia and Victoria Sibeya on her appointment as Acting Managing Director of the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR). I would like to thank Petroleum Commissioner Maggy Shino, the Namibia Ministry of Mines and Energy and our partners for their continued support to Geo.

Today's resource upgrade underscores the tremendous potential we see in PEL 94 and the strong conviction we have in our Namibian licence. Our technical team has done a terrific job delivering
new, material leads on the eastern side of the block. With excitement building across Namibia—and particularly in the Walvis Basin—we are actively progressing farm-out discussions to secure the best outcome for our shareholders"

Two exploration wells on Block 2914 that fall under the purview of Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) 85 offshore Namibia have now been delivered by Rhino Resources and Halliburton

Orchestrated from Halliburton's new operational bases in Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Luderitz, the operation was made possible with world-class technology and local collaboration.

Antoine Berel, vice president, Halliburton sub-Saharan Africa, said, "This success is an example of what’s possible when world-class technology, local collaboration, and a shared long-term vision come together. Our newly established infrastructure across Namibia enabled this discovery, which will help unlock Namibia’s energy potential and build the capacity to support the country’s future as an energy hub in Africa."

As Namibia attracts international interest in its offshore basins, the success of this campaign sets a new standard for energy development in the region.

“At the onset of the drilling campaign, we communicated to our partners that Rhino’s exploration efforts in Namibia should simultaneously prove geological potential and deliver long-term benefits for the country. The discoveries on Block 2914 are a promising start to this journey, which will contribute to the foundation we are laying for Namibia’s burgeoning oil and gas industry — one built on knowledge and skills transfer, local capacity building and the upliftment of young Namibians,” said Travis Smithard, CEO of Rhino Resources.

The Rhino-Halliburton Technology Centre at the University of Namibia (UNAM) Southern Campus came into being in October last year to advance geoscience education and research nationwide.

Advancing the modernisation of its Secunda power plant in Mpumalanga, Sasol has ensured enhanced reliability of power supply to the national grid

The energy and chemical company had employed manufacturing firm, GE Vernova, to replace the existing pre-combustor system with a new DLN1+ combustor supplemented by the Fuel Gas Module (FGM) skid. This gave a boost to operational efficiency of the two installed 9E gas turbines, while also reducing carbon emissions. Each gas turbine has been emitting approximately 10,000 metric tons less CO₂ since the replacement.

The new combustor has reduced NOx emissions by three quarters from previous levels. 

The DLN technology has markedly reduced water consumption. 

The modernised plant requires comparatively lesser maintenance, reducing downtime and operational costs.

"This project exemplifies our purpose to electrify the world," said Joseph Anis, president and CEO of GE Vernova's Gas Power business in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. "Building on our advanced combustion technologies, we are helping Sasol address South Africa’s energy needs more efficiently. Together, we are demonstrating how advanced technologies can deliver tangible benefits for both businesses and communities."

African Export-Import Bank has released a US$3bn revolving credit line to simplify the sourcing of petrol, diesel, jet fuel and other products from African refineries

Besides providing a safeguard against current geoplitical tensions and tariff uncertainties, the move will expectedly bring some relief for the African and Caribbean buyers as it takes the pressure off of nearly a US$30bn fuel import bill that the region has to bear annually. 

The bank believes that the aid might give the facility the much needed push to generate around US$10-14bn of trade finance over the initial three years. 

This comes as part of the Revolving Intra-African Oil Import Financing Programme.

Key refining hub

In a bid to boost regional processing capacity, Afreximbank has also been the largest financier of Nigeria’s 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote refinery. It has contributed to the revamping of Nigeria's Port Harcourt oil complex as well. Also arranging funding for plants in Angola and Ivory Coast, Afreximbank's support could add around 1.3  mn  bpd of refining capacity.

"The programme will galvanise efforts towards making the Gulf of Guinea a key refining hub," Afreximbank President Benedict Oramah said in a statement on Monday.

According to Reuters, Afreximbank will also be a controlling shareholder of Atmin, a new trading house set up by former Shell oil traders to focus on African oil trading. 

Recently, Iran has expressed keenness in exporting petrochemicals to AfricaIran has expressed keenness in exporting petrochemicals to Africa with an aim to strengthen strategic partnership between the two countries given the current shifts in global power dynamics.

Africa has been paying a hefty price for a long time now as it lacks the right infrastructure to advance the practice of gas flaring 

During a session at Invest in African Energy 2025 titled 'Flare Gas Utilisation: The Importance of Mid-Scale Integrated Gas Commercialisation Solutions', Nmesoma Okereke, sales manager and flare gas recovery specialist at Neuman & Esser, emphasised on addressing the challenge with scalable gas monetisation strategies.

“The most important reason for gas flaring is a lack of infrastructure, but also cost inefficiencies,” said Okereke. “In the past, it was more economically feasible to flare gas than develop or commercialize the gas. That is no longer the case with the rise of innovative gas solutions.”

Three of the world’s top nine gas-flaring countries are in Africa, said Okereke, collectively responsible for an estimated 60% of the continent’s gas flaring. Nigeria alone flared roughly 193 bn cu/ft of gas in 2024, while producing 2.5 trillion cu/ft of gas. Leveraging that wasted gas can generate as much as US$1bn, making a huge difference in a country where around 40% of the population is yet to experience the benefits of electricity.

Nigeria’s case study illustrates the dual challenge of wasted resources and unmet energy demand. According to Okereke, Nigeria needs five times its current domestic gas supply to reach its goal of 30 GW of power by 2030.

With flaring becoming less economically justifiable due to emerging technologies and modular gas utilisation options, Okereke emphasised the need to shift toward mid-scale integrated solutions that can bridge the infrastructure gap and bring gas to market more quickly and efficiently.