bp and Shell signed agreement with NOC Libya on separate instances. (image source: NOC Libya)

bp has announced the reopening of its office in Tripoli by the year-end as it plans to resume operations in Libya, and manage projects from the ground 

This development was made official by a memorandum of understanding established at a signing ceremony in London, where the chairman of the National Oil Corporation of Libya, Masoud Suleman acknowleged the renewed partnership with the British oil major. 

The MoU will enable bp to study hydrocarbons potential in not only the Messla and Sarir fields but also in the adjacent areas. 

Suleman assured consistent support and assistance for bp's reestablishment in the region, while calling for cooperation and training technical and leadership staff in Libya’s oil sector. 

Meanwhile, another oil major, Shell, will be doing a comprehensive technical and economic feasibility study to develop the al-Atshan field, and check its hydrocarbons prospects. The agreement with NOC Libya also gives Shell rights to explore other NOC-owned fields that do not involve any third parties. 

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Libya eyes production boost 

Afreximbank remains a longstanding financial partner to Oando PLC. (Image source: Afreximbank)

Oando Oil Limited is now closer to its production goals as African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) completes upsizing its reserve-based lending facility in favour of the oil and gas company for US$375mn

The company’s pay down of the original US$525mn facility, secured in 2019, to US$100mn in 2024 created significant headroom for refinancing and enhancing Oando’s financial flexibility.

Alongside Afreximbank, the upsizing was also supported by Mercuria Asia Resources PTE Limited (Mercuria). This will advance Oando’s strategic capital management, aiding the company's ambition to achieve production of 100,000 barrels of oil per day and 1.5 bn cu/ft of gas per day by the end of 2029, effectively boosting Nigeria’s oil output and reinforcing the country’s position in the global energy market.

The upsizing will also lead to local economic growth by creating jobs, upgrading infrastructure, and fostering technological advancements in the oil and gas sector.

“We are pleased to have completed the upsizing of our RBL facility, a strategic milestone that reinforces our commitment as Operator of the Oando-NEPL JV to maximising the value of our expanded asset portfolio. Our Joint Venture holds extensive reserves with the potential to generate over US$11bn in net cash flows to Oando over the assets’ life. This working capital facility is a critical enabler towards efficiently extracting and monetising these resources. We appreciate the continued partnership of Afreximbank and Mercuria, whose unwavering support underscores their alignment with our long-term focus on maximizing production, optimizing asset performance, and delivering sustainable value to all stakeholders,” said Wale Tinubu, group chief executive, Oando PLC and executive chairman, Oando Energy Resources.

“Afreximbank remains a longstanding financial partner to Oando PLC and its affiliates and has consistently supported the company’s growth and expansion initiatives. We are delighted that Mercuria, one of the world’s largest independent energy and commodities groups and one of our partners, has brought its global expertise and financial backing to the transaction, further strengthening Oando’s ability to execute its production growth strategy,” said Haytham Elmaayergi, executive vice president, Global Trade Bank, Afreximbank, as he stressed on Afreximbank's focus in promoting local content in the region's oil and gas sector. 

The Cabora Bassa Project will be receiving National Project Status (NPS). (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Invictus Energy Limited's Petroleum Production Sharing Agreement (PPSA) for its 80%-owned and operated Cabora Bassa Project in Zimbabwe has been consolidated with the Petroleum Exploration Development and Production Agreement (PEDPA) to ensure long-term results 

This comes following close cooperation with the relevant line ministries to finalise the terms of the PPSA. The consolidation will ensure robust, balanced, and transparent agreement that meets international standards.

The Cabora Bassa Project will be receiving National Project Status (NPS) from the Ministry of Finance, recognising its potential to deliver broad-based economic benefits, attract foreign investment, and create employment. This will unlock for Invictus a suite of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives including duty exemptions, fast-tracked permitting, and streamlined access to key infrastructure and services.

Invictus is progressing the contracting and procurement of long lead items and critical services in preparation for the Musuma-1 exploration well, scheduled to spud in the second half of 2025.

Mthuli Ncube, Zimbabwe's Minister of Finance, said, “The Cabora Bassa Project is a nationally significant development, and we are working closely with Invictus to finalise the PPSA and ensure a transparent, fair and commercially sound agreement. The Government looks forward to the successful formalisation of National Project Status and the long-term benefits the project will bring to Zimbabwe.”

Invictus managing director, Scott Macmillan, said, “We are greatly encouraged by the Government’s continued support and the positive momentum towards finalising the PPSA. The Ministry of Finance’s agreement to provide National Project Status is a key milestone, and we look forward to completing the formalities in due course. We remain on track with preparations for Musuma-1 and are excited about the next phase of activity at Cabora Bassa.”

The initialling marks a significant step forward to securing Block KON4. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Aiming to acquire an operated interest onshore Kwanza basin in Angola, Afentra plc has initialled a risk service contract (RSC) for Block KON4

The initialling marks a significant step forward to securing Block KON4. Under the terms of the proposed KON4 RSC, Afentra will be Operator with a 35% equity interest. The Block offers both short cycle, low-cost production opportunities linked to field redevelopment alongside low-cost near-term exploration potential similar to that being pursued in KON15 and KON19. The contract will now progress through the formal governmental approval process, and the company will provide a further update to the market once the agreement has been fully executed and signed.

Paul McDade, Chief Executive Officer of Afentra plc, said, "The initialling of the KON4 RSC is a significant step in our continued strategy to build a material position in onshore Kwanza basin in Angola. While this marks the beginning of the formal approval process, we are already working closely with our partners in the contractor group to prepare for an efficient review of the block's existing oil fields and the potential for early development opportunities. In addition, we will be bringing our significant experience in the use of eFTG data, which is currently being acquired across the basin, to understand the full exploration potential of KON4 as well as our other licenses KON15 and KON19.

"The addition of the KON4 license to our existing onshore licenses will represent a compelling opportunity to work with local Angolan companies to both revitalise historic oil fields with modern production and development techniques as well as understand the full exploration potential of this underexploited basin where exploration activities stopped over 40 years ago."

Covering 1,387 sq km, Block KON4 has seen the discovery of 11 oil and two gas fields, producing more than 90 mmboe to date. The block features the Quenguela Norte field - the largest onshore discovery to date - estimated to hold over 200 mmbbls of discovered oil in place. The field achieved peak production of 12,000 bopd, with 42 mmbbls recovered before it was eventually shut-in and abandoned in 1999. This represents an opportunity to unlock significant value through the reactivation of legacy oil fields, supported by modern technology and re-development techniques that have advanced considerably since the fields were last in production decades ago. In addition, the Block's proximity to the Luanda refinery and the existing road infrastructure could allow early production and export to the refinery.

KON4 also provides low-cost, near-field exploration opportunities that further enhance Afentra's footprint and strategic optionality in the onshore Kwanza basin. The three blocks together offer a complementary portfolio with exposure to a diverse range of play types - across both post-salt and pre-salt petroleum systems - as well as opportunities to appraise and re-develop multiple discovered but abandoned oil fields.