Africa
Nigeria’s Refining Plans Remain Ambitious
Despite being a significant global crude oil producer with nearly 1.5 million barrels per day, Nigeria has continually relied upon refined fuel from beyond its borders. For many years now, the Nigerian government has faced obstacles such as geopolitical instability, inefficient and moribund facilities, and political corruption as the country attempts to create an export mentality moving forward.
Amazon renewables drive
Amazon the America multinational technology company, most popular as an online retailer, has been in recent years driving to a more sustainable carbon footprint. In 2019 the enterprise-wide carbon footprint from direct and in-direct operational activities was 51.17 MMT CO2e according to the business’s website.
Honeywell UOP to Provide Technology Support in Egypt
Honeywell UOP of the United States announced recently that it has been contracted by Anchorage Investments Ltd. for the provision of its C3 Oleflex™ technology for production of 750,000 tons per year of polymer-grade propylene for the upcoming Anchor Benitoite petrochemicals facility in Suez, Egypt. A contract value was not announced at this time.
Total declares force majeure on Mozambique LNG project
Considering the evolution of the security situation in the north of the Cabo Delgado province in Mozambique, Total confirms the withdrawal of all Mozambique LNG project personnel from the Afungi site. This situation leads Total, as operator of Mozambique LNG project, to declare force majeure
BUA’s 200,000 bpd Nigerian Refinery Looks Towards 2024
The BUA Group of Nigeria and Axens of France recently announced a joint progress acknowledgement statements regarding the proposed BUA refinery to be built in Nigeria’s Akwa Ibom State before 2025. This latest endorsement comes about six months after both companies signed a contract for process technology and complex design.
Nigeria’s Port Harcourt Refinery Rehab Project Picks up Pace
In late March, the Nigerian Federal Executive Council approved approximately $1.5 billion in spending for the rehabilitation and modernization of the Port Harcourt Refinery Complex.
Hydrogen – data telling a story
The Global Energy Infrastructure (GEI) team held a webcast earlier in March which looked at trends in traditional and new energy markets which reveals major trends in global energy markets.
Total Halts Construction at the Mozambique LNG site as Violence Builds Nearby
Total of France stated in late March that it had to postpone new construction work at its LNG project in Mozambique due to a deadly attack in a nearby town. This cessation of activity follows an announcement from Total just a week prior where the Mozambique government had agreed to improved security around the project.
Nigeria’s Duport Modular Refinery Expected by Year’s End
Duport Midstream Company Limited of Lagos announced in late March that its upcoming modular refinery in Nigeria’s Edo State would indeed be ready for commissioning in the fourth quarter of this year. This project is being implemented by Duport alongside the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
What technology is shaping the solar markets?
The Global Energy Infrastructure solar database is dominated by two types of technology: Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Photovoltaic (PV).
Mozambique LNG Project Stays on Track for 2024
Total’s Mozambique LNG project is now expected to progress and be on schedule after the French company has found new security in place from the local government. This 12.88 MMtpy project is back on schedule for a startup in 2024.
Data is king, integration is queen
Harnessing the power of data science and real-time intelligence offers a powerful single view of the market Few people know that data intelligence firm Kpler’s journey actually started in 2014, when the founders were told by an LNG trader: “I receive many proposals for ship-tracking software, but I don’t care about the ships. I care about cargoes into them, their volumes and the commercial information related to them”.
UAE Energy Minister believes oil demand could recover by the end of 2021
According to recent reports, United Arab Emirates Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei has commented on a potentially updated timeline for a return to form for global oil demand. He believes that global demand will make a somewhat optimistic return to pre-pandemic level by the end of 2021 or early 2022.
Mixed messages in Mozambique
Total only has a skeleton staff remaining at its LNG construction site in Afungi after evacuating most workers amid the worsening security situation in the Cabo Delgado province.
Enel and Qatar Investment Authority join forces to develop renewables in Sub-Saharan Africa
Enel Green Power S.p.A. (EGP), signed an agreement with a subsidiary of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) for a joint venture partnership aimed at financing, building and operating renewable projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. The parties also signed an agreement whereby QIA will acquire 50% of EGP’s stake in projects in operation and under construction in South Africa and Zambia with approximately 800 MW capacity
Egypt's export capacity rebound
Eni announced an agreement with its partners for the restart of the LNG plant in Damietta, Egypt. The Italian multinational oil and gas company signed a series of agreements with, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), the Egyptian National Gas Holding Compan..
Technip FMC prepares to start work on the Assiut hydrocracking complex in Egypt
TechnipFMC of London recently announced that it has successfully completed all conditions required for the company to begin work on its Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract with the Assiut National Oil Processing Company (ANOPC)’s new Hydrocracking Complex for the Assiut refinery in Egypt. This EPC contract was signed in July and is considered by Technip to be a major contract worth over $1 billion USD. The exact value was not announced.
Phase One of Nigeria’s Waltersmith Refinery Reaches Commissioning Status This Week
Waltersmith Petroman Oil Ltd of Nigeria recently announced that it will inaugurate phase one of its modular style refinery in Nigeria’s Ibigwe, Imo State this week. Waltersmith announced this on social media for November 24th.
Support for wind's growth
The International Energy Agency (IEA) report, Renewables 2020 released on 10 November 2020, proclaims that renewable power is defying the Covid crisis with record growth this year and next. It goes on to say that renewables will account for almost 90% of the increase in total power capacity worldwide in 2020 and will accelerate in 2021 to their fastest growth in the last six years. Wind and solar additions are set to jump by 30% in both the United States and China as developers rush to take advantage of expiring incentives.
Shell announces plans to reduce its refining portfolio
Royal Dutch Shell recently announced that it plans to reduce its refinery portfolio down to a count of six as the company plans to increase its lower carbon projects and to further support future cash planning. A time frame was not specified but could be completed in the next five years.
ULSFO refinery in Duqm expected to proceed
Canada Business Holdings (CBH) recently announced that the company will go ahead with its plans for an ultra-low sulfur fuel oil (ULSFO) refinery in Oman’s Duqm Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
EGP expands wind portfolio
Enel Green Power (EGP) recently commissioned the final wind turbine at its 148MW Nxuba wind farm in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The 200 million euro, 47-turbine farm was one of the five projects awarded to EGP in the fourth round of the country’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) in 2015.
Nigeria’s Waltersmith modular refinery moves closer to startup
Phase one of the anticipated Waltersmith modular refinery in Nigeria is reportedly imminent, as pre-commissioning has been completed, according to Nigeria’s Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). This facility is in Nigeria’s Ibigwe, Ohayi/Egbema Imo State, and is slated to begin by the end of the year with a capacity for 5,000 barrels per day.
Electricity’s new king will be solar PV
The latest World Energy Outlook published in October from the International Energy Agency (IEA) suggests that solar photovoltaic generation will be the largest source of power by 2040. Unlike other sectors during the Covid-19 pandemic the renewable electricity market has remained buoyant throughout 2020. The IEA suggests that renewables is set for rapid growth. In the Stated Policies Scenario (STEPS), renewables will rise by two-thirds between 2020 to 2030.
How to utilize solar potential
In an age where traditional methods of energy generation, such as burning coal and gas to generate electricity emit greenhouse gases, the energy transition movement has seen the need to investigate alternative or renewable energies. Wind and solar seem to be favored forms of alternative energies to be scaled up first.
Global Project Data update for October 2020
Although the gas processing and LNG industries took a major hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, new project announcements within the sector have increased for two straight months
U.S. modularization—Keep an eye toward the most economical approach
Modularization has been discussed extensively as a means to facilitate the construction of significant projects. Many benefits exist for modularization, including controlled construction and schedule improvement. Due to the controlled environment for module construction, quality is more easily achieved and weather is not an issue. In addition, construction in remote areas (where field labor is a concern) is minimized.
Business Trends: Global LNG projects to compete with pipeline gas
Expanding LNG supply worldwide will continue to dominate the changing landscape of the natural gas industry and gas trade. By 2040, LNG is expected to account for more than 15% of global gas consumption, after overtaking interregional pipeline deliveries in the late 2020s.
Business Trends: Application of blockchain technology in the petrochemical industry
A JV between Equatorial Guinea’s Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons and Marathon Oil plans to build a modular refinery on Bioko Island. In late April, the JV signed a contract to VFuels to conduct a feasibility study for the 5,000-bpd facility. The project involves dismantling a methanol plant and converting it into a refinery. If built, the facility—part of Equatorial Guinea’s Year of Investment 2020 initiative—would provide refined products to satisfy increasing domestic demand.
Offshore wind continues strong growth, bolstered by new floating projects
As spending on renewable energy, particularly offshore wind, accelerates, floating projects will make up a growing share of activity.
