General Electric (GE) and Symbion Power Tanzania have signed a cooperation agreement to develop a 400 MW gas-fired power plant in the Mtwara region of south western Tanzania to boost electricity generation in the country. The project is expected to commence early next year.
The signing ceremony was held in Dar es Salaam between GE's vice-chairman John Rice and Symbion Power Tanzania's general manager Don Brindle, and witnessed by Energy and Minerals Minister Prof Sospeter Muhongo.
The project will be sited in the gas-rich region near Mtwara, the region’s capital city. It will also include a transmission line from Mtwara to Songea where it will be connected to the national grid.
Monday, 1 July 2013
Monday, 24 June 2013
Renamo threatens to disrupt Mozambican coal railway line
Speaking to reporters on
19 June, Mozambique's opposition party – the National Resistance Movement
(Resistência Nacional Moçambicana: Renamo) – has threatened to paralyse the
movement of trains of the railway between Beira-Moatize and Beira-Morromeu. The
Sena rail line, which incorporates the Moatize mining area, is a key transport
route for transporting coal to Beira, while Morromeu is a sugar-producing area.
It was also suggested that Renamo would block traffic on the EN1 main highway
that connects southern and northern Mozambique, following claims by Renamo that
the government uses vehicles to transport weaponry and soldiers in plain
clothes.
Renamo's threats come at a time of increased tensions with the government after party leader Afonso Dhlakama retreated to a bush base in the Gorongosa area with some ex-combatants in October 2012 and warned of the potential for fresh violence. The party's grievances span a range of issues, including electoral reform ahead of municipal elections in November 2013 and general elections in 2014.
The
latest threats may be a means of attempting to add pressure to their demands.
However, with limited progress likely in successive rounds of talks, this
elevates the risk of Renamo elements attempting to carry out the party's threat
against infrastructure targets that could cause operational disruption for
mining and exporting activities such as coal.
Tuesday, 18 June 2013
Seychelles opens up to oil explorers
The Seychelles have invited oil and gas companies to bid for exploration blocks, ending a two-year moratorium and introducing new rules for bidders after completing a review of laws regulating the sector.
East Africa has become a focus for exploration after oil discoveries in Uganda and Kenya as well as natural gas finds in Tanzania and Mozambique.
The Indian Ocean islands are attracting interest but had put off licensing more blocks until it reviewed its laws. Seychelles does not have a fixed number of exploration areas, but companies can bid for areas of up to 10 000 square km each out of its 1,3 million km2 exclusive economic zone.
In March, PetroSeychelles said companies had approached it for areas but could not place bids before the new legislation was in place. Under the new licensing regulation, exploration companies will be required to pay 10% of petroleum revenues as a royalty, up from a previous 5%.
Nile dam raises tensions between Egypt, Ethiopia
Tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia are rising after Ethiopia began diverting the water of a Nile River tributary to build the continent's biggest hydroelectric power plant. Despite criticism from Egypt, Ethiopia says construction of the dam will proceed.
Ethiopia summoned the Egyptian ambassador to demand an explanation after Egyptian politicians were overheard on a live broadcast discussing ways to sabotage the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, after Ethiopia started diverting a part of the Blue Nile for the construction of the US4.7-billion dollar dam.
Scheduled for completion in 2017, the dam will transform Ethiopia into Africa's biggest power producer. While the construction started almost two years ago, it was not until the diversion that tension between Egypt and Ethiopia broke into public view. The government in Cairo said it has not approved the building of the dam, and vowed to prevent the dam from reducing Egypt's water supply.
Scheduled for completion in 2017, the dam will transform Ethiopia into Africa's biggest power producer. While the construction started almost two years ago, it was not until the diversion that tension between Egypt and Ethiopia broke into public view. The government in Cairo said it has not approved the building of the dam, and vowed to prevent the dam from reducing Egypt's water supply.
Ethiopia summoned the Egyptian ambassador to demand an explanation after Egyptian politicians were overheard on a live broadcast discussing ways to sabotage the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, after Ethiopia started diverting a part of the Blue Nile for the construction of the US4.7-billion dollar dam.
Scheduled for completion in 2017, the dam will transform Ethiopia into Africa's biggest power producer. While the construction started almost two years ago, it was not until the diversion that tension between Egypt and Ethiopia broke into public view. The government in Cairo said it has not approved the building of the dam, and vowed to prevent the dam from reducing Egypt's water supply.
Scheduled for completion in 2017, the dam will transform Ethiopia into Africa's biggest power producer. While the construction started almost two years ago, it was not until the diversion that tension between Egypt and Ethiopia broke into public view. The government in Cairo said it has not approved the building of the dam, and vowed to prevent the dam from reducing Egypt's water supply.
Saturday, 15 June 2013
Industry Conferences, Summits, Conventions 2013
The following are 2 exciting events in the oil, gas scene in Eastern Africa and beyond.
The East African Oil & Gas Infrastructure Security Summit
25th – 26th June 2013
25th – 26th June 2013
Nairobi, Kenya
http://www.ogis-eafrica.com/
http://www.ogis-eafrica.com/
Email: info@hansonwade.com,
The Africa & Middle East Oil & Gas Summit 2013
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