When we talk about energy transition, what we are really talking about is a shift from a central energy supply (largely from fossil fuels), to a decentralised distributed model underpinned by technology. We are talking about a shift to digital and smart technologies.
Today we have the luxury of choosing between several direct and indirect viable energy sources. Renewables and gas are two of these, and of course historically coal has been the dominant force. The decisive question we always face is “what is the optimal energy mix”?
Today we have the luxury of choosing between several direct and indirect viable energy sources. Renewables and gas are two of these, and of course historically coal has been the dominant force. The decisive question we always face is “what is the optimal energy mix”?
It is hard to deny that increasing diversity in the public and private sector is one of today’s central initiatives for corporate improvement and better business outputs.
Until we can make it easier for investors and local companies to play a more prominent part of Africa’s development story then the same old challenges and barriers to growth that we see today will exist long after even the natural resources are gone.
North and East Africa will represent the main opportunities for growth within the industry and the continent and Egypt will certainly be at the forefront of this wave of opportunities.
Following some exciting world-class discoveries, the oil and gas industry’s eyes were all on the MSGBC Basin. Soaring to the top of the list as Africa’s most exciting new E&P hotspot, the basin was the new “cool kid on the block”. However, this excitement has recently been dampened by some disappointing results…here’s why you might want to hold back that judgement for now, and why the MSGBC Basin should still be on your radar in 2018.
In 2017 we saw a continuation of the upturn in upstream M&A which began in late 2016. The oil & gas industry has been through a sustained period of focus on cost cutting but, as the oil price stabilises, many players are now seeing an opportunity to refocus on growth.
Algeria and Libya are two of the world’s most important petroleum-producing countries. The two countries share a similar economic structure although Algeria has a more diversified G.D.P. composition than Libya has. Algeria has a preponderant role as a natural gas exporter, while Libya has an analogous role in relation to crude oil. However, similarly to many other hydrocarbons producers, Algeria and Libya are having some difficulties in attracting foreign investors at a time when these two countries need state-of-the-art petroleum technology and financial resources to develop their petroleum assets.
Pinsent Masons has been active in Africa since the early 1990s when we exported the private financing model to South Africa, culminating in the development of the Gautrain. Since then, the firm has provided an entire project lifecycle service, supporting those who have an economic interest in Africa’s major energy, natural resources and infrastructure assets, and are proud to have used our legal expertise to help facilitate the financing and growth of vital energy infrastructure on the continent, and to have provided strategic advice and representation to market participants.
According to BP Statistical Review 2007, at the end of 2016 South Sudan had 3.5 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves, i.e., 0.2% of the world’s proven crude oil reserves. However, South Sudan, which got its independence from Sudan in July 2011, because of several problems, such as the lack of independent export routes, border disputes with Sudan, and since December 2013 an ongoing civil war, has not been able until now to consistently develop its oil industry; on the contrary, its oil production is currently declining.
The top headlines from May 2018 from the Latin America Clean Energy sector
