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Uganda Partners With Alpha Mbm Investments On Oil Refinery

oil-gas

Apr 01, 2025

EnergyCapitalPower

EnergyCapitalPower

State-owned Uganda National Oil Corporation (UNOC) has concluded a partnership agreement with private investment firm Alpha MBM Investments for the development of an oil refinery in Uganda. Initially signed in December 2023, the agreement conclusion paves the way for the construction of the $4 billion facility.

The companies will now proceed to sign the requisite commercial agreements, including the Host Government Agreement (HGA), Crude Suppliers Agreement (CSA) and Shareholders Agreement. While the HGA will outline key commitments and obligations of the state and its partners, the CSA will determine feedstock of 60,000 barrels per day for the facility. Thereafter, a final investment decision will be made, with the facility financed through a combination of debt (60%) and equity (40%).

“We are pleased to have a partner with financial strength and a solid reputation. Work will commence immediately after negotiations to recover the lost time,” stated Ruth Nankabirwa, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Uganda.

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Argentina Starts Gas Exports To Brazil Through Bolivia

Gas Processing and LNG

Argentina Starts Gas Exports To Brazil Through BoliviaArgentina has for the first time exported gas from its Vaca Muerta shale formation to Brazil using a set of Bolivian pipelines, in a deal between TotalEnergies, Bolivia's YPFB and Matrix Energia, the Brazilian company said. Companies from Bolivia, Argentina and Brazil have negotiated deals for over a year, trying to secure a long-term route for Argentina's gas to reach one of Latin America's most important gas markets, Brazil. Some 500,000 cubic meters were exported through the Bolivian pipeline on Tuesday, sources familiar with the matter said. "The objective of the unprecedented operation is to ensure the technical viability of the logistics network," Matrix said in a statement. Contracts were signed between Total's Argentina unit and Matrix, and between Bolivia's state-run YPFB and Matrix for a tripartite operational agreement. A major hurdle was Bolivia's initial reluctance to charge a tolling fee for the use of its infrastructure, preferring a solution that would see it buy gas from Argentina and then resell to Brazil. But negotiations improved in recent months, with several possible supply contracts identified, sources told Reuters. The pipeline has for years carried key supplies of Bolivian gas to both Brazil and Argentina, but as Bolivia's own gas output dwindles, volumes exported have declined, creating the need for new suppliers and transportation solutions. The arrival of Vaca Muerta gas in Brazil is a win for Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has put providing cheaper gas to the country's industry as a priority. If exports are sustained, they would also represent a triumph for Argentina, whose gas output is growing under President Javier Milei's market-friendly policies, opening a new source of revenue for the country, which until recently had a deficit in its energy trade balance. The agreement includes a spot contract, so supply to Brazil can be interrupted during winter when demand in Argentina is higher, one of the sources told Reuters. Bolivia's YPFB did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Brazil's oil giant Petrobras PETR4.SA, another possible buyer of the gas from Vaca Muerta, is seeking contracts to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) in coming years while negotiating supplies via pipeline from Argentina, a company executive said last month. "I think that there is a real possibility to make some deal," said Mauricio Tolmasquim, Petrobras' former chief of energy transition, referring to talks to receive Argentine gas through Bolivia. "We are talking about what price we need that can be accepted by most parties," he added.

Oman’S Oil Sector Received $12Bn Investment In 2024

ARABIAN GULF BUSINESS INSIGHT

Oman’S Oil Sector Received $12Bn Investment In 2024Oman says nearly RO5 billion ($12 billion) was pumped into its hydrocarbon sector last year as it pushed ahead with plans to expand production capacity and boost reserves. By the end of 2024, cumulative investment in the sultanate’s hydrocarbon industry totalled around RO24 billion ($62 billion), up from RO19 ($50 billion) at the end of 2023, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information. A large part of the investments were channelled by foreign oil companies with interests in Oman including British Petroleum, Shell and Italy’s ENI. Shell has a 34 percent stake in Petroleum Development Oman, alongside TotalEnergies, which has 4 percent. BP has had a presence in the sultanate since 2007. It operates the Khazzan tight gas project and in 2023 signed an agreement to develop a green hydrogen project in Al-Wusta province. Last week, the ministry of energy and minerals offered further concessions in Block 18 in the Sea of Oman, Block 36, Block 43 and Block 66 onshore, according to the director general of investment. Oman produced nearly 992,000 barrels per day in 2024. It controls around 5.2 billion barrels of proven oil deposits and 25 trillion cubic feet of gas.

Uganda Partners With Alpha Mbm Investments On Oil Refinery

EnergyCapitalPower

Uganda Partners With Alpha Mbm Investments On Oil RefineryState-owned Uganda National Oil Corporation (UNOC) has concluded a partnership agreement with private investment firm Alpha MBM Investments for the development of an oil refinery in Uganda. Initially signed in December 2023, the agreement conclusion paves the way for the construction of the $4 billion facility. The companies will now proceed to sign the requisite commercial agreements, including the Host Government Agreement (HGA), Crude Suppliers Agreement (CSA) and Shareholders Agreement. While the HGA will outline key commitments and obligations of the state and its partners, the CSA will determine feedstock of 60,000 barrels per day for the facility. Thereafter, a final investment decision will be made, with the facility financed through a combination of debt (60%) and equity (40%). “We are pleased to have a partner with financial strength and a solid reputation. Work will commence immediately after negotiations to recover the lost time,” stated Ruth Nankabirwa, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Uganda.

Fluxys Begins Building Belgium'S First Hydrogen Pipeline Network

Pipeline Technology Journal

Fluxys Begins Building Belgium'S First Hydrogen Pipeline NetworkFluxys has begun construction on the first phase of its hydrogen transport network in Belgium, focusing initially on pipelines in the port areas of Antwerp and Ghent. The project, announced Friday, marks a step toward developing a national open-access hydrogen infrastructure, as mandated by the company in its role as the designated hydrogen network operator. The Belgian federal government is providing financial support through the European Union’s Resilience and Recovery Fund. The start of construction followed consultations with authorities, regulators and industry stakeholders. Fluxys hydrogen NV, a subsidiary created in 2023, was officially appointed in April 2024 to develop and manage the open-access network. The company said the decision reflects a cautious approach to investment risk in the nascent hydrogen market. The first phase includes pipeline installation between the ports of Antwerp and Ghent, specifically along the Kallo to Zelzate segment. The pipelines are being built with multi-purpose technology, similar to recent gas pipeline projects, to allow flexibility for future energy vectors. The hydrogen network will be deployed in phases starting in 2026, based on market demand and economic conditions, with the entire infrastructure adhering to open access principles, allowing hydrogen producers and consumers to connect under Belgian regulatory frameworks. The frameworks aim to support the development of a hydrogen economy while managing initial investment risks. Public support mechanisms are expected to balance industrial development and economic viability.

Congo Eyes Agriculture Growth Through Gas-To-Power Projects

EnergyCapitalPower

Congo Eyes Agriculture Growth Through Gas-To-Power ProjectsWith a pipeline of natural gas projects coming online this year, the Republic of Congo has outlined ambitious plans to leverage its endowment of hydrocarbons to support development of the agriculture sector. As such, the introduction of emerging technologies and the deployment of gas-to-power projects in Congo is setting a strong benchmark for economic diversification and socioeconomic development in the country. Gas-to-Power to Drive Development Set to address the country’s electrification challenges, Turkish power producer Aksa Enerji recently announced the first 25 MW turbine of the Djeno Power Plant is scheduled to commence operations in March 2025. The plant has a current installed capacity of 50 MW, comprising two combined-cycle combustion turbines of 25 MW each. With the first turbined scheduled for commissioning this month, the second is undergoing maintenance and is expected to be operational by Q3, 2025. Congo is home to an estimated 10 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, primarily located in offshore fields such as Litchendjili, Néné, Minsala and Nkala, within the Marine XII license. To harness these resources, the Congolese government has implemented a series of initiatives and incentives to define a natural gas strategy that promotes development across all sectors of the economy. Supporting the Agriculture Sector Speaking in his state of the nation address to parliament in November 2024, Congo’s President Denis Sassou Nguesso announced the country is looking at boosting production of fertilizer across the country to support agricultural activities. During his address, the president explained that the country’s fertile soil, young workforce and significant gas reserves have the potential to support agriculture and diversify its economy. With a ramp up of natural gas exploration and production activities in 2025 and beyond, the Congolese government has indicated a commitment to leveraging income from the sale of LNG to support agriculture initiatives across the country. Congo exported its inaugural shipment of LNG to Italy in February 2024. The cargo was exported from the Tango FLNG facility – operated by energy major Eni. A Front Runner in Sustainable Gas Production On the back of a major gas monetization drive, Congo is expected to produce 3 million tons of gas this year. As such, dynamic opportunities in gas processing and refining present lucrative investment opportunities for international players. With significant untapped gas reserves and a pressing need for reliable power, Congo is set to launch its Gas Mater Plan imminently. The plan aims to advance the country’s gas monetization agenda by catalyzing new infrastructure development, including gas pipelines, processing facilities and gas-to-power plants. The plan also seeks to reduce energy imports and raise electricity access, currently at 50%.

Sinopec Announces Major Shale Oil Discovery In Eastern China

Sinopec Announces Major Shale Oil Discovery In Eastern ChinaChina Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) announced the discovery of over 140 million tonnes (MMt) of proven geological reserves of shale oil with technically recoverable reserves of 11.3599 MMt at its Shengli Oilfield's Jiyang shale oil national demonstration zone in East China's Shandong province on March 24, 2025. This is the first shale oil field with proven geological reserves of over 100 MMt that has been certificated by China's Ministry of Natural Resources. Shengli Oilfield has developed advanced automated drilling equipment that extracts efficiently, and explored horizontal well optimization and fast drilling technology, and dense cutting combined seam network volume fracturing technology. The average drilling cycle has been reduced from 133 days to 29.5 days, and the drilling cycle of 6,000-meter wells has reached 17.7 days, and the single well production capacity has continued to set new records. "Through 150,000 times of indoor experiments, we developed the theory of shale oil enrichment in continental fault lake basins, reshaping the traditional common understanding that shale oil can only be enriched and mobilized when its maturity is higher than 0.9%," shared Liu Huimin, Vice President and Chief Geologist of Sinopec Shengli Oilfield Branch. "With the support of this theory, the amount of shale oil resources in Jiyang has tripled after re-evaluation." Shengli Oilfield has tackled challenges of high temperature, pressure, and leakage in shale oil development. By advancing reserve-fracture-pressure theories, developing full-cycle 3D technologies, and building an integrated geological engineering platform, it expanded shale oil development from three to seven layers, addressing extraction efficiency and maximizing resource recovery. Sun Yongzhuang, Assistant to President of Sinopec Group and Managing Director of Shengli Petroleum Administration Bureau Co., said estimated shale oil resources in Shengli Oilfield have reached 10.5 billion tonnes, equivalent to the conventional oil and gas resources recovered during the past 60 years in China. "After more than 10 years of continuous research and innovative breakthroughs, Shengli Oilfield is expected to add 80 million tonnes of proven reserves this year through the integrated promotion of exploration and development," Mr. Sun said. Jia Chengzao, an Academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and an expert in petroleum and structural geology, said shale oil is a key resource for boosting and stabilizing domestic crude oil production, commenting, "Proven reserves are the core indicator supporting current production. In January, the Ministry of Natural Resources issued specifications for estimating oil reserves in shale formations, marking a new stage of normalization and standardization in China's shale oil resource management."