OPEC, Allies Are Said to Mull New Ways to Measure Oil Stockpiles

OPEC, Allies Are Said to Mull New Ways to Measure Oil Stockpiles

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) OPEC and allied oil producers including Russia are discussing new ways of measuring global crude stockpiles, signalling a possible decision that could affect production cuts they’re making to ease a global glut. The oil market should re-balance in the second quarter due to improved compliance by producers with their pledged cuts and to summer demand for crude and refined products, according to people with knowledge of talks between OPEC and…

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Threat of Cobalt Shock Is a Top Risk for Electric Vehicles

Threat of Cobalt Shock Is a Top Risk for Electric Vehicles

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – A burgeoning risk of a supply crunch in cobalt — a key battery metal that’s more than tripled in price in two years — poses one of the biggest threats to forecasts for rising electric vehicle adoption. Major investment in mines is required to avoid price spikes that could see cost reductions for lithium-ion batteries stall, Bloomberg New Energy Finance analysts said Monday in a report. Shortages of cobalt are likely earlier than…

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Libya’s Oil Output Is Said to Wilt as Hot Weather Halts Turbines

Libya’s Oil Output Is Said to Wilt as Hot Weather Halts Turbines

TRIPOLI (Capital Markets in Africa) – Libya’s crude production tumbled by at least 120,000 barrels a day after some oil-field equipment stopped operating due to hot weather, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. Output at the Libyan Arabian Gulf Oil Co., known as Agoco, dropped to about 145,000 barrels a day on Tuesday from about 260,000, the person said, asking not to be identified for lack of authority to speak to…

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MTN Is Said to Start $754 Million Ghana Unit IPO Next Week

MTN Is Said to Start $754 Million Ghana Unit IPO Next Week

ACCRA (Capital Markets in Africa) – MTN Group Ltd. will start selling more than a third of its Ghanaian unit for $754 million next week in an initial public offering that will be 10 times larger than the West African nation’s previous biggest-ever share sale, according to a person familiar with the matter. The offer to raise 3.48 billion cedis of stock will start May 29 and close at the end of July, said the person, asking not…

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Mozambique Backs Constitution Changes That May Boost Peace Deal

Mozambique Backs Constitution Changes That May Boost Peace Deal

MAPUTO (Capital Markets in Africa) – Mozambican lawmakers approved constitutional changes that give political parties more power in the provinces, a step that may support a peace deal cast into doubt by the death of the main opposition leader. President Filipe Nyusi signed an open-ended truce in 2016 with the Mozambican National Resistance, or Renamo, whose leader, Afonso Dhlakama, died on May 3. Renamo’s armed wing fought the government in a 16-year civil war that claimed as many…

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Carmakers in Battle With South Africa Over Support Plan

Carmakers in Battle With South Africa Over Support Plan

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa is proposing automakers including Toyota Motor Corp., Ford Motor Co. and BMW AG more than double production in return for tax breaks so generous that the companies can ship the cars all the way to Europe. The auto industry accounts for about 7 percent of South Africa’s gross domestic product and has been one of the few highlights of a period of sluggish economic growth, according to the National…

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Burundi Voters Back Longer Presidential Terms in Referendum

Burundi Voters Back Longer Presidential Terms in Referendum

BUJUMBURA (Capital Markets in Africa) –  Burundian voters backed sweeping constitutional changes including extending presidential terms to seven years, setting the stage for Pierre Nkurunziza to continue ruling the East African country until 2034. The proposed changes were backed by 73.3 percent of people who cast a vote in the May 17 referendum, the head of the electoral committee, Pierre Claver Ndayicariye, told a briefing Monday in the capital, Bujumbura. About 19.3 percent voted “no,” while…

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