South Sudan Sees $2 Billion in Oil Investments as Just the Start

South Sudan Sees $2 Billion in Oil Investments as Just the Start

SOUTH SUDAN (Capital Markets in Africa) – Recent pledges of $2 billion in investment for South Sudan’s oil may be just the start, with the war-torn nation expecting further agreements in early 2019, its petroleum minister said. Ezekiel Lul Gatkuoth’s prediction comes as the African nation’s warring sides prepare to form a power-sharing government in the latest bid to end five years of conflict. The country, home to sub-Saharan Africa’s third-largest crude reserves, is banking…

Read More

Oil Traders Buy Fast, Sell Fast in World’s Newest Futures Market

Oil Traders Buy Fast, Sell Fast in World’s Newest Futures Market

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Less than two months since trading started, China’s oil futures are proving a hit, but it seems mainly with short-term speculators. So short-term, in fact, that they’re holding contracts on average for an estimated two hours. That compares with more than 60 hours for London’s Brent crude and 47 hours for West Texas Intermediate in New York, the global benchmarks that China hopes the Shanghai futures will one day rival. It’s a pattern that’s repeated…

Read More

Oil Trades Near Three-Year High as OPEC Members Reassure on Cuts

Oil Trades Near Three-Year High as OPEC Members Reassure on Cuts

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Oil traded near the highest close in more than three years as Iraq echoed a call by the United Arab Emirates and other producers for OPEC-led output cuts to continue, despite recent price gains. Futures were little changed in New York after rising 4.7 percent last week. The production curbs have contributed to stability in the market and should remain, Iraqi Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luaibi said Saturday. Yet Brent crude at $70 a…

Read More

Politics Trumps Oil Recovery: A Guide to Mideast Markets in 2018

Politics Trumps Oil Recovery: A Guide to Mideast Markets in 2018

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – For as long as Gulf economies rely on oil, crude will be a factor in determining how investors trade regional markets. But right now, politics is king. In the past 12 months, tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran escalated, ties between Qatar and its neighbours were severed, rebels in Yemen fired rockets over Riyadh and Saudi Arabia started a crackdown on corruption that led to the arrest of high-profile…

Read More

Egypt Qalaa’s $3.7 Billion Oil Refinery to Start Up in September

Egypt Qalaa’s $3.7 Billion Oil Refinery to Start Up in September

CAIRO (Capital Markets in Africa) – Egyptian Refining Co.’s new $3.7 billion processing plant will begin operations in September and save the government some $300 million a year by reducing the country’s reliance on imported fuel, its chairman said. Ahmed Heikal, who is also chairman of investment company Qalaa Holding, a 19 percent shareholder in the project, said construction of the refinery will be completed in June, with operations to begin in September. The Cairo…

Read More

Tullow Rises After Boosting Output Forecast on Africa Fields

Tullow Rises After Boosting Output Forecast on Africa Fields

ACCRA (Capital markets in Africa) Tullow Oil Plc jumped to a five-month high in London trading after raising its oil-production forecast for the year. The company expects net production of 85,000 to 89,000 barrels a day from its West African operations, up from 78,000 to 85,000 barrels a day, according to a statement. Performance from the Jubilee and Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme fields off Ghana has been “strong,” it said. It raised its free-cash-flow estimate to about…

Read More

Africa Drilling Lacking Despite Cheap Rigs, Higher Oil Price

Africa Drilling Lacking Despite Cheap Rigs, Higher Oil Price

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – A recovery in oil and gas exploration in Africa is yet to happen, despite the best efforts of producing nations to raise prices. Only a dozen rigs were operational in African waters on average over the last year as saving cash remained a priority even for prolific explorers such as Italy’s Eni SpA. The rate of drilling this year is barely a 10th of the activity before the price…

Read More
1 2 3 6