Page 18 - AfrOil Week 11 2023

AfrOil NEWS IN BRIEF AfrOil

They further proposed setting up a committee drilling programme to expand gas production
comprising industry players, critical stakehold- at the Lesedi project. Gas flows from Lesedi 6
ers, and civil society to work out measures to are planned to be converted to electricity for the
cushion the adverse effect of the fuel subsidy existing 10-MW Power Purchase Agreement
policy on the general population. (PPA) with Botswana Power Corp. (BPC) once
The stakeholders also urged Tinubu to the transmission line, substations and associated
appoint someone with experience in the oil electrical infrastructure are in place.
industry to take the reins of his petroleum Transmission line and substations: The
ministry. Transmission line for grid connection from the
In his campaign manifesto, Tinubu pledged Lesedi project to BPC’s Serowe substation is
to remove the fuel subsidies immediately after steadily progressing and is approximately 60%
taking office, arguing that the funds should be complete with anticipated completion towards
directed towards infrastructural, agricultural the middle of the year. Stringing of the power
and social welfare programmes, with the aim of poles has already commenced and work is con-
easing the burden of rising inflation. tinuing in relation to the substations at either end
bna/IntelliNews, 15 March 2023 of the transmission line.
Tlou Energy, 15 March 2023
Gabon signs agreements Wildcat Petroleum signs
worth $347mn to stabilise Dolphin Drilling secured a Letter of Award letter of intent re drilling
(LOA) for the rig.
fuel prices at filling stations the backlog by a minimum of 120 and up to 485
The new contract has the potential to extend
Gabon has signed two agreements worth around days, in addition to the existing GHL backlog. equipment
$347mn to stabilise fuel prices at filling stations. The effective dayrate associated with the min- Wildcat Petroleum has announced that it has, via
The deals were signed by the Ministry of imum firm period of the contract is $325,000, a Letter of Intent and subject to due diligence and
Hydrocarbons, the state-run Societe Gabonaise including the mobilisation fee. final agreement, signalled its intent to purchase
De Raffinage Sa (Sogara) and the Grouping of “The final award of the contract for Blackford for a nominal fee, drilling equipment, supplies
Professional Petroleum Marketers. The agree- Dolphin shows the opportunities in Nigeria at and drill pipe from New Age (African Global
ments aim to ensure that the prices of premium, a strong dayrate, in addition to building on the Energy).
diesel and kerosene at pumping stations remain backlog for the rig. It also underlines the attrac- The deal will cover the purchase of eighty
unchanged. tiveness of our assets, and we look forward to (80) 20-foot shipping containers that hold drill-
The agreements are intended to enhance the returning to revenue-generating operations in ing equipment, accessories and chemicals. Also
cash flow of economic operation within Gabon, 2023,” says Bjørnar Iversen, CEO of Dolphin included in the deal is a significant amount of
which are a crucial aspect in the acquisition of Drilling. drill pipe (various gauges of conductor and cas-
raw materials and derivatives when it comes to Dolphin Drilling, 10 March 2023 ing pipe).
imports. New Age (African Global Energy) is cur-
According to Jean-Baptiste Bikalou, the Tlou Energy says next stage rently decommissioning its Ethiopian drill site
president of the Grouping of Professional Petro- (El Kuran, Ogaden basin). Once all the necessary
leum Marketers, the agreement means that the of drilling is underway for paperwork, due diligence and final agreement
government will put XAF212bn ($343mn) “on have been concluded, the equipment and sup-
the table” so that prices at the pumps do not Lesedi GTP project plies will be trucked to Wildcat’s compound in
increase.” the Republic of Sudan.
bna/IntelliNews, 16 March 2023 Tlou Energy has announced that work has begun It is the company’s intention to use as much of
on the next phase of drilling at Tlou’s Lesedi Gas- this inventory as possible in its own drilling and
to-Power project. Operations have commenced well rehabilitation programmes once the first oil
PROJECTS & COMPANIES on a core-hole and will be followed by drilling of deal has been signed with the Sudanese govern-
the next gas production well. ment. Any equipment or supplies not required
Dolphin Drilling signs new the core-hole is to provide additional geological the funds reinvested into future oil production
Core-hole drilling at Lesedi: The objective of (including shipping containers) will be sold, and
contract for Blackford control in the vicinity of the planned Lesedi 6 operations in Sudan.
gas production pod. The core-hole, designated
Mandhir Singh, Chairman, said: “This deal
Dolphin in Nigeria C8-1X, is at a depth of approximately 200 metres demonstrates the company’s determination to
become a profitable oil-producing company in
with a proposed total depth of about 550 metres.
Dolphin Drilling has signed a new contract Production Pod drilling: The anticipated 2023. This deal shows the company ability to
for Blackford Dolphin with Peak Petroleum in spud for the Lesedi 6 gas production pod is later get deals done and progress its plans without
Nigeria. this month. The pod consists of three wells in any large financial outlay or capital expenditure.
Blackford Dolphin has signed a contract with total, one vertical production well and two inter- The company is working tirelessly towards the
Peak Petroleum for additional work in Nigeria in secting lateral wells. Lesedi 6 is located approx- signing of its first Sudanese oil deal so it can put
direct continuation of the previously announced imately 500 metres west of the existing Lesedi 4 the inventory to good use at the earliest possible
12-month contract with General Hydrocar- production pod. opportunity.”
bons Ltd (GHL). As reported in January 2023, Lesedi 6 is the first well of a planned Wildcat Petroleum, 16 March 2023

P18 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 11 16•March•2023