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AfrOil                                      NEWS IN BRIEF                                              AfrOil








       Under the terms of the Loan, all funds to be dis-  Finance team will help support ADM as we pro-  was briefed by the Minister and the Director on
       bursed are to be utilised for the purpose of the  gress our strategy to increase the Company’s  immediate and near-term plans by the Ministry.
       establishment of commercial activities in Africa,  oil and gas reserves and production through   Equatorial Guinea has moved its Year of
       specifically in the Republic of Congo and the  the acquisition of undervalued assets. We have  Investment programme to 2021, with plans
       broader West Africa region.         identified several investment opportunities and  to add many more investments opportunities
         Andrea Cattaneo, Chief Executive Officer  look forward to progressing any potential deals  and projects, while taking into consideration
       of Zenith, commented: “We are pleased to have  with the support of REYL Structured Finance  the challenges of COVID-19. For instance, the
       received approval for this Loan, which has very  and Trafigura.”         Ministry is continuing its mining drive-in with
       favourable conditions and will be used to further   ADM Energy, July 31 2020  a strong focus on the mainland and expects to
       increase our investment in Africa at this time,                          drive new mining programmes in 2021.
       specifically in the Congo and the broader West                             The Minister agreed with the Chamber that
       Africa region. Indeed, as publicly announced on   COMPANIES              COVID-19 has been a great disruptor to the
       June 16, 2020, we are currently in negotiations                          energy sector. The Chamber urges the Equato-
       with two pan-African financial institutions for a   Sonatrach signs MoUs    rial Guinean government to continue working
       loan facility that will be used to fund the acquisi-                     with oil and gas operators to find ways to ensure
       tion and development of Zenith’s growing port-  with OMV and CEPSA       operations continue.
       folio in West Africa. I look forward to updating                           The Minister advised the Chamber that the
       shareholders on progress in due course.”  Sonatrach and OMV signed a Memorandum  rapid development of the Alen unitisation pro-
       Zenith Energy, July 31 2020         of Understanding to initiate discussions with a  ject operated by Noble Energy will be delayed
                                           view to identifying the possibilities for both par-  until 2021. This is liquid-rich gas and conden-
       ADM Energy reports on               ties to jointly invest in exploration, development  sate field is located in Block O, about 32km off
                                                                                the east coast of Bioko Island, in Equatorial
                                           and production of hydrocarbons in Algeria.
       appointment of REYL Group           the interest of both parties in assessing oppor-  into EGLNG remains on track, with the project
                                              The Memorandum of Understanding shows  Guinea. However, the Alen backfill gas project
       ADM Energy, a natural resources investing com-  tunities for collaboration following the recent  scheduled to come online in the first quarter of
       pany, is pleased to announce the appointment  promulgation of the new hydrocarbons law.  2021.
       with REYL Group, an independent banking   Sonatrach has also signed a Memorandum of   When pressed on the rapid approval of Chev-
       group providing financial advisory services and  Understanding with CEPSA in order to examine  ron’s acquisition of Noble Energy, the Minister
       investment solutions to private and institutional  the possibilities of joint investment in the fields  advised the Chamber that the Ministry is cur-
       clients, to support ADM with the development  of exploration, development and production of  rently studying the transaction as it pertains
       and financing of energy projects in Nigeria and  hydrocarbons in Algeria. and internationally.  to Equatorial Guinea and will respond in due
       West Africa.                           The signing of this protocol will also allow  course taking into consideration compliance
         REYL Group is a Geneva-based bank-  Sonatrach and CEPSA to consolidate their  with the laws and regulations of the country as
       ing group that manages assets in excess of  existing partnership, through the search for new  well as binding legal instruments like the Pro-
       CHF13.5bn. It will advise ADM on, inter alia,  cooperation opportunities.  duction Sharing Contract.
       financing structures for future projects including   Through the conclusion of this Memoran-  On the Gas Mega Hub, the Chamber was
       the acquisition of the interest in OML 113 from  dum, Sonatrach confirms its desire to consoli-  informed that Equatorial Guinea has contracted
       EER (Colobus) Nigeria, announced on Febru-  date its partnership policy, particularly within  UK-based firm Gas Strategies to continue work-
       ary 24, 2020, and any follow-on agreements  the framework of the provisions of the Law on  ing on a revised Gas Master Plan as the Minis-
       with Trafigura pursuant to the memorandum of  Hydrocarbon Activities, which aim in particular  ter believes it is an important step towards the
       understanding (MoU) signed with Trafigura on  to increase hydrocarbon reserves and produc-  country developing a timely, economic and equi-
       February 03, 2020. Under the terms of the MoU,  tion levels.             table plan for to monetise gas, and with a clear
       it is the intention of ADM and Trafigura to cre-  Sonatrach, July 30 2020  vision towards having a Gas Mega Hub anchored
       ate a strategic alliance where ADM will act as                           around Punta Europa.
       the sponsor for investment opportunities in the                            The Chamber commends the development
       African energy sector which will be presented to   POLICY                of gas, as LNG stands to be a game changer in
       Trafigura for consideration as a trading counter-                        the local, regional and international energy mar-
       party, or financing provider.       Equatorial Guinea holds              kets. It also puts Equatorial Guinea in line with
         Osamede Okhomina, CEO of ADM, said:                                    other members of the Gas Exporting Countries
       “The agreement with REYL Group’s Structured   discussions with African   Forum, of which Equatorial Guinea is a member,
                                                                                when it comes to monetising gas.
                                           Energy Chamber                       ity is still ongoing in the country, with Kosmos
                                                                                  The Minister advised that exploration activ-
                                           Last week, the African Energy Chamber held a  Energy likely to proceed with a drilling campaign
                                           bilateral discussion with the Ministry of Mines  in 2022. Furthermore, Trident Energy started a
                                           and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea, led  4D seismic survey over its Block G assets, which
                                           by Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, alongside the  contain the Ceiba and Okume fields offshore
                                           Director of Hydrocarbons, Robustiano Eyegue  with a potential to drill three wells in 2021.
                                           Ndong and NJ Ayuk, the Executive Chairman of   Finally, the Ministry is engaged in discussions
                                           the African Energy Chamber.          with Venezuelan state company PdVSA on the
                                              The Chamber sought to understand the state  upstream and the downstream sector.
                                           of the hydrocarbon sector in the country and   African Energy Chamber, August 03 2020



       Week 31   05•August•2020                 www. NEWSBASE .com                                             P19
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