Spotlight | DRC
A promising oil region lies untended

Subscribers only

Published on 02.12.2014 at 23:01 GMT 3 min read Lire en français

The recent postponement of a seismics survey on Total’s block 3 in the Ituri region conceals a fierce struggle between the local authorities and the much-weakened central government in Kinshasa. The episode underscores the multitude of logistical, political and security [.

This article may be accessed by subscribers

In order to ensure high-quality and independent journalism, Africa Intelligence relies solely on subscriptions from its readers, with no advertising, no events and no consulting work.

Several offers are available depending on your particular reading needs

Consult our offers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

Discover our work by making use of the following possibilities: daily newsletters, a selection of free articles, keyword alerts.

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

create a free account

DRC
Emmanuel Adrupiako quietly safeguarding Kabila's oil interests

Joseph Kabila financial advisor from his first days in power in 2001 to his departure after the 2018 elections, Emmanuel [...]

Subscribers only Energy 24.09.2019

DRC
Dan Gertler's Caprikat/Foxwhelp do what they like under Felix Tshisekedi

Although his two permits expired in 2017 after multiple extensions, the Israeli magnate has collected new gifts from the ministry of hydrocarbons. Africa Energy Intelligence offers an exclusive report.

Subscribers only Energy 11.06.2019

DRC
Dig Oil drags Tshisekedi into his first oil crisis

The South African junior is determined that the ruling of the arbitration it has won against Kinshasa will be upheld at Congo-K's end.

Subscribers only Energy 26.02.2019

DRC
Total/Dan Gertler - Dig Oil/Cuvette: the two files now on Tshisekedi's plate

The new president has been landed with the two oil cases Kabila's cabinet had been working to finalise - without luck - up to the last minute.

Subscribers only Energy 29.01.2019

DRC
Total pulls off stunt to take Dan Gertler's former prized assets

As the country gears towards its general elections, Total is set to pick up blocks 1 and 2 in the Albertine Graben. Africa Energy Intelligence examines the makings of this highly political deal.

Subscribers only Energy 13.11.2018

DRC
Exclusive: Total to snap up Dan Gertler's former Lake Albert blocks

The Congolese state is understood to be poised to award Lake Albert blocks 1 and 2, operated since 2010 by [...]

Subscribers only Energy 07.11.2018

DRC
How Petrocam flooded the distribution sector with Sonahydroc

Thanks to active but very discreet support from the president's chief of staff, Petrocam has taken over the helm at state firm Sonahydroc.

Subscribers only Energy 06.03.2018

DRC
United States condemns Dan Gertler

The American Treasury Department has sanctioned Israeli businessman Dan Gertler, [...]

Subscribers only Mining 26.12.2017

Spotlight | DRC
Total and Kabila play the long game on eastern frontier

The only major present on both sides of the highly prolific Congolese-Ugandan border, Total is negotiating its work programme on block III step by step, while it waits to get its hands on blocks I and II.

Subscribers only Energy 19.12.2017

Spotlight | DRC
Is Dan Gertler facing his last days in oil?

Mining Israeli tycoon Dan Gertler’s Fleurette group, which expanded into Congolese onshore in 2010 via two British Virgin Islands companies, Caprikat and Foxwhelp, to take up the most strategic blocks in Congo-K - blocks 1 and 2 -, could soon [.

Subscribers only Energy 28.03.2017

DRC
Dan Gertler's secrets exposed in New York

Transactions carried out by Dan Gertler in Katanga cropped up in the Security and Exchanges Commission's case against the Och-Ziff fund in New York.

Free access Mining 11.10.2016

DRC
Kabila forced to go easy on oil firms to keep them from bolting

Facing growing political unrest, Congo’s oil ministry has no choice but to close its eyes to the unfulfilled contracts of the few companies that remain active.

Subscribers only Energy 04.10.2016

DRC
Total sees the next step ahead on block 3

The only company to be pressing ahead with exploration in [...]

Subscribers only Energy 19.04.2016

DRC | Majors
Total can’t hum and haw any more

According to our sources, Congo-K’s oil and gas minister, Aime [...]

Subscribers only Energy 26.01.2016

DRC
Total Kicks off work on its block 3

A 2D seismic survey by Total on block 3 is [...]

Subscribers only Energy 08.12.2015

Spotlight | DRC
New oil bosses hail from Katanga - and favour Luanda

With a year to go before his second and final term in office comes to an end, Congolese president Joseph Kabila has shaken up his team of advisers and the civil servants who count in the oil sector.

Subscribers only Energy 08.12.2015

Angola, DRC
Gustave Beya Seku handling oil relations again

Former chief of staff of Congolese president Joseph Kabila, Gustave Beya Seku has returned to prominence with his appointment as [...]

Subscribers only Energy 29.09.2015

DRC
After much procrastination Total gets extension

Although all hope had seemed lost, Total’s pressure on Kinshasa finally paid off.

Subscribers only Energy 29.09.2015

Congo
Oil minister Atama down but not exactly out

President Joseph Kabila has decided to reshuffle his cabinet amid a simmering political crisis that has seen some powerful members [...]

Subscribers only Energy 29.09.2015

DRC
Total looks unlikely to win extension on block 3

The French major wants more time to pick the area it must hand back on its block. Kinshasa isn’t buying that.

Subscribers only Energy 15.09.2015

DRC
Perenco could lose out with new oil code

Finally adopted by parliament last week, Congo-K’s new oil code is now in the hands of president Joseph Kabila for [...]

Subscribers only Energy 30.06.2015

DRC
Permit extensions depend on who you are

It seems to have become a Congolese speciality: the extension of a company’s exploration license depends on who is asking.

Subscribers only Energy 30.06.2015

Spotlight | DRC
Angola waits for a new oil czar to jump-start talks

The side-lining of president Joseph Kabila’s chief of staff and former deputy oil minister Gustave Beya Siku could have a major impact on the oil industry. He had been its real boss over the past four years and his departure [.

Subscribers only Energy 16.06.2015

DRC
Oriental province governor takes Total to task

The provincial authorities deny having unduly favoured a road construction concern to build Total an access route on block 3.

Subscribers only Energy 20.01.2015

DRC
Headaches on block 3 continue for Total

A meeting in Paris between Congo-K’s government and Total led to a seismic survey in the Ituri region being put back. And now a year of marathon talks looks likely.

Subscribers only Energy 06.01.2015

DRC
Jean Muganza wields the rod at ministry

The corridors in Congo-K’s hydrocarbons ministry are pretty empty these days. Since September, seven of the department’s eight directors have [...]

Subscribers only Energy 18.11.2014

DRC
The people who count in future oil bill

No news has leaked out about Congo-K's draft bill on [...]

Subscribers only Energy 18.11.2014

DRC | Major
Total postpones seismics

According to our sources, the French major Total has put [...]

Subscribers only Energy 18.11.2014

DRC
Fresh push for negotiations on the central basin

After several years of failing to get a final go-ahead to work on the central basin (Cuvette Centrale) in the [...]

Subscribers only Energy 18.11.2014

DRC | Kinshasa
Total picks seismic firm for block 3

The French major Total has finally made its choice for [...]

Subscribers only Energy 10.12.2013

DRC
Total mulls strategy on block 3

Despite environmental issues linked to the Virunga national park and security concerns, Total is continuing to press ahead with exploration in eastern Congo-K.

Subscribers only Energy 04.06.2013

Spotlight | DRC
Oil sector still alarmingly adrift

A year after new bosses were appointed to Congo-K’s hydrocarbons ministry the country’s oil industry is still going nowhere. A struggle between the department’s civil servants and its chiefs has often turned to the disadvantage of the minister, Crispin Atama, [.

Subscribers only Energy 05.03.2013

On our other sites

Lord Mancroft hobnobs with Nigerian spymasters

Tory businessman Benjamin Mancroft, the third Baron Mancroft, was appointed chairman of the advisory board of Mainbridge Infrastructure, a new [...]

Subscribers only Corporate Intel Intelligence Online 11.03.2020

Ibrahim Traoré

Virtus Minerals

Paul Kagame

Savannah Energy

Denis Sassou-Nguesso

Spotlight | DRC A promising oil region lies untended

The recent postponement of a seismics survey on Total’s block 3 in the Ituri region conceals a fierce struggle between the local authorities and the much-weakened central government in Kinshasa. The episode underscores the multitude of logistical, political and security [.

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Related topics to this article

Read also

DRC Emmanuel Adrupiako quietly safeguarding Kabila's oil interests

DRC Dan Gertler's Caprikat/Foxwhelp do what they like under Felix Tshisekedi

DRC Dig Oil drags Tshisekedi into his first oil crisis

DRC Total/Dan Gertler - Dig Oil/Cuvette: the two files now on Tshisekedi's plate

DRC Total pulls off stunt to take Dan Gertler's former prized assets

DRC Exclusive: Total to snap up Dan Gertler's former Lake Albert blocks

DRC How Petrocam flooded the distribution sector with Sonahydroc

DRC United States condemns Dan Gertler

Spotlight | DRC Total and Kabila play the long game on eastern frontier

Spotlight | DRC Is Dan Gertler facing his last days in oil?

DRC Dan Gertler's secrets exposed in New York

DRC Kabila forced to go easy on oil firms to keep them from bolting

DRC Total sees the next step ahead on block 3

DRC | Majors Total can’t hum and haw any more

DRC Total Kicks off work on its block 3

Spotlight | DRC New oil bosses hail from Katanga - and favour Luanda

Angola, DRC Gustave Beya Seku handling oil relations again

DRC After much procrastination Total gets extension

Congo Oil minister Atama down but not exactly out

DRC Total looks unlikely to win extension on block 3

DRC Perenco could lose out with new oil code

DRC Permit extensions depend on who you are

Spotlight | DRC Angola waits for a new oil czar to jump-start talks

DRC Oriental province governor takes Total to task

DRC Headaches on block 3 continue for Total

DRC Jean Muganza wields the rod at ministry

DRC The people who count in future oil bill

DRC | Major Total postpones seismics

DRC Fresh push for negotiations on the central basin

DRC | Kinshasa Total picks seismic firm for block 3

DRC Total mulls strategy on block 3

Spotlight | DRC Oil sector still alarmingly adrift

Lord Mancroft hobnobs with Nigerian spymasters

About Africa Intelligence

Subscription

Africa Intelligence on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Spotlight | DRC
A promising oil region lies untended

DRC
Emmanuel Adrupiako quietly safeguarding Kabila's oil interests

DRC
Dan Gertler's Caprikat/Foxwhelp do what they like under Felix Tshisekedi

DRC
Dig Oil drags Tshisekedi into his first oil crisis

DRC
Total/Dan Gertler - Dig Oil/Cuvette: the two files now on Tshisekedi's plate

DRC
Total pulls off stunt to take Dan Gertler's former prized assets

DRC
Exclusive: Total to snap up Dan Gertler's former Lake Albert blocks

DRC
How Petrocam flooded the distribution sector with Sonahydroc

DRC
United States condemns Dan Gertler

Spotlight | DRC
Total and Kabila play the long game on eastern frontier

Spotlight | DRC
Is Dan Gertler facing his last days in oil?

DRC
Dan Gertler's secrets exposed in New York

DRC
Kabila forced to go easy on oil firms to keep them from bolting

DRC
Total sees the next step ahead on block 3

DRC | Majors
Total can’t hum and haw any more

DRC
Total Kicks off work on its block 3

Spotlight | DRC
New oil bosses hail from Katanga - and favour Luanda

Angola, DRC
Gustave Beya Seku handling oil relations again

DRC
After much procrastination Total gets extension

Congo
Oil minister Atama down but not exactly out

DRC
Total looks unlikely to win extension on block 3

DRC
Perenco could lose out with new oil code

DRC
Permit extensions depend on who you are

Spotlight | DRC
Angola waits for a new oil czar to jump-start talks

DRC
Oriental province governor takes Total to task

DRC
Headaches on block 3 continue for Total

DRC
Jean Muganza wields the rod at ministry

DRC
The people who count in future oil bill

DRC | Major
Total postpones seismics

DRC
Fresh push for negotiations on the central basin

DRC | Kinshasa
Total picks seismic firm for block 3

DRC
Total mulls strategy on block 3

Spotlight | DRC
Oil sector still alarmingly adrift