"CLOTILDE RAVEL" - All our articles

Energy lobbyist NJ Ayuk smooths relations between Pretoria and Riyadh

South Africa has never been one of Saudi Arabia's trade priorities, except for armaments. But energy matters and rare metals seem to have sparked a paradigm shift. The kingdom is now conducting a charm offensive in the country and promising major investments. [...]

The Cameroonian NJ Ayuk, champion of African oil, plays matchmaker between Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

SpotlightWEST AFRICA Energy 02/01/2023

Senegal, Ivory Coast and Ghana battle for "energy hub" title under Nigeria's shadow

Senegal, Ivory Coast and Ghana have launched ambitious projects and made bold statements in their bids to become West Africa's next "energy hub". Those efforts, however, are a long way from unseating dominant Nigeria. [...]

EAST AFRICA NIGERIA WEST AFRICA Energy Commodity traders 15/12/2022

How is Coral Energy fuelling its expansion in Africa?

In recent months the Dubai oil trading company Coral, which has always maintained close ties with Russia, has been stepping up its activities in Africa, prompting speculation among its competitors as to the provenance of its consignments. [...]

SpotlightIVORY COAST Energy 15/11/2022

ENI keeps president close and subcontractors hanging ahead of Baleine launch

As the Italian major moves towards the start of production from the Baleine discovery, CEO Claudio Descalzi has been making sure every thing goes smoothly with the Ivorian authorities. After several trips to visit President Alassane Ouattara, he is now planning another journey to Abidjan. [...]

ENI president Claudio Descalzi and Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara address a press conference on 10 December 2021 at the presidential palace in Abidjan.

SpotlightUGANDA Energy 10/11/2022

TotalEnergies faces rising religious opposition to EACOP project

The pipeline that TotalEnergies and CNOOC plan to build between Uganda and Tanzania is under fire from influential east African and French religious leaders. Their protests have forced the French major to try and justify the project publicly. [...]

Activists of the multi-religious Greenfaith movement in Karlsruhe, Germany, on 1 September 2022.

Inner circles CONGO Energy 04/11/2022

Itoua sets about reforming the unreformable hydrocarbons ministry

Under pressure from international financial institutions, Congolese hydrocarbons minister Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua has begun reorganising his administration. This represents a logistical challenge for an ageing institution that is overpopulated with advisers, directors and attachés, but it should not cause a radical change in the balance of power in the sector, which is largely decided outside the ministry. [...]

Congo's Minister of Hydrocarbons Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua in Vienna, Austria, on 5 October 2022.

SOUTH AFRICA Energy Business 31/10/2022

Africa's Oil Week and Energy Week battle it out in Cape Town

Competing African energy and hydrocarbons conferences were held a week apart in Cape Town in October. The rival entities, the Hyve Group, which organises Africa Oil Week, and the African Energy Chamber lobbyists who run Africa Energy Week, are in a no-holds-barred battle for supremacy. [...]

South African Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe (here at Africa Oil Week) attended both conferences.

SpotlightSOUTH AFRICA Energy 19/10/2022

TotalEnergies and Shell's South African venture turns sour

Friction between Pretoria and exploration investors is jeopardising the development of South Africa's oil and gas. Energy firms point the finger at the country's red tape and recent legal rulings, while the South African energy minister lays part of the blame on environmental NGOs. [...]

A TotalEnergies truck transporting fuel in Durban, South Africa on 7 February 2019. REUTERS/Rogan Ward

SpotlightAFRICA Energy 13/09/2022

ExxonMobil, Chevron, Marathon... US giants start mass exodus from the continent

With the exception of Namibia and Mozambique, Africa has ceased to be attractive to US oil companies, which are gradually withdrawing from the market. This strategy is the opposite of that adopted by the Chinese and Russians, which are continuing to push ahead. [...]

SOUTH AFRICA Energy 05/09/2022

Time ticking on TotalEnergies' goal to achieve first gas on 11B/12B by 2027

The French major has no time to lose if it is to achieve its goal of starting production on the South African offshore block by 2026-2027. There are still the rights, final investment decision, pipeline connection and numerous other administrative and logistical tasks to work out. [...]

TotalEnergies' gas delivery plan for Mossel bay.

In Focus WEST AFRICA Business 29/08/2022

High hopes and pitfalls ahead after Marriott, Loum Diagne and Fakhoury take over Club Med sites

Businessmen in Senegal and Ivory Coast are dreaming of building luxury resorts on sites abandoned by the French operator Club Med. But Covid has hit the tourism sector hard. [...]

Archive photo of the Club Med Amun hotel in Aswan, Egypt.

Inner circles AFRICA UNITED KINGDOM Energy 24/06/2022

UK Export Finance reinvents itself while continuing to promote Mozambique LNG

UK Export Finance is walking a tightrope as it contends with pressure from both NGOs and industry. The agency responsible for promoting British exports has abandoned fossil fuels but continues to back the airline industry. [...]

In Focus ANGOLA SOUTH AFRICA Business 25/04/2022

Bekker, Penny, Dos Santos... Russia's African partners kept at bay by war in Ukraine

Since Moscow began its military offensive in Ukraine, numerous southern African entrepreneurs have had to freeze their investment projects in Russia or leave their positions as directors of companies under sanctions. Being separated from these wealthy Africans has entrenched the dichotomy of Russia's presence on the continent: [...]

Naspers' boss Koos Bekker, former CEO of De Beers Gareth Penny and Isabel Dos Santos, daughter of Angola's former President.

Inner circles SOUTH AFRICA Politics 11/03/2022

ANC Women's League seeks direction ahead of December elective conference

The ANC Women's League, an entity born from the ashes of the Bantu Women's League in 1948, is struggling to make its voice heard on the national scene but still wants to hold sway when the party decides on its top six in December this year. [...]

Bathabile Dlamini, president of the ANC Women's League.

In Focus RWANDA SOUTH AFRICA Mining 14/02/2022

Serial entrepreneur Brian Menell bets double on rare earth mining sovereignty

The mining and defence specialist and heir to the dynasty that co-founded AngloVaal has been investing heavily in "technology metals" with help from the US, worried about being left behind by China. As he had done in the 1990s with British and South African army veterans, who found the first private military companies to help his activities, Menell now has a retired US admiral and a former British army officer on board. [...]

Inner circles SOUTH AFRICA Energy Politics 24/12/2021

Mantashe weaponises energy regulator NERSA to rebuff Eskom and champion Karpowership

Since he took over as mineral resources and energy minister in February 2018, Gwede Mantashe has strengthened his hold over the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA). His authority over the body's directors has enabled him to pursue an ongoing vendetta with Eskom, press the case for retaining Turkish private sector energy supplier Karpowership and back nuclear power development. [...]

Gwede Mantashe, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy.

In Focus AFRICA Business 15/11/2021

Will giants Microsoft, Amazon and Huawei outpace African operators in race to dominate the Cloud?

Though there are still very few data centres on the African continent, in no small part due to a lack of reliable power, a few independent groups have managed to break into the sector. But they are now facing a serious challenge with the arrival of the world's internet giants, which are targeting South Africa to place their infrastructure. [...]

Vantage Data Centers' three-data center campus project in South Africa (Waterfall City).

Inner circles SOUTH AFRICA Diplomacy 24/09/2021

Ramaphosa consoles ANC dignitaries and disgraced Zuma supporters with prestigious embassy posts

Since he became president in 2018, Cyril Ramaphosa has little by little turned key embassy postings into consolation prizes for former Zuma ministers he wants to keep out of government. This has exasperated career diplomats, who are concerned that top diplomatic posts are going to politicians without experience on the international stage. [...]

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa.

In Focus SOUTH AFRICA Finance 12/07/2021

Real estate, oil, finance: a dive into the heart of Durban's property kings, the Rosenbergs

Property tycoon Terry Rosenberg's real estate empire is as strong as ever in South Africa's third largest city, Durban. Helped by his son Marc Rosenberg, he has expanded the family office Oakbrook Investments and investment arm Multiply as far as Swizterland, Mauritius, Dubai and the UK. [...]

South African businessman Terry Rosenberg, president of Multiply Group.

Inner circles SOUTH AFRICA Politics 11/06/2021

Ramaphosa bets heavily on revival of ANC Youth League to win re-election in 2022

After having long been a breeding ground for future party officials, ministers and presidents, the ANC Youth League has been a shadow of its former self since the ousting of its charismatic leader Julius Malema in 2011. [...]

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at an African National Congress (ANC) rally on 12 May 2019.

From Texas to South Kivu's highlands, Mahoro Peace Association's complex channels finance militia

Energy lobbyist NJ Ayuk smooths relations between Pretoria and Riyadh

CLOTILDE RAVEL

Energy lobbyist NJ Ayuk smooths relations between Pretoria and Riyadh

Senegal, Ivory Coast and Ghana battle for "energy hub" title under Nigeria's shadow

How is Coral Energy fuelling its expansion in Africa?

ENI keeps president close and subcontractors hanging ahead of Baleine launch

TotalEnergies faces rising religious opposition to EACOP project

Itoua sets about reforming the unreformable hydrocarbons ministry

Africa's Oil Week and Energy Week battle it out in Cape Town

TotalEnergies and Shell's South African venture turns sour

ExxonMobil, Chevron, Marathon... US giants start mass exodus from the continent

Time ticking on TotalEnergies' goal to achieve first gas on 11B/12B by 2027

High hopes and pitfalls ahead after Marriott, Loum Diagne and Fakhoury take over Club Med sites

UK Export Finance reinvents itself while continuing to promote Mozambique LNG

Bekker, Penny, Dos Santos... Russia's African partners kept at bay by war in Ukraine

ANC Women's League seeks direction ahead of December elective conference

Serial entrepreneur Brian Menell bets double on rare earth mining sovereignty

Mantashe weaponises energy regulator NERSA to rebuff Eskom and champion Karpowership

Will giants Microsoft, Amazon and Huawei outpace African operators in race to dominate the Cloud?

Ramaphosa consoles ANC dignitaries and disgraced Zuma supporters with prestigious embassy posts

Real estate, oil, finance: a dive into the heart of Durban's property kings, the Rosenbergs

Ramaphosa bets heavily on revival of ANC Youth League to win re-election in 2022

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From Texas to South Kivu's highlands, Mahoro Peace Association's complex channels finance militia

Energy lobbyist NJ Ayuk smooths relations between Pretoria and Riyadh

The global hunt for the Dos Santos family assets

Transition in Guinea: what's next after the coup?

The ANC's fierce leadership contest

CLOTILDE RAVEL

Energy lobbyist NJ Ayuk smooths relations between Pretoria and Riyadh

Senegal, Ivory Coast and Ghana battle for "energy hub" title under Nigeria's shadow

How is Coral Energy fuelling its expansion in Africa?

ENI keeps president close and subcontractors hanging ahead of Baleine launch

TotalEnergies faces rising religious opposition to EACOP project

Itoua sets about reforming the unreformable hydrocarbons ministry

Africa's Oil Week and Energy Week battle it out in Cape Town

TotalEnergies and Shell's South African venture turns sour

ExxonMobil, Chevron, Marathon... US giants start mass exodus from the continent

Time ticking on TotalEnergies' goal to achieve first gas on 11B/12B by 2027

High hopes and pitfalls ahead after Marriott, Loum Diagne and Fakhoury take over Club Med sites

UK Export Finance reinvents itself while continuing to promote Mozambique LNG

Bekker, Penny, Dos Santos... Russia's African partners kept at bay by war in Ukraine

ANC Women's League seeks direction ahead of December elective conference

Serial entrepreneur Brian Menell bets double on rare earth mining sovereignty

Mantashe weaponises energy regulator NERSA to rebuff Eskom and champion Karpowership

Will giants Microsoft, Amazon and Huawei outpace African operators in race to dominate the Cloud?

Ramaphosa consoles ANC dignitaries and disgraced Zuma supporters with prestigious embassy posts

Real estate, oil, finance: a dive into the heart of Durban's property kings, the Rosenbergs

Ramaphosa bets heavily on revival of ANC Youth League to win re-election in 2022

Refine your search

First visit

Contacts

Tools

Follow us

A website produced by

Indigo Publications also publishes: