Africa Oil and Power was proud to produce news, interviews and videos throughout 2017, from the industry’s leading experts, on the top industry trends and issues. Here’s a recap of our editors’ top ten picks for 2017, as well as the top five most viewed articles and videos from our readers.
Editors’ Top Ten
OPEC and Africa – A Marriage of Convenience
OPEC’s grip on the global oil and gas market is slipping. At least, that’s what industry experts were arguing last year, before the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries successfully navigated one of the most dramatic price declines oil markets have yet experienced. By brokering a landmark deal committing members and 11 non-member countries to supply cuts of 1.8 million barrels of oil per day, OPEC returned stability to the industry.
Still, OPEC’s absolute dominance in the oil market has certainly waned, with the bloc having to rely on non-member states for the successful drawdown of inventories. The OPEC-brokered deal on oil production cuts marked a historic shift in OPEC’s place in the world — re-establishing its role as a global leader in the oil industry, but also exposing its dependence on outside cooperation to achieve its mission. For African oil and gas producers, this new era of cooperation has remarkable potential.
Read more here.
Low Oil Prices Prompt Industry Discipline
AOP spoke with Tracey Henderson, Vice President of Exploration, Business Execution and Geophysics for Kosmos Energy, about the impact low oil prices are having on exploration projects in Africa, including some of the challenges to operating and the evolution in fundraising methods in this price environment.
Read more here.
Ghana power sector stumbles
Not too long ago, Ghana was a frontrunner in African energy. The country boasts an average access to electricity rate of 74 percent — far above the average rate of 47 percent for West Africa.
But in recent years, Ghana’s progress has stalled, as it wrestles with power outages and struggles to install more power generation capacity as the population booms. The energy sector is heavily indebted and the government is generally unable to offer guarantees to power investors.
Read more here.
Majors Capitalize on Africa’s ‘World Class Discoveries’
AOP talked to Claude Illy, Principal, Head of Oil & Gas Corporate Finance Advisory for Sub Saharan Africa of Deloitte, about the trends in mergers and acquisitions following the oil price crash and the impact on independents and majors.
Read more here.
Consuming Less Energy, Exporting More Gas
In line with global trends Africa’s consumption of energy slowed, and production of oil and gas declined, in 2016. Continued development of gas for domestic power and LNG exports are drivers for the industry, and for overall African industrialization, for as long as prices stay low.
Read more here.
Most Read
Trump Wants Answers on Africa
Days before Donald Trump’s inauguration as US President, the transition team asked some tricky questions about Africa.
Read more here.OPEC and Africa – A Marriage of Convenience
African producers can benefit from the new, less exclusive OPEC.
Read more here.SSOP 2017: Regional Integration & Infrastructure Panel Highlights
Panelists from SSOP 2017 tackled the importance of regional integration.
Read more here.SSOP 2017: Investing in South Sudan Panel Highlights
Panelists from SSOP 2017 addressed the opportunities and challenges to investing in South Sudan.
Read more here.Equatorial Guinea Ronda Winners Announced at AOP
The Ministry of Equatorial Guinea announced the winners of the EG Ronda at Africa Oil & Power 2017 in Cape Town.
Read more here.
Kenya: Innovating in Power
Kenya has turned around its power sector in just three years. With the right mix of energy sources, investment promotion and clear legislation, the country is now on track for universal access to electricity. AOP looks at how the government is successfully meeting its ambitious power targets.
Read more here.
The Future Holds Great Promise
His Excellency Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, Minister of Petroleum of South Sudan, talks to AOP about the challenges faced by Africa’s youngest nation, the state of the energy industry and new investments.
Read more here.
Finding the Funds
AOP takes a look at the companies behind African oil and gas financing in 2017, and how funding for petroleum projects is adapting to the “lower for longer” climate.
Read more here.
Traders Continue to Invest in Africa
Guillaume Quiviger, Senior Investment Manager of Vitol, talks about how low oil prices and market volatility impacted the oil and gas trading sector in recent years, as well as opportunities for traders throughout the value chain.
Read more here.
Risk and Return in Africa Power
Getting the balance right between responsibility for risk and returns to the private sector goes to the heart of power policy in Africa today. Ashley Brown, Executive Director of the Harvard Electricity Policy Group, talks to AOP about transparency, government guarantees and risk in national electricity sectors.
Read more here.
