Equatorial Guinea’s national oil company (NOC) GEPetrol has outlined a multi-phase development plan for the Zafiro Field, located in Block B. The company will work towards increasing the flow of production at the field, leveraging its newfound position as operator of the block to bolster production and support economic growth. The plan envisages a new era of industry growth for the country, all on the back of GEPetrol’s restructuring as a competitive upstream player.

The field development plan comprises three phases, the first of which will be implemented at the beginning of 2025. This phase includes reconnecting selected wells that were previously connected to the Zafiro Producer floating production unit (FPU). ExxonMobil was forced to halt production in 2022 due to water entering the Zafiro producer FPU. The second phase, which will be implemented in parallel to the first phase, involves cost optimization work as well as the optimization of well exploitation and production. The third phase will be implemented from 2025 onwards and will feature the redevelopment of the Zafiro field, with the plan for this phase currently under discussion.

GEPetrol assumed operatorship of Block B from energy major ExxonMobil this year, following the expiration of the Production Sharing Contract that existed between the major and the government. Comprising the Zafiro field – an offshore asset that has been producing since 1996 – the block has the potential to boost national oil production through fresh investment and collaborations. In April 2024, GEPetrol awarded a five-year technical contract to international service provider Petrofac for work related to Block B. The $350 million contract covers services related to onshore support bases, an FPSO and a platform at the Zafiro field. The contract aligns closely with GEPetrol’s commitment to revitalizing the Zafiro field and will support operations as the NOC boosts production.

The multi-phase redevelopment of the Zafiro field comes as GEPetrol redefines its role in the industry from an entity that represents the state to a competitive operator and producer. The acquisition of Block B reflects this transformation and will be instrumental in both GEPetrol’s evolution and the country’s growth. GEPetrol has also recently celebrated the first shipment of Zafiro Blend Crude Oil with the NOC as operator, showcasing the proactive approach the company is taking to operating and growing the block. 

GEPetrol’s transformation into a competitive operator follows a trend of similar NOC restructuring in Africa, all of which have enhanced the competitiveness and capacity of the respective NOCs. These include Angola’s Sonangol, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Algeria’s Sonatrach, and more. Globally, the transformation of Brazil’s Petrobras, Mexico’s Pemex and Saudi Arabia’s Saudi Aramco positioned these companies as major explores and producers, allowing them to compete with IOCs and independents while aligning projects with national development objectives. With its operatorship of Block B, GEPetrol is following the same path and remains committed to accelerating the development of oil and gas in proven blocks such as this.

“The Zafiro field has played an important part in shaping Equatorial Guinea’s energy industry for several decades and will continue to be a catalyst of growth in the years to come. By taking over as operator, GEPetrol is not only demonstrating its commitment to the block but the company’s newfound transformation into a competitive upstream player. GEPetrol looks forward to this new era of industry growth in Equatorial Guinea as well as new collaborations that will unfold as a result of Block B’s success,” stated Antonio Oburu Ondo, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea.

As the voice of the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber supports the multi-faceted approach GEPetrol is taking to boost oil production in Equatorial Guinea.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

The UN’s Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan called on the international community to urgently step up efforts to end the country’s war, saying it had documented disturbing patterns of grave human rights violations during its three-week mission to neighboring Chad.

The Fact-Finding Mission visited Chad from 30 June to 18 July. It met with victims and survivors of the conflict in Sudan as well as members of Sudanese civil society, the diplomatic community and the UN Country Team.

The Mission traveled to eastern Chad, including to Adre, Farchana and Abeche. While the Mission acknowledges the tremendous efforts made by Chadian authorities and UN entities as well as other humanitarian first-line responders, it is clear that needs exceed the available support.

“This crisis requires the support of the international community as a whole,” said Mohamed Chande Othman, Chair of the Fact-Finding Mission. “UN entities and humanitarian groups are in dire need of greater financial and other assistance to ensure Sudanese refugees and Chadian returnees have access to basic facilities, including nutrition, hygienic needs, health care, and education.”

The Mission also called on the international community to boost humanitarian support to the Chadian communities hosting refugees, citing the immense pressure they are under. The Chadian border town of Adre alone is hosting more than 200,000 Sudanese refugees, at least five times its original size.

The refugee community the Mission met described the violence they individually encountered that led them to flee Sudan. They detailed firsthand accounts of horrific acts of killings, sexual violence including gang-rape, arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances, looting, the burning of houses, and the use of child soldiers. Many of the violations appear to be particularly targeted against professionals such as lawyers, human rights defenders, teachers, and doctors. Forced displacement was a common feature.

“I admire the courage of the many widows we have encountered in the camps,” said Expert Member Joy Ngozi Ezeilo. “No one deserves to go through such cruel life-changing experiences. In addition to losing their husbands and partners, these women are assuming alone the responsibility of feeding, educating, and caring for their multiple children, while losing their homes and means of livelihood. They need support at all levels.”

The Fact-Finding Mission also heard views on the steps that could and should be taken to break the recurring cycle of violence, and ensure accountability for those involved in atrocities, as well as justice and support for victims.

“It was disheartening to hear the testimonies of the victims of sexual violence,” said Expert Member Mona Rishmawi. “This violence appears to take place during captivity and while the women and girls are fleeing. Sometimes it is to punish a woman who is actively standing up for her community. Sometimes it is random and opportunistic. These brutal acts must stop and the perpetrators must be brought to justice. The victims also need strong physical and psychological support, which is unavailable to them now.”

Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has killed thousands of people since it began in mid-April last year. More than 26 million people urgently need aid and are food insecure. Over ten million civilians have been displaced internally, and more than two million refugees have fled the country, according to the UN. Over 600.000 of those ended up in Chad.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Ahead of Ghana’s General Elections scheduled for 7th December 2024, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has deployed a Pre-election Fact-finding Mission to assess the country’s state of preparedness for the polls.

The Mission, which will last from 21st to 27th July 2024, is under the leadership of Ambassador Abdel-Fatau MUSAH, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security and will comprise Ambassador Babatunde Olanrewaju AJISOMO, former ECOWAS Resident Representative to the Republic of Liberia, Mrs. Davo Adoussou Laurentine, Rapporteur of the Electoral Board of the Republic of Benin’s Autonomous National Electoral Commission (CENA) and Mrs. SAMBA-SESAY Marcella Ekundayo, Chairperson of the National Elections Watch (NEW) of Sierra Leone.

The Mission will be supported by a technical team of the ECOWAS Directorate of Political Affairs composed of Mr Ebenezer ASIEDU, Head of Democracy and Good Governance, Mr Serigne Mamadou KA, acting Head of Electoral Assistance, and Mr Constant GNACADJA, acting Head of Mediation and Coordination of Regional Political Affairs.

The delegation will hold working sessions with various stakeholders in Ghana’s electoral process, including the Government, the Electoral Commission of Ghana, the Judiciary, the Parliament, Political Parties, Civil Society Organizations, Security Agencies, and International Development Partners.

At the end of its engagements, the Mission will submit a comprehensive report, which would inform ECOWAS’ support for the 2024 electoral process in Ghana. The ECOWAS Commission provided similar support to the country during the last elections held in 2020.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

As part of exchanges and evaluations of the level of operation of National Early Warning Centers in member states, a working mission led by Dr. Onyinye Nkechi Onwuka, Ag. Director, Early Warning visited the Republic of Guinea from July 18 to 19, 2024.

During its stay, the mission first paid a courtesy call on the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Guinea, H.E. Louis Blaise AKA-BROU, before holding a technical meeting with the team from the National Coordination Centre for Early Warning and Response to Security Risks.

Within the context of strengthening the partnership between her directorate and the Guinean News Agency (AGP), the mission met with the Director General of the Agency, Mr. François Mara, during which both parties agreed on the appointment of a field monitor.

The Ag. Director of Early Warning and the Ag. Head of the Systems Management and Planning Division, Mr. Marcel Komi Bossou, organized a training session for field monitors, analysts and the liaison officer on the crisis prevention, management, and resolution mechanism.

The mission and the National Center had also an exchange with CENTIF (Cellule Nationale de traitement des Informations Financières). (CENTIF) is a financial intelligence unit under the supervision of the Central Bank and is GIABA’s focal point for the fight against money laundering and terrorism. The National Center and CENTIF will sign next week an MOU for partnership and collaboration.

The mission ended with an audience with the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Mr. Amadou Oury BAH at the Palais de la Colombe, headquarters of the Primature.

During the audience, the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Guinea congratulated the Guinean government on its immense contribution to the establishment of the Center, which he said was be considered a model for other countries.

He also announced that ECOWAS would be discussing with the Guinean authorities to agree on a date for the official launch of the Center, during which the President of the Commission would be present to witness the signing of the memorandum of understanding for the creation of the Center.

For her part, the Ag. Director of Early Warning reaffirmed ECOWAS’s commitment to making these centers operational and effective in order to contribute to the preservation of regional peace and stability. She informed the Prime Minister about the upcoming Country Resilience and Human Security Assessment the National Center is going to carried out with a technical support from the Early Warning Directorate and Financial Support from the African Development Bank (AfDB)

The Prime Minister, Head of Government, Mr. Amadou Oury BAH, on his part, underlined the need to reinforce the collaborative efforts of member states in the fight against all forms of scourge, which, according to him, threaten the security, and stability of the region.

Finally, the Prime Minister reiterated his government’s willingness to work with ECOWAS to preserve peace in the sub-region.

It should be noted that, this National Coordination Centre for Early Warning and Response to Security Risks is attached to the office of the Prime Minister, Head of Government of the Republic of Guinea.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).