Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Aramco has announced the transfer of its equity stakes in the Pengerang Refining Company and Pengerang Petrochemical Company (PRefChem) in Malaysia to Malaysia’s energy giant Petronas.
The company confirmed the deal in a statement on Monday, ending an eight-year downstream partnership in Southeast Asia.
The deal, which is subject to closing conditions, will make PRefChem a wholly owned subsidiary of the Malaysian state energy company.
The statement did not disclose the financial terms of the transaction.
The deal underscores how the Iran war is reshaping energy partnerships across Asia.
The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz since late February has slashed crude flows to the region, forcing refiners to cut runs and triggering shortages of jet fuel, gasoline, and diesel — products produced by PRefChem.
Full ownership of PRefChem will enable PETRONAS to further enhance operational alignment and flexibility across its value chain, while harnessing its international supply network and integrated operating model to support continued reliability under varying market conditions.
For Aramco, the transaction supports the strategic optimization of its downstream portfolio, providing the company with additional flexibility to pursue investments aligned with its downstream strategy.
“The transaction was concluded on mutually agreed terms, reflecting the evolving strategic priorities of both parties,” a joint statement issued by both companies said.
PRefChem comprises two joint ventures — Pengerang Refining Company and Pengerang Petrochemical Company — which operate an integrated refinery and petrochemical complex within the Pengerang Integrated Complex in the southern Malaysian state of Johor.
The refinery has a capacity of about 300,000 barrels per day and produces fuels including jet fuel, gasoline, and diesel, while supplying feedstock to the petrochemical complex, which has a nameplate capacity of about 3.4 million tonnes per year.
Aramco agreed in 2017 to invest $7 billion for equal participation in the project, signing a share purchase agreement during a state visit to Malaysia by King Salman. At the time, it was one of the company’s largest downstream investments abroad. The two joint ventures were formally established in March 2018.
The companies said they would continue exploring cooperation in areas including crude supply, technology exchange, and product distribution.
African Energy Week (AEW) 2026:Date and Time: 12 – 16 October 2026.
Venue: CTICC 1 in Cape Town, South Africa.
About:
African Energy Week (AEW) is the African Energy Chamber (AEC)’s annual event, uniting African energy leaders, global investors and executives from across the public and private sector for four days of intense dialogue on the future of the African energy industry.
An interactive conference, exhibition and networking event, AEW was established in 2021 under the premise to make energy poverty history by 2030, hosting panel discussions, investor forums, industry summits and one-on-one meeting opportunities, and driving the discussions that will reshape the trajectory of the continent’s energy development.
In 2026, the event returns bigger and better than ever before, serving as the official meeting place for Africa’s energy elite. At the forefront of the African energy industry, AEW promotes the role Africa plays in global energy matters, centred around African-led dialogue and decision making. Covering the entire energy sector and value chain, AEW represents the only conference on the continent representative of the entire sector.
Website URL:
The Gambia’s petroleum sector made a strong showing at the recently concluded Africa Energies Summit 2026, held in London from May 11 to 14, 2026, with the country showcasing its upstream potential and engaging prospective investors and industry partners.
The Gambian delegation was led by the Honourable Minister for Petroleum, Energy and Mines, Hon. Nani Juwara, and included the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, Mr Abdoulie Jallow; the Director General of the Petroleum Commission, Engr. Cany Jobe; the Deputy Managing Director of the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation, Mr Muhammed Jawara; the Director of Petroleum at the Ministry, Mr Sheick Omar Bittaye; and the Data Officer of the Petroleum Commission, Mr Siddy Mendy.
The Summit brought together more than 800 delegates from international oil companies, governments, regulators, national oil companies, geophysical service providers, legal and advisory firms, investors and other stakeholders across Africa’s energy sector.
Throughout the event, The Gambia maintained a well-managed exhibition booth showcasing the country’s petroleum potential within the MSGBC Basin.
The booth highlighted The Gambia’s strategic location, improving data coverage, open exploration opportunities and commitment to a transparent, rules-based investment environment.
It attracted interest and enquiries from a broad range of participants, including explorers, geophysical service providers, data companies, advisory firms and government institutions. Discussions focused on exploration opportunities, data improvement, reconnaissance activities, petroleum systems analysis, data marketing and future technical collaboration.
As part of the Summit programme, Permanent Secretary Abdoulie Jallow delivered The Gambia’s country showcase and briefing under the theme: “The Gambia: Unlocking Exploration Potential and Positioning for First Investment.”
The presentation positioned The Gambia as a promising offshore frontier within the MSGBC Basin and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to a transparent, stable and investor-friendly petroleum sector.
It highlighted improving geological confidence, strengthened regulatory oversight, clearer investment frameworks and opportunities across upstream exploration, petroleum storage, bunkering, LPG infrastructure, downstream logistics, power and regional supply services.
Engr. Cany Jobe, Director General of the Petroleum Commission, participated in two high-level panel discussions during the Summit.
In the panel discussion on “West Africa and MSGBC: Country Strategies, Basin Data and Commercial Pathways,” she appeared alongside Samuel Essoh of PETROCI, Fabian Lai of NOCAL Liberia, Erling Frantzen of Viridien and Johnny Chigbo of TGS.
Engr. Jobe spoke on The Gambia’s evolving investor proposition, noting that the country should be viewed not as a vague frontier opportunity, but as an emerging opportunity with structure.
She highlighted The Gambia’s dedicated regulator, improving institutional framework, model petroleum agreement with competitive entry terms and growing technical database.
She further noted that modern seismic coverage, regional integration studies and post-well analysis have helped shift investor discussions from general basin interest to more focused technical evaluation.
Engr. Cany Jobe
In a second panel discussion titled “Building Africa’s Stability, Credibility and Trust: The Real Currency of Investment,” Engr. Jobe joined Joanna Kuenssberg of Shell International BV, Valerie Marcel of New Producers for Sustainable Energy, Huw Charles of The Risk Advisory Group, Akshai Fofaria of Pinsent Masons and Armando Zamora of New Producers for Sustainable Energy.
During the discussion, she addressed the importance of predictable frameworks, credible state participation and investment terms that protect national value without discouraging exploration activity.
She emphasised that, for frontier jurisdictions, regulatory credibility is built through discipline, consistency and alignment between policy, licensing and implementation.
On the margins of the Summit, the delegation also held meetings with representatives of international oil companies, geophysical service providers, data companies and technical partners interested in supporting data enhancement and exploration promotion efforts in The Gambia.
Following the Summit, members of The Gambian delegation joined senior representatives from other participating countries at a leadership seminar on licensing and contracts, organised by New Producers for Sustainable Energy in collaboration with Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, The Risk Advisory Group and Westwood Energy.
The seminar focused on critical licensing, fiscal and contractual issues shaping exploration investment across Africa, including direct negotiations and competitive bidding rounds, petroleum fiscal regimes, production sharing agreements, cost recovery structures, investment risk, and how different categories of companies assess opportunities in frontier and early-stage petroleum jurisdictions.
The country’s participation at the Africa Energies Summit is expected to further strengthen investor confidence and public interest in The Gambia’s oil and gas exploration sector.
It also demonstrated the continuous technical, commercial and institutional work being undertaken to position The Gambia as a credible, responsible and investment-ready frontier petroleum jurisdiction.
Kenya’s President, William Samoei Ruto, has commissioned the fully energised 400/220kV Mariakani Substation located in Kilifi County, developed by Kenya Electricity Transmission Company.
The project was funded through a partnership between the Government of Kenya and the African Development Bank at a total cost of KES 4 billion and executed by China CAMC Engineering Co. Ltd under the supervision of KETRACO engineers.
The Mariakani Substation, which is regarded as the most strategic power substation in the Coast region, forms a critical gateway linking the Coast to Nairobi through the national transmission grid.
The project will significantly strengthen electricity transmission capacity while advancing the Government’s Vision 2030 agenda of achieving 100 percent renewable energy.
For decades, the Coast region has heavily relied on expensive thermal generation to meet its electricity demand due to limited renewable energy generation within the region.
Following the energisation of the Mariakani Substation and associated transmission infrastructure in December 2025, thermal power generation at the Coast has reduced drastically from 100MW to 35MW, representing a 65 percent reduction in reliance on fossil fuel-based energy.
Originally developed as a 220kV facility, the Mariakani Substation has now been upgraded to 400kV, greatly improving power quality, reliability and transmission efficiency across the Coast region, while enabling the region to draw more power from Olkaria and the Suswa Substation, a major national and regional switching centre.
The enhanced capacity is expected to support rapid industrialisation, investment growth and the expansion of Kenya’s Blue Economy initiatives.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony on Monday, May 25, 2026, President Ruto reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to accelerating Kenya’s transition to clean and sustainable energy.
“My Government is committed to adopting innovative, clean and sustainable energy technologies that will drive economic growth while protecting our environment. Projects such as the Mariakani Substation are critical in strengthening our national grid, expanding access to reliable electricity and advancing Kenya’s vision of achieving 100 percent clean energy,” said President Ruto.
The substation forms part of the Nairobi–Mombasa Transmission Line designed to carry more than 1,000MW of electricity between the two regions while easing pressure on the Coast’s power network.
“The Mariakani transmission infrastructure has significantly reduced the Coast region’s reliance on expensive diesel-powered electricity generation by enabling efficient transfer of power between Nairobi and Mombasa through the 400kV Mariakani–Isinya double-circuit transmission line. The project has also improved voltage stability and enhanced overall power quality across the region, resulting in a more reliable and efficient electricity supply for homes, businesses and industries,” said Eng. Kipkemoi Kibias, Acting Managing Director of KETRACO.
Eni, Italian oil and gas giant, and its partners Petroci and Vitol have approved the final investment decision (FID) for the Baleine Phase 3 project, marking a significant milestone in the development of the largest hydrocarbon discovery ever made in the country.
The Phase 3 development is expected to increase oil production from 60,000 to 150,000 barrels per day and gas output from 80 million to 200 million cubic feet per day.
The approval ceremony, held on Monday in Abidjan, was witnessed by the Minister of Mines, Petroleum and Energy of Côte d’Ivoire, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly.
The project includes the development of a new floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit, designed to ensure high standards of operational efficiency and safety while reducing environmental impact.
It builds on the phased and fast-track development model already implemented in Baleine’s first two phases, enabling early production while optimising costs and leveraging existing infrastructure.
All gas produced will be allocated to the domestic market, contributing to Côte d’Ivoire’s energy needs, expanding electricity generation and supporting the country’s industrial development.
Commenting on the development, Chief Executive Officer of Eni, Claudio Descalzi, stated:“Baleine is a testament to Eni’s exploration and production model, built on excellence in exploration activities, the ability to develop projects through a fast-track and phased approach, and a consistent commitment to sustainability, in continuous dialogue with the host country.
“This project reflects our commitment to strengthening energy security, supporting local economic development and advancing a lower-carbon energy future.”
Eni has been present in Côte d’Ivoire since 2015, where it made the Baleine and Calao discoveries.
These discoveries have contributed to increasing interest in the Ivorian offshore sector, confirming the country’s potential as one of the most promising energy frontiers in West Africa.
The company is also committed to promoting sustainable development through initiatives in education, training, healthcare, economic diversification and the development of local entrepreneurial capacity.
Ghana’s Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Canadian clean energy company, Portage Energy Group Inc., for a major waste-to-energy and sustainable aviation fuel project.
The MoU, signed on May 19, 2026, designates Portage Energy as the preferred development partner for the initiative to convert municipal solid waste into bio-organic pellets, clean electricity and, eventually, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
The project will begin with technical and environmental engineering studies within the Tema Metropolitan Area, particularly at the Kpone landfill site.
Under the arrangement, integrated facilities will be developed to produce bio-organic pellets, generate electricity and support future SAF production.
Each facility is expected to generate up to 25 megawatts of electricity. About 5 megawatts will power operations, while the remaining electricity will be supplied to the national grid.
The project will be fully funded by the private sector through Portage Energy, with no financial burden on the state.
Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, who was represented his deputy, described the partnership as a major step in Ghana’s green transition drive.
“This partnership aligns seamlessly with Ghana’s strategic commitment to sustainable waste management and our green transition.
“By turning municipal solid waste into reliable, clean electricity, we are not only addressing sanitation challenges but also strengthening our national energy security and driving local economic growth without drawing on public funds,” he said.
Craig Latimer, Chief Executive Officer of Portage Energy Group Inc., said the company was honoured to support the project.
“Portage Energy is honoured to be designated as a Preferred Development Partner for this transformative project.
“Our proven waste-to-value solutions will reduce landfill dependence, generate up to 25 megawatts of clean power, and lay the essential groundwork for future Sustainable Aviation Fuel production in West Africa,” he stated.
Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Myriam Montrat, also described the agreement as another milestone in relations between Ghana and Canada.
“The signing of this Memorandum of Understanding marks another proud milestone in the strong bilateral relationship between Canada and Ghana.
“We are thrilled to see Canadian innovation and expertise supporting Ghana’s ambitious climate resilience and circular economy goals,” she said.
Ghana’s petroleum downstream regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has intensified its consumer education and petroleum safety campaign with a series of public sensitisation engagements across markets, transport terminals, women’s groups and tertiary institutions in the Volta and Ashanti regions.
The exercise, led by the Authority’s Consumer Services Directorate, focused on petroleum safety practices, fuel quality assurance, LPG handling, consumer rights, complaint reporting mechanisms and the dangers associated with fuel siphoning from accident scenes involving Bulk Road Vehicles.
Speaking during the recent engagements, the Director of Consumer Services, Mrs Eunice Budu-Nyarko, urged motorists and consumers to remain vigilant when purchasing fuel by confirming the type of fuel being dispensed, monitoring dispenser screens and demanding receipts after every transaction.
In the Volta Region, the team visited the Ho Market and Lorry Park, Ho Technical University, the Ho Nursing Training College and women’s groups in Hohoe.
The Ashanti Regional exercise covered Bantama Market, Fomena Nursing Training College, Kumasi Technical University and the Tepa Nursing and Midwifery Training College, Anyinasuo Campus.
Technical presentations during the exercise were delivered by Ing. Johnson Gbagbo Jnr, Head of Consumer Data Analytics and Market Intelligence, and Maureen Adwoa Duori, Head of Consumer Education and Stakeholder Engagement, with support from NPA regional managers and staff.
The Gambian female celebrated petroleum engineer and Director General of the Petroleum Commission of The Gambia, Ms Cany Jobe, has bagged another award at the just concluded Africa Energies Summit held in London, demonstrating her competence and recognition in the global energy industry.
She was announced the winner of the Leading Woman in African Energy Award at the 30th Anniversary Edition of the Big Five Board Awards, held during the grand finale of the Africa Energies Summit.
The award recognises her pioneering female leadership in Africa’s energy sector.
The multiple award-winning energy expert was nominated alongside distinguished industry figures, including Acting CEO of the Petroleum Commission of Ghana, Emeafa Hardcastle; Vice President for Exploration at Shell, Nisrine Al Kadi; and Special Adviser on Energy to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Olu Arowolo Verheijen.
In her acceptance remarks, Engr. Jobe said the recognition was profoundly meaningful, not only because of the award itself, but because of what it represents. She noted that it recognises the role of women in shaping Africa’s energy future through leadership, policy, regulation, exploration, investment and national development.
She accepted the award with gratitude, humility and a deep sense of responsibility, dedicating it to her fellow nominees and to girls and women everywhere — both those on the margins and those in leadership positions.
Cany Jobe was appointed Director General of the Petroleum Commission in January 2026 by President Adama Barrow and has over 18 years of international experience across the oil and gas value chain.
She holds a Master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Western Australia and a Master’s degree in International Project Management from Glasgow Caledonian University.
Prior to her appointment, she served as Director of Exploration and Production at the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation, where she was instrumental in upstream strategy development, data management and engagement with prospective investors.
She has also held positions with regional and international institutions across Asia, Australia, West Africa and America, including roles with China Petroleum Corporation, Venezuela’s PDVSA and the ECOWAS Commission as a national consultant.
Rwanda is aiming to commission its first nuclear power plant, mainly based on Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology, by 2030, with plans to scale up nuclear generation to account for more than 60% of the country’s energy mix by 2050.
President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, disclosed this in Kigali during the recent Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit for Africa, which was attended by Rafael Mariano Grossi, alongside Samia Suluhu Hassan and Faure Gnassingbé.
The summit brought together governments, regulators, financiers, industry players, and technology partners to explore how nuclear energy can support development opportunities across Africa.
The IAEA Director-General discussed Rwanda’s ambitious nuclear power plans with President Kagame and delivered the final report of an Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission.
Mr. Grossi also signed an agreement with Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, Jimmy Gasore, to strengthen cooperation between Rwanda and the International Atomic Energy Agency on integrating nuclear energy into the country’s energy mix, including the deployment of small modular reactors.
The INIR report marks a major milestone in Rwanda’s efforts to lay the foundation for a safe, secure, and sustainable nuclear power programme.
President Kagame welcomed the delivery of the report, saying: “Rwanda is pleased to have successfully completed the IAEA’s Phase 1 Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR).
“We intend to have nuclear energy operational by the early 2030s, and this assessment confirms that we are on track. For Africa, energy is not simply a development issue; it is the foundation of industrial growth and competitiveness,” he said.
Mr. Grossi also held discussions with President Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania on expanding cooperation between the IAEA and Tanzania, covering cancer care and plans to boost food security under the IAEA’s Rays of Hope and Atoms4Food flagship initiatives, as well as Tanzania’s plans to develop its power infrastructure.
African countries account for around half of all newcomer nations working with the IAEA, with 13 countries actively pursuing nuclear power programmes.
New financing opportunities for nuclear power projects on the continent are also expected after the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Bank signed an agreement in 2025 to collaborate on nuclear energy for development.
“Africa’s energy future will be built by Africans, and the IAEA is ready to continue supporting countries across the continent, from infrastructure development and capacity building to new technologies such as SMRs,” said Mr. Grossi.
“Africa’s economic transformation depends fundamentally on reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy systems,” said President Hassan during the summit.
She added that Africa’s expanding digital infrastructure, as well as growing demand in manufacturing and mining, had increased the need for stable baseload power.
“Civil nuclear power — and in particular small modular reactors and micro-reactors — are no longer a distant prospect,” said Faure Gnassingbé. “The World Bank has lifted its long-standing ban on financing nuclear power. COP meetings and financial institutions have endorsed this technology because it has evolved, and the global context has changed too. It is now up to us to change our perspective.”
India’s state-owned energy majors that trade in fuels raised prices at the pump for the fourth time in the space of a month, reflecting the continued effect of the Strait of Hormuz closure on oil and fuel flows.
The cumulative price hike since the start of the month comes in at 8.6% for diesel fuel, Reuters reported today, and 7.8% for gasoline.
The first fuel price hike took place in Mid-May, with refiners including Indian Oil Corp., Bharat Petroleum Corp, and Hindustan Petroleum Corp. hiking their retail prices by over 3% for the first time in four years.
Since the war in the Middle East began and cut off over 40% of India’s crude oil flows, those that passed through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the highest-flying economies in Asia has seen its oil import bill soar, investors fleeing the capital market, and the local currency plunging to an all-time low against the U.S. dollar.
As a result, the world’s third-largest crude importer saw its wholesale inflation jump to 8.3% in April from a year earlier, significantly accelerating from 3.88% annual inflation in March, driving wholesale fuel prices higher.
These surged in April, with gasoline prices up by 32.4% and diesel prices up by 25.19%. That’s up from a monthly rise of 2.5% for gasoline in March, and 3.62% for diesel.
The government in New Delhi, meanwhile, has called for fuel conservation, including through working from home, carpooling, and using public transport instead of personal vehicles.
The measures are urgently needed because, as international oil prices surge, so does India’s oil import bill, which in turn affects refiners’ bottom lines.
The oil and fuel import bill for March stood at $12.1 billion, The Banker reported this month, rising further to $18.6 billion in April, in a 53% monthly jump.
This month will likely see a further rise in oil import prices as benchmarks creep higher.
Residents of Sakwa in Bondo Sub-county, Kenya, on Thursday took to the streets to demonstrate against the proposed establishment of the country’s first nuclear power plant, which is scheduled for construction in 2027.
Carrying placards and chanting anti-nuclear slogans, the residents raised serious concerns about environmental safety, public health, and what they described as a glaring lack of community consultation.
The protesters displayed banners bearing inscriptions such as “We Reject,” firmly reiterating their opposition to the proposed plant to be built in the area.
Chaos and noise engulfed the area as a moderator attempted to calm the protesters during what appeared to be a public participation forum.
“We have rejected the plan to have a nuclear plant in Siaya. We don’t want it,” one resident was heard saying.
The protests come as the Kenyan government, through the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA), intensifies plans to establish the country’s first nuclear power station in the county.
The KSh500 billion project is expected to be funded through a mix of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), combining public resources with private-sector investment to reduce the burden on taxpayers while attracting global expertise.
The nuclear plant is expected to generate between 1,000 and 3,000 megawatts of electricity and strengthen Kenya’s electricity sector, which continues to face growing demand.
The increasing demand for electricity has created the need for stable baseload power, which nuclear energy is expected to provide, complementing existing renewable energy sources that are often affected by weather and climate variability.
In a statement, NuPEA Chief Executive Officer, Justus Wabuyabo, assured residents that the project would not proceed without the broad and informed consent of the local host community.
“We wish to assure the public that the stakeholder engagement process is firmly ongoing. We are moving from high-level institutional planning into deep, village-level grassroots sensitisation,” Wabuyabo stated.
He emphasised that the agency is fully committed to implementing a robust, transparent, and multi-layered educational campaign designed to address concerns regarding local safety, livelihoods, and land ownership.
“As the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency, we hear and respect the voices of the residents of Siaya. Public participation is not a mere procedural formality. It is a constitutional right and a technical necessity for a successful national nuclear programme,” the CEO added.
Community members accused authorities of keeping them in the dark, claiming officials had failed to conduct adequate public participation before identifying Sakwa as a potential site for the project.
The project was initially proposed for Kilifi County. However, strong opposition from coastal residents, environmental groups, and local leaders forced the government to shift its focus to Siaya County in western Kenya.
Kenya is moving forward with the implementation of the Energy (Biofuels) Regulations, 2025, which will support the phased rollout of locally produced biofuel blends across the country’s fuel supply chain.
The initiative forms part of broader national efforts to strengthen energy security, diversify energy sources, and reduce dependence on imported fuel.
As part of the implementation process, the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum and the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) convened a high-level stakeholder consultation that brought together regulators, oil marketing companies, ethanol producers, manufacturers, logistics firms, and other industry participants.
The discussions focused on sector preparedness, infrastructure requirements, implementation priorities, and the operationalisation of Kenya’s biofuel blending framework.
The regulations establish a framework for blending locally produced biofuels with petroleum through the phased introduction of E5 and E10 fuels. E5 contains 5% bioethanol, while E10 contains 10% bioethanol.
Gazetted in December 2025, the Energy (Biofuels) Regulations, 2025, cover biofuel production, licensing, blending, transportation, storage, distribution, and sales.
The rollout comes at a time when countries are reassessing their energy security and fuel resilience amid ongoing global oil market volatility and geopolitical disruptions.
Bioethanol is produced from feedstocks such as sugarcane molasses, cassava, maize, and sorghum through fermentation and distillation, while biodiesel is produced from vegetable oils, waste cooking oil, and other organic materials through chemical processing.
Bioethanol and biodiesel can also be further refined to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), which is increasingly being adopted globally as part of efforts to decarbonise the aviation sector.
Governments around the world are promoting biofuels to strengthen energy resilience, reduce oil dependence, support agriculture, diversify fuel sources, and lower transport emissions.
Countries such as Brazil, India, the United States, Thailand, and South Africa have expanded biofuel blending programmes. Kenya aims to leverage local feedstocks to support a similar transition, creating economic opportunities across agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, and renewable energy.
Speaking during the stakeholder consultation, Dr. Eng. Joseph Oketch, Acting Director General of EPRA, said:
“The Biofuels Regulations provide Kenya with an important opportunity to strengthen energy security while building new local industries around agriculture, manufacturing, and renewable energy. As we scale up domestic bioethanol production and structured blending, we can gradually reduce exposure to external fuel shocks while creating new opportunities for farmers, investors, manufacturers, and other players across the value chain.”
The Gambia’s National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has attributed the recent intermittent power outages being experienced in parts of the country to what it described as significant technical faults affecting sections of the electricity distribution system.
The faults have impacted the stability and reliability of power supply, resulting in unplanned service interruptions in several areas.
In a statement issued on Saturday, NAWEC said its technical teams are working around the clock to identify the root causes and carry out the necessary repairs and network reinforcements to restore normal and stable electricity supply as quickly as possible.
The company also informed customers that some feeders will continue to experience load shedding, particularly during peak demand periods, as part of ongoing efforts to manage limited generation capacity and stabilize the network until the situation is fully resolved.
NAWEC said it fully understands the inconvenience the situation may cause, especially as the country approaches the Eid al-Adha (Tobaski) festivities, a period of high electricity demand and great social significance.
The company apologized for the disruptions and expressed appreciation for the patience, understanding, and continued cooperation of its customers during this challenging period.
“Efforts are being intensified across all operational areas to improve network stability and minimise further disruptions,” the statement concluded.
Oil prices dropped below $100 in early Asian trade on Monday following reports over the weekend that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz was in its final stages.
At the time of writing, both oil benchmarks had dropped by more than 5%, with Brent breaking back below $100 to trade at $98.81, while WTI fell to $92.06.
Optimism around a deal was tempered somewhat on Sunday when President Donald Trump posted on social media that he had informed his representatives “not to rush into a deal.”
A senior U.S. administration official later added that, while progress had been made, the deal would not be signed on Sunday.
The deal aims to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, end the war, and see Iran give up its enriched uranium.
The first stage of the agreement would involve a 60-day extension of the ceasefire, during which traffic would resume through the Strait while nuclear negotiations continue.
Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that the number of vessels transiting the Strait could return to pre-war levels within 30 days if an agreement is reached.
The deal would also include an end to the war between Israel and Hezbollah, although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that “any final agreement with Iran must eliminate the nuclear danger.”
Nigeria: Dangote Refinery Targets $2 Billion Investments From Private Investors Ahead Of IPO
Spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Esmail Baghaei said that while the memorandum of understanding was in its final stages, details regarding the nuclear issue were not being discussed at this stage.
While an agreement would provide much-needed relief to oil markets, it remains unclear how quickly oil flows could return to pre-war levels and how long it would take to restore damaged oil and gas infrastructure.
Even then, without a final agreement that clearly guarantees uninterrupted traffic through the Strait in the future, the geopolitical risk of another major energy crisis would remain.
The seminar focused on critical licensing, fiscal and contractual issues shaping exploration investment across Africa, including direct negotiations and competitive bidding rounds, petroleum fiscal regimes, production sharing agreements, cost recovery structures, investment risk, and how different categories of companies assess opportunities in frontier and early-stage petroleum jurisdictions.
The country’s participation at the Africa Energies Summit is expected to further strengthen investor confidence and public interest in The Gambia’s oil and gas exploration sector.
It also demonstrated the continuous technical, commercial and institutional work being undertaken to position The Gambia as a credible, responsible and investment-ready frontier petroleum jurisdiction.
Cany Jobe was appointed Director General of the Petroleum Commission in January 2026 by President Adama Barrow and has over 18 years of international experience across the oil and gas value chain.
She holds a Master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Western Australia and a Master’s degree in International Project Management from Glasgow Caledonian University.
Prior to her appointment, she served as Director of Exploration and Production at the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation, where she was instrumental in upstream strategy development, data management and engagement with prospective investors.
She has also held positions with regional and international institutions across Asia, Australia, West Africa and America, including roles with China Petroleum Corporation, Venezuela’s PDVSA and the ECOWAS Commission as a national consultant. 
