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Ghana, ENI Discuss Oil, Gas Production And Future Investment Plans

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana, ENI Discuss Oil, Gas Production And Future Investment Plans

Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, has met a delegation from Italian energy company ENI, led by Guido Brusco, Chief Operating Officer of Global Natural Resources, to discuss the company’s operations in the West African country.

ENI has operated in Ghana since 2009 through the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) block, which includes the Sankofa and Gye Nyame fields.

According to Jinapor, the meeting focused on ENI’s performance in Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector and opportunities for future investment.

The minister commended the company for reversing declining oil production through the successful drilling of new wells.

He also praised ENI for producing 282 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, which supports power generation, and for maintaining operational reliability of more than 99.9%.

The talks also covered ongoing exploration activities, including appraisal wells, as well as future investment plans and potential field extensions.

In a post on social media, Jinapor said he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining a stable, transparent and investor-friendly business environment to encourage responsible investment, increase production, strengthen energy security and deliver long-term benefits to Ghanaians.

“I look forward to continued collaboration with ENI and all our industry partners as we work together to maximize the value of our nation’s natural resources,” he said.

Ghana: EPA Shuts Down Dukes Fuel Station In Kasoa Over Sanitation Concerns

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: EPA Shuts Down Dukes Fuel Station In Kasoa Over Sanitation Concerns
Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on Friday shut down Dukes Petroleum’s filling station  at Kasoa Second Bus Stop in the Central Region over sanitation concerns. The EPA said a blocked drain in front of the filling station was contributing to flooding along the highway. The issue was identified during a nationwide clean-up exercise on July 10. The exercise follows recent flooding in parts of Ghana that killed more than 30 people and displaced over 38,000 others in the Greater Accra and Central regions. Kasoa Area Head of the EPA, Abbas Dawood, said the clogged drains caused water to overflow onto the main road during heavy rainfall, posing a risk to motorists and pedestrians. He said inspectors found the fuel station operating despite the poor sanitary conditions around the premises. Following the inspection, the Kasoa Municipal Assembly ordered the immediate closure of the station until the drains are desilted and all sanitation concerns have been addressed. Dawood said the EPA and the Assembly would continue enforcing environmental regulations to ensure businesses comply with sanitation standards and help reduce the risk of flooding. “We assessed the area and found that the drains were choked, causing water to overflow onto the road,” Dawood said. “We want residents, shops and businesses to take responsibility for environmental sanitation to help reduce flooding in Kasoa.” He said authorities would also close other businesses that fail to desilt drains in front of their premises. “This is necessary, and we will meet with the management to discuss the way forward,” he said.

Ukraine Says It Hit Russian Fuel Tankers Supplying Occupied Crimea

Michael Creg Afful
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Ukraine Says It Hit Russian Fuel Tankers Supplying Occupied Crimea

Ukraine has launched large-scale strikes against Russian tankers transporting fuel to occupied Crimea, Ukrainian officials said, as Kyiv seeks to disrupt Moscow’s military logistics on the peninsula.

The campaign follows Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries, including the Omsk refinery in Siberia, Russia’s largest, located about 2,500 km (1,550 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

Ukrainian officials say the attacks have contributed to fuel shortages in Russia.

Commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Robert Brovdi, said Ukrainian forces struck 19 Russian tankers, a cargo ship and a ferry between July 6 and July 8, including nine tankers during the night of July 7.

Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk told public broadcaster Suspilne that Russia had shifted fuel deliveries to Crimea by sea after Ukraine disrupted overland supply routes.

“They had few options left. It’s either a land corridor or a sea connection,” Pletenchuk said. “As far as we know, they don’t use the Kerch Bridge for such transportation in the necessary volumes.”

The Kerch Bridge, which links Russia to Crimea, was damaged in a truck bombing in 2022 that ignited a fuel train travelling across the bridge.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told the Financial Times that Ukraine had shifted its focus to Crimea after disabling Russia’s oil offloading terminal at Novorossiysk on the Black Sea.

“We were slowing down the militarisation of our peninsula occupied by Russia,” Zelenskiy said.

“We cut off the logistics and took control of the fuel and energy complex.”

The Ukrainian president’s representative office in Crimea said the strikes had triggered what it described as “a management crisis” on the peninsula.

It said fuel sales to civilians had been suspended in Sevastopol and that power outages had affected more than a dozen districts.

Ukraine said it also carried out additional strikes on military targets in Crimea over the past week, including attacks on the Saky and Hvardiiske (Guardske) airfields and the Kerch oil transshipment terminal.

Russia also came under renewed drone attacks, with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin saying Ukraine launched one of its largest drone attacks on the Russian capital in two years.

Russian authorities said they intercepted more than 400 drones headed toward Moscow on July 7, the opening day of a NATO summit in Ankara.

“When our drones weren’t flying to Moscow and St. Petersburg, Putin didn’t think much about it. He understood that the war was far from the Kremlin,” Zelenskiy told the Financial Times.

“When not a hundred drones, but a thousand would start flying to Moscow … this would be a moment like a new page on the path to ending the war,” he said.

Algeria: SONATRACH Delivers First LNG Cargo To Germany’s Wilhelmshaven Terminal

Michael Creg Afful
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Algeria: SONATRACH Delivers First LNG Cargo To Germany’s Wilhelmshaven Terminal

Algeria’s state-owned energy company SONATRACH has delivered its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo to Germany at the Wilhelmshaven 1 floating regasification terminal, the company said.

In a statement, SONATRACH said the cargo was loaded at its GL2Z liquefaction complex in Bethioua, Algeria, and transported aboard the TESSALA, an LNG carrier owned by the company.

The company said the delivery supports its strategy to expand the marketing of its gas resources in strategic, high-potential markets while demonstrating the flexibility of its LNG trading operations.

SONATRACH said it plans to increase LNG exports to the German market, strengthening its position as a supplier and contributing to Europe’s energy security.

Ghana: ACEP, SolarTaxi Graduate First Cohort Of 24 Women In Green Energy Skills Program

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: ACEP, SolarTaxi Graduate First Cohort Of 24 Women In Green Energy Skills Program

The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), a Ghanaian policy think tank, in partnership with SolarTaxi, has graduated the first cohort of its Green Energy Technology Capacity Development Programme (GET-CaDeP), equipping 24 young women with practical skills in solar, electric vehicle (EV) and battery technologies.

The participants completed four months of intensive training and industry internships designed to prepare them for careers in Ghana’s clean energy sector while helping to narrow the gender gap in the country’s growing green technology industry.

Read Also:Ghana’s Energy Commission Signs MoU With Abu Dhabi’s Global South Utilities

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, ACEP’s Policy Lead for Petroleum and Conventional Energy, Kodzo Yaotse, said the initiative was a deliberate effort to address the underrepresentation of women in Ghana’s clean energy and technology sectors.

SolarTaxi Chief Executive Officer Jorge Appiah commended the graduates for their commitment and resilience in pursuing technical fields traditionally dominated by men. He encouraged them to see the programme as a foundation for future leadership roles and careers in Ghana’s energy sector.

Petrobras Secures Block 3 In São Tomé And Príncipe’s Exclusive Economic Zone

Michael Creg Afful
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Petrobras Secures Block 3 In São Tomé And Príncipe’s Exclusive Economic Zone
Brazil’s state-controlled oil company Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras) has secured Block 3 in the Exclusive Economic Zone of São Tomé and Príncipe, the National Petroleum Agency of São Tomé and Príncipe (ANP-STP) said. The production sharing contract for Block 3 will run for 28 years. Petrobras will operate Block 3 with a 75% participating interest, while Oranto Petroleum and ANP-STP will hold 15% and 10% interests, respectively. In a statement, ANP-STP Executive Director Álvaro Silva said applications for Blocks 7, 8 and 9 did not meet all of the state’s award criteria, particularly its objective of diversifying operators in São Tomé and Príncipe. As a result, ANP-STP, acting in its capacity as the sector regulator, decided not to award the three blocks, in line with the government’s strategy for the petroleum sector. “The state will concentrate its exploration efforts on the awarded blocks and, when it deems appropriate, will launch a new licensing round for additional blocks,” Silva said.

South Africa:Eskom Removes More Than 1 Million Customers From Load Reduction Programme

Michael Creg Afful
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South Africa:Eskom Removes More Than 1 Million Customers From Load Reduction Programme
South Africa’s state-owned power utility, Eskom, says it has removed 1,104,225 customers from its load reduction programme, achieving 56.17% of its nationwide target to eliminate the measure. The utility said five of South Africa’s nine provinces are now free from load reduction. Load reduction was introduced to protect overloaded local electricity networks and infrastructure. Eskom said it has removed545 feeders from the programme nationwide, with the remaining affected areas concentrated mainly in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. The latest milestone follows the elimination of load reduction in Mpumalanga, which joins the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Free State, and North West as provinces no longer subject to the programme. Eskom said it remains on track to eliminate load reduction in seven provinces by October 2026 and nationwide by March 2027. The utility said the progress forms part of its strategy to improve operational and financial sustainability by reducing energy losses and modernising the electricity distribution network through targeted infrastructure investments. Eskom noted that the improvements are expected to enhance the reliability of electricity supply for households, schools, healthcare facilities, businesses, and communities. The utility stressed that load reduction differs from load shedding. While South Africa’s power system has remained stable for more than 413 consecutive days without load shedding, load reduction was introduced to protect local distribution networks from overloading caused by illegal connections, electricity theft, meter tampering, and electricity demand exceeding network capacity. According to Eskom, ongoing investments in distribution infrastructure, the deployment of smart meters, the integration of distributed energy resources, revenue protection measures, and collaboration with municipalities and communities are helping address the underlying causes of load reduction. “The elimination of load reduction forms part of Eskom’s broader commitment to transforming electricity service delivery across South Africa,” said Junaid Munshi, Eskom’s Group Executive for Distribution. “Reaching the milestone of more than one million customers removed from load reduction demonstrates that the programme is delivering tangible results. However, the work is not complete. The remaining areas, particularly in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, require sustained investment, continued infrastructure upgrades, the deployment of advanced technologies, and ongoing collaboration with communities and stakeholders to address the root causes of network overloading,” he said. Eskom called on municipalities, government departments, traditional leaders, law enforcement agencies, and communities to work together to protect electricity infrastructure, prevent illegal connections, and ensure safe access for technical teams. The utility said it remains committed to providing a safe, reliable, and sustainable electricity supply while ensuring that improvements in power system performance benefit all South Africans.

Nigeria: UTM Offshore Secures 15-Year Gas Supply Deal With NNPC Ltd And Seplat Energy

Michael Creg Afful
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Nigeria: UTM Offshore Secures 15-Year Gas Supply Deal With NNPC Ltd And Seplat Energy

Nigerian energy company UTM Offshore has signed a 15-year gas supply agreement with state-owned NNPC Ltd and Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited, paving the way for a final investment decision on its proposed $3 billion floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project.

Under the agreement, NNPC Ltd and Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited will supply 200 million standard cubic feet (5.7 million cubic metres) of natural gas per day to the UTM FLNG project, which is designed to produce 1.8 million tonnes of LNG annually from gas sourced from the Yoho field.

UTM Offshore Chief Executive Julius Rone said the agreement establishes the long-term feed gas framework required to advance project financing, construction and operations.

“The execution of this agreement establishes the long-term feed gas framework needed to advance project financing, construction and operations,” Rone said at the signing ceremony in Abuja.

He said the agreement would provide certainty for investors, lenders and LNG buyers, positioning the project for a final investment decision in the fourth quarter of 2026.

NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Bashir Ojulari said the agreement supports the federal government’s gas-led industrialisation strategy and is expected to strengthen gas utilisation.

“What we are witnessing today is not just about signing agreements. It is about igniting the engine of Nigeria’s industrialisation,” Ojulari said.

“Gas is the key. It is a source of revenue and profit. It is also the only resource that can have this level of industrial impact on Nigeria, more than any other hydrocarbon.”

The UTM FLNG project, in which NNPC Ltd holds a 20% stake, UTM Offshore 72% and the Delta State Government 8%, received Nigeria’s first licence for a floating LNG export facility in 2024. The project forms part of the government’s strategy to monetise stranded gas reserves and expand LNG exports.

Nigeria holds some of Africa’s largest natural gas reserves but has struggled for decades to commercialise much of the resource because of funding constraints, inadequate infrastructure and regulatory uncertainty.

Front-end engineering and design (FEED) for the project was completed in 2023 by JGC and Technip Energies, according to UTM Offshore.

ADNOC Signs 15-Year LNG Supply Deal With Japan’s INPEX

Michael Creg Afful
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ADNOC Signs 15-Year LNG Supply Deal With Japan’s INPEX
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has signed a 15-year sales and purchase agreement with Japan’s INPEX Corp to supply 1 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its Ruwais LNG project. ADNOC said the agreement was signed during a high-level visit to Japan led by Sultan Al Jaber, the United Arab Emirates’ Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, ADNOC’s Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, and Executive Chairman of XRG. Nasser Al Muhairi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of ADNOC Downstream Industry, Marketing and Trading and Chairman of Ruwais LNG, said the deal was the first long-term LNG supply agreement announced since the launch of ADNOC and XRG’s integrated global LNG marketing and trading platform. He said the agreement builds on ADNOC’s long-standing energy partnership with Japan and supports the commercialisation of the Ruwais LNG project. “As ADNOC and XRG target 47 million tonnes per annum of combined marketable LNG by 2035, Ruwais LNG will be a key source of reliable, flexible and lower-carbon supply for customers in Asia and around the world,” Al Muhairi said. ADNOC said the agreement also strengthens its long-standing relationship with INPEX, which holds interests in several of Abu Dhabi’s offshore and onshore oil and gas concessions. The LNG will be supplied primarily from the Ruwais LNG project, which is under development in Al Ruwais Industrial City, Abu Dhabi. The project is expected to begin commercial operations in 2028. ADNOC said about 90% of the project’s planned production capacity of 9.6 mtpa has already been committed to customers in Asia and Europe under long-term agreements. The company said the Ruwais LNG facility will be the first LNG export plant in the Middle East and Africa to operate on clean power. It added that the project will use artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to improve operational efficiency, enhance safety and reduce emissions. In November 2024, ADNOC Gas said it expects to acquire ADNOC’s 60% stake in the Ruwais LNG project at cost, estimated at about $5 billion, in 2028. Once completed, the project, comprising two liquefaction trains with a combined capacity of 9.6 mtpa, is expected to increase ADNOC Gas’ operated LNG production capacity to about 15 mtpa.    

Ghana: Kenya’s EPRA Visits Ghana’s Energy Commission To Benchmark MEPS Implementation

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana: Kenya’s EPRA Visits Ghana’s Energy Commission To Benchmark MEPS Implementation
A delegation from Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) has visited the Energy Commission of Ghana to benchmark the implementation of regional Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), the commission said. The delegation, comprising officials from EPRA’s Electricity and Renewable Energy Directorate, is studying Ghana’s experience in implementing energy-efficiency standards and regulatory frameworks. During the visit, officials from both institutions discussed implementation frameworks, policies and institutional arrangements supporting MEPS in Ghana, as well as monitoring, compliance and enforcement mechanisms. The discussions also covered the design and implementation of regional and national MEPS programmes, data collection, benchmarking and performance-tracking systems. Acting Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, Adwoa Serwaa Bondzie, said Ghana’s energy-efficiency programme began in the mid-2000s with the introduction of standards and labelling requirements for refrigerating appliances before expanding to air conditioners and lighting products. Bondzie said the commission’s refrigerator rebate and exchange programme demonstrated how regulation, incentives and public awareness could encourage the adoption of energy-efficient appliances. She added that the commission had strengthened its testing, verification and institutional frameworks to support compliance and enforcement, and highlighted Ghana’s role in harmonising energy-efficiency standards across the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Nigeria: NNPC Signs Six Gas Agreements With Partners To Boost Industrialisation, Energy Security

Michael Creg Afful
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Nigeria: NNPC Signs Six Gas Agreements With Partners To Boost Industrialisation, Energy Security
Nigerian state-owned energy company NNPC Ltd has signed six long-term gas agreements with industry partners aimed at boosting domestic gas supply, supporting industrialisation and strengthening the country’s energy security, the company said. The agreements, signed on Tuesday during the 25th NOG Energy Week in Abuja, include a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a Gas Sale Aggregation Agreement (GSAA), a Gas Supply Agreement (GSA) and three Network Entry Agreements. The deals include an MoU and a GSAA with Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL), a GSA with UTM FLNG, and Network Entry Agreements with Chevron Nigeria Ltd, AGPC and NNPC Exploration & Production Ltd (NEPL). NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Bashir Ojulari said the agreements support the federal government’s gas-led industrialisation strategy and are expected to increase gas availability for domestic consumers. “What we are witnessing today is not just about signing agreements. It is about igniting the engine of Nigeria’s industrialisation,” Ojulari said. “Gas is the key. It is a source of revenue and profit. It is also the only resource that can have this level of industrial impact on Nigeria, more than any other hydrocarbon.” He said the agreements establish a standardised framework for gas utilisation that will unlock additional domestic supply and reinforce the role of natural gas in driving economic growth. Ojulari said the agreements also mark a new phase of collaboration between NNPC and its partners, which he said would promote local content development, improve energy security and support Nigeria’s ambition to become a major industrial economy. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri, Special Adviser to the President on Energy Olu Verheijen, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission Executive Commissioner Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority Chief Executive Farouk Ahmed. The agreements have tenures ranging from 15 to 20 years.

Ghana’s Energy Commission Signs MoU With Abu Dhabi’s Global South Utilities

Michael Creg Afful
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Ghana’s Energy Commission Signs MoU With Abu Dhabi’s Global South Utilities
Ghana’s Energy Commission has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Abu Dhabi-based Global South Utilities (GSU) to strengthen cooperation in the energy sector. The agreement was signed at Jubilee House in Accra during a high-level visit by a United Arab Emirates delegation led by Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Minister of State. According to the Energy Commission, the MoU was approved by Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor. Adwoa Serwaa Bondzie, Acting Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, signed the agreement on behalf of the commission, while Ali Al Shimmari, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Global South Utilities, signed for GSU. The signing was witnessed by the UAE’s Ambassador to Ghana, Abdulla Almandoos. Under the agreement, the two parties will explore cooperation in technical assistance, knowledge sharing and investment opportunities to support Ghana’s energy transition. Bondzie said the partnership would help identify “practical areas of collaboration that deliver tangible value for Ghana’s energy sector.” Al Shimmari said GSU was committed to supporting the commission’s efforts to advance Ghana’s energy transition and long-term economic growth. The two parties said they expect the agreement to strengthen the resilience of Ghana’s energy infrastructure and expand access to sustainable, reliable and affordable energy.

Dangote Plans 700,000-Bpd Refinery In Kenya’s Lamu For East African Market

Michael Creg Afful
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Dangote Plans 700,000-Bpd Refinery In Kenya’s Lamu For East African Market

Nigeria’s Dangote Industries Ltd plans to build a 700,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) oil refinery in Lamu, Kenya, as part of its expansion into East Africa, the company’s Group Vice President for Oil and Gas, Devakumar Edwin, said.

The proposed refinery would supply refined petroleum products to Kenya and neighbouring East African countries, supporting regional efforts to reduce reliance on imported fuels.

Edwin disclosed the planned capacity during a visit by a delegation from the Republic of the Congo’s national oil company to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos on July 1.

He said Dangote’s refining capacity in Nigeria would reach 1.4 million bpd, while the planned Kenyan refinery would add a further 700,000 bpd, bringing the group’s combined refining capacity to 2.1 million bpd.

Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote had previously said the company planned to build a refinery in East Africa.

The project was initially proposed for Tanzania’s Port of Tanga before the company shifted its focus to Kenya.

Lamu and Mombasa are under consideration as potential sites, with the company evaluating the most suitable location for the multibillion-dollar project.

Dangote said the shift reflected maritime considerations, existing infrastructure and market demand.

Kenyan President William Ruto said regional governments would participate in financing the project, with Kenya allocating 21.5 billion Kenyan shillings ($…) in seed capital.

The refinery is expected to cost about 2.5 trillion Kenyan shillings and supply refined fuels to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan and other East African markets.

If completed, the project is expected to reduce East Africa’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products and improve regional fuel supply security.

Uganda: Farmer Group Sues In UK Court To Block $5bn EACOP Project

Michael Creg Afful
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0

A group of Ugandan farmers has filed a case in the UK High Court against the developer of the $5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), seeking to stop the nearly completed project on environmental grounds, Oilprice.com reported, citing Bloomberg.

The $5 billion pipeline, which will transport crude oil from Uganda’s Albertine Graben to the Tanzanian port of Tanga, is nearing completion after years of delays and controversy. The project is being developed by French energy major TotalEnergies.

EACOP has faced years of environmental scrutiny over its potential impact on ecosystems and communities along its route. Supporters argue the project could transform East Africa by creating jobs, attracting infrastructure investment and strengthening regional energy security.

Opponents, including the Ugandan farmers who filed the lawsuit against UK-registered EACOP Ltd, argue that the pipeline, associated oil production and its route would harm water resources, wildlife and biodiversity.

The 1,443-kilometre pipeline will enable Uganda to export crude oil for the first time. Production from the Albertine Rift Basin, where TotalEnergies and China’s CNOOC are developing the Tilenga and Kingfisher oilfields, is expected to peak at around 200,000 barrels per day.

The pipeline is designed to transport up to 216,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with capacity expected to increase to 246,000 barrels per day during ramp-up, according to the Ugandan government.

Construction of the pipeline could be completed as early as this month, with first oil exports expected later this year or in early 2027.

The plaintiffs hope the lawsuit will prevent the pipeline from becoming operational.

“The case seeks remedies that could go to the heart of the project’s commercial viability, including an injunction to stop oil being transported through the pipeline, as well as compensation and other legal relief under Ugandan law,” the farmers said in a statement issued through law firm Leigh Day, as cited by Bloomberg.

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