South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, says the government is fast-tracking domestic gas development and LNG import projects to mitigate supply shortfalls from Mozambique.
Mantashe made the remarks while addressing the G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum in Johannesburg on Friday, November 21, 2025.
“We will continue to develop infrastructure to integrate new deposits and make gas available to South Africa,” Mantashe said.
“The biggest solution is us having access to our own gas deposits,” he added.
The country currently imports 90% of its natural gas via the 865 km ROMPCO pipeline from Mozambique’s Pande and Temane fields. With South African energy and chemical company Sasol planning to prioritise its internal volumes from mid-2026, the government is accelerating infrastructure development and domestic exploration to secure new supplies and strengthen energy resilience.
To address the gap, the government is fast-tracking the Matola Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) in Mozambique, expected online by mid-2026, and the Richards Bay LNG terminal in South Africa, scheduled for 2027.
Plans are also underway for new pipelines to connect offshore discoveries in the Orange Basin to the national grid.
Mantashe further stressed the need to advance regulatory reforms to unlock offshore exploration and lift moratoria in the Karoo and Orange Basins.
The Orange Basin — site of major discoveries including Brulpadda and Luiperd — has the potential to significantly reduce imports, boost GDP, and create jobs, the minister noted, adding that successful development could unlock billions in investments across the petrochemicals and energy sectors.
“Drill, baby, drill,” Mantashe emphasised. “We have no legal restriction on oil and gas exploration and exploitation in South Africa. If we make a breakthrough on oil and gas, our GDP will grow exponentially. Our people will never breathe fresh air in darkness.”
South Africa’s move signals a decisive push toward energy self-sufficiency at a time when global LNG markets are volatile and domestic gas demand continues to rise.
Ivory Coast’s Minister of Mines, Petroleum, and Energy, Mamadou Sangafowa-Coulibaly, has outlined the country’s priorities for the petroleum sector in 2026, focusing on exploring new oil deposits, strengthening sector governance, and increasing production.
Presenting the 2026 national budget, he highlighted progress on key projects, including the scheduled completion of the Baleine (Phase 2) and Baobab (Phase 5) gas field development projects in 2026.
He also referenced an ongoing natural-gas-to-power project implemented in partnership with the World Bank and ENI, aimed at securing the country’s gas supply.
On electricity generation, the Minister outlined priority areas such as expanding installed capacity to over 3,415 MW, improving grid reliability, reducing outages, and completing more than 550,000 new connections to accelerate universal access to electricity by 2030.
Reviewing developments in the mining sector in 2024, Mr. Coulibaly noted that 41 new exploration permits were issued, while gold production increased to 59.1 tonnes.
However, manganese and nickel output declined due to unfavourable market conditions.
He reported that production commenced at the Baleine field (Phase 2), and national oil analysis laboratory capabilities were upgraded.
The Minister also highlighted ongoing challenges, including persistent illegal gold mining, and emphasized the work of the GSLOI task force in addressing the issue.
Electricity infrastructure development in 2024 included connecting 638 villages to the national grid, increasing generation capacity to 3,044 MW, and commissioning new infrastructure such as a solar technology resource centre.
The Northern Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (NEDCo) has commenced a general revenue mobilisation and loss control exercise across its operational areas, effective today, Monday, November 24, 2025.
A statement issued by Maxwell Kotoka, Manager of Corporate Communications at NEDCo, said the exercise will cover all categories of customers in arrears, including both privately owned and state-owned accounts, except for a selected critical few.
According to him, significant attention will be given to loss-inducing activities such as illegal and unauthorised connections of all forms.
He added that special security arrangements have been put in place to ensure that the exercise proceeds smoothly without interference from any individual.
“Any persons identified as being engaged in illegal connections or reconnections will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” he said.
He noted that the company’s Head Office and Area Offices will be closed temporarily to allow for the full engagement of all staff, including top management, in the exercise.
However, customer service centres, zonal offices and third-party vendors will remain open to address customer concerns, including reconnections.
Mr Kotoka emphasised that the exercise will not interfere with ongoing prosecution processes and advised customers in arrears to pay their bills immediately to avoid disconnection and the payment of reconnection fees.
He further urged those involved in any form of illegal or unauthorised connection to desist immediately to avoid any encounter with the law.
He concluded by appealing to the public to cooperate with the company to ensure the success of the exercise.
Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, has signed seventeen (17) Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements with a potential total value of more than $30 billion with major companies in the United States through its Aramco Group companies.
These MoUs and agreements build on the 34 MoUs and agreements announced in May, which had a potential total value of approximately $90 billion.
Collectively, they are geared toward unlocking potential collaboration opportunities with companies in the U.S. valued at around $120 billion.
The MoUs and agreements are expected to support Aramco’s strategic growth objectives while enhancing shareholder value.
They involve collaborations and partnerships across a range of activities including liquefied natural gas (LNG), financial services, advanced materials manufacturing, and procurement of materials and services.
Amin H. Nasser, Aramco President & CEO, said: “Since the 1930s, U.S. firms have played a major role in supporting the company’s success. These relationships have contributed to the first production of oil in Saudi Arabia, the growth of our gas business, an expansion of our integrated downstream operations, the development of advanced digital technologies, AI and R&D, and promoted upskilling through the training and development of many Aramco employees in the U.S. We expect the multi-billion-dollar MoUs and agreements announced today to act as a springboard for further progress, strengthening Aramco’s longstanding legacy of collaboration with American counterparties and unlocking new value-creation opportunities that promote innovation and growth.”
Kenya’s power utility, Kenya Power, has begun rolling out a new meter reading technology designed to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and speed of meter data collection across its operational areas.
The new initiative, known as Optical Character Recognition (OCR), eliminates the need for manually typing meter numbers and readings. Instead, it allows for the scanning of meter displays to enable high-accuracy processing.
“Technology is a major driver of our business, and in terms of billing—specifically meter reading—we have been looking at how to make it better and more accurate. With the OCR system, the meter reader will just be required to scan the meter, and the system will pick the meter readings automatically. This will save time and eliminate human error that is likely to occur if the meter reader manually types the readings,” said Richard Wida, Kenya Power’s Commercial Cycle Manager, in a statement issued on Monday, November 24, 2025.
The nationwide rollout follows a successful six-month pilot conducted in Nairobi starting in March 2025.
According to the company, a total of 1.8 million postpaid meters are targeted for reading using the OCR technology. These are the postpaid meters whose readings must be taken manually and submitted monthly for billing.
Beyond improving meter reading efficiency, the OCR system is also intended to reduce billing anomalies that arise from inaccurate meter readings.
“The OCR technology is a major milestone in Kenya Power’s digital transformation journey, through which the Company aims to strengthen service delivery and enhance customer experience. It will complement other technologies that the Company has deployed to improve service delivery and strengthen operations,” said Mr. Wida.
Kenya Power is already leveraging several digital platforms to enhance service delivery, including the self-service channels—MyPower App and USSD Code *977#—which allow customers to access services on their mobile phones. Through the self-reading option, postpaid customers can read their meters and submit readings monthly for accurate billing.
“In the future, we want to enable the use of OCR in self-reading so that our customers can enjoy the convenience of reading their meters with minimal chance of error,” Mr. Wida added.
Additionally, the Company has deployed smart metering systems for large power users, SMEs, and selected domestic customers. Smart meters support two-way communication, enabling remote meter reading as well as disconnections and reconnections.
Ghana’s anti-corruption agency, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), says it is investigating thirty (30) Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in the country for their alleged involvement in a fuel diversion scheme.
The OMCs are alleged to have diverted marine gas oil, premix fuel, and diesel.
The OSP revealed this in a statement issued on Friday, providing an update on ongoing investigations being undertaken by the office.
However, the OSP did not name the OMCs involved in the alleged diversion.
According to the OSP, the suspected diversions have major revenue implications, adding that efforts are underway to recover millions of cedis that should have accrued to the state.
It would be recalled that the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) recently raised concerns about fuel diversion and called for a thorough investigation into the matter.
The Chief Executive Officer of COMAC, Dr. Riverson Oppong, and the Chairman of the Chamber, Gabriel Kumi, alleged that there are significant revenue losses linked to illegal bunkering activities in Ghanaian territorial waters, where subsidised fuel is being diverted for unauthorised commercial use.
“The implications of these illegal operations result in higher operating costs for genuine beneficiaries in the fishing industry and unfair competition against tax-compliant PSPs,” they said.
These illegal activities, they noted, have resulted in an unsustainable 553 per cent increase in MGO local volumes over the 2022–2024 period, which the Chamber described as worrying.
“This situation raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of regulatory enforcement and the integrity of existing control systems,” they added.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) has scheduled a virtual public hearing for 13 January 2026 to consider licence applications submitted under Bid Window 7 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).
NERSA is the statutory authority responsible for regulating South Africa’s electricity, piped-gas, and petroleum pipelines industries.
The virtual hearing will run from 09:30 to 12:00 on Microsoft Teams and will be streamed live on X.
In a statement, the regulator invited members of the public and interested stakeholders to attend the session or make oral submissions.
It further advised that those unable to join the virtual proceedings may submit written comments, which must reach the regulator’s office by Friday, 19 December 2025.
Six applicants are seeking generation licences for large-scale solar power projects across the Free State and Limpopo provinces. The proposals include:
Lupus Energy (RF) (Pty) Ltd – 210 MWAC in Matjhabeng, Free State
Piscis Energy (Pty) Ltd – 200 MWAC in Matjhabeng, Free State
Dwaalboom Solar 3 (Pty) Ltd – 180 MWAC in Thabazimbi, Limpopo
Leeuwspruit Solar 1 (Pty) Ltd – 220 MWAC in Moqhaka, Free State
Oslaagte Solar 2 (Pty) Ltd – 240 MWAC in Moqhaka, Free State
Oslaagte Solar 3 (Pty) Ltd – 240 MWAC in Moqhaka, Free State
NERSA urged stakeholders wishing to participate in the hearing or present their views to submit attendance requests no later than 16:30 on 19 December 2025.
The public participation process forms part of the regulator’s mandate to ensure transparency and accountability in South Africa’s renewable energy procurement programme, which remains a key component of the country’s broader energy transition strategy.
India’s largest conglomerate Reliance Industries, owned by billionaire Mukesh Ambani, has stopped importing Russian crude oil for its export-only refining unit at Jamnagar in the western state of Gujarat.
The move aims to comply with an EU ban on fuel imports made from Russian oil through third countries, which takes effect next year. It also aligns with US sanctions on major Russian oil producers Rosneft and Lukoil, set to kick in on Friday.
“This transition has been completed ahead of schedule to ensure full compliance with product-import restrictions coming into force on 21 January 2026,” Reliance said in a statement.
The White House has welcomed the move by Reliance.
“We welcome this shift and look forward to advancing meaningful progress on US-India trade talks,” the White House press office said, in a statement to the Washington Post.
Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil has been a major sticking point between India and the US. Trump slapped India with 50% tariffs in August, including a 25% penalty for buying Russian oil and arms, which he says was funding Moscow’s war on Ukraine – a charge India has denied.
India’s purchases of discounted Russian oil shot up from barely 2.5% of imports before the war began in 2022, to around 35.8% in 2024-25.
Reliance is India’s largest importer of Russian oil, and accounts for around 50% of Russian oil flows into the country.
The Jamnagar refinery is the largest single-site refining complex in the world – with two separate units dedicated for exports and the domestic market.
Mounting global pressure appears to be having a desired effort on India after months of resistance from Delhi to reduce oil purchases from Moscow. Over the past couple of months, oil refiners in India have been lowering their imports, according to several reports.
Reliance reduced orders from sanctioned Russian companies by 13% while increasing monthly imports from Saudi Arabia to 87% and Iraq to 31% in October, according to a Carnegie Endowment report.
Indian state-controlled refineries are also skipping Russian crude imports for December contracts according to Bloomberg.
Given India has sharply curtailed its imports, Washington must “immediately scrap the additional 25% tariff on Indian goods”, Ajay Srivastava of the Global Trade and Research Initiative (GTRI) think-tank said.
“Maintaining the tariff despite India meeting US expectations undermines goodwill and risks slowing already delicate trade negotiations,” Mr Srivastava said.
Negotiations for a broader trade deal between India and the US have been severely hampered by the former’s Russian oil purchases, but the tensions appear to be gradually letting up after months of uncertainty.
The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, has inaugurated the newly constituted Board of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC). The PHDC is a government initiative aimed at developing Ghana’s petroleum industry and positioning the country as a major energy hub in the sub-region.
The members of the Board are: Mr. George Blay-Morkeh (Chairman), Dr. Toni Aubynn, Esq. (Ag. CEO), Mr. David Ampofo, Mr. Francis Tettey-Sackey, Esq., Dr. Patrick Ofori (CEO of Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors), Mr. Abednego Akuteck, and Dr. Mizpah Ama Dziedzorm Rockson.
According to the Minister, the inauguration advances the government’s commitment to building a vibrant, competitive, and fully integrated petroleum hub for Ghana and the sub-region.
“I charged the Board to take bold steps in attracting and onboarding strategic investments across the entire energy value chain. From storage and refining to transportation and supporting infrastructure, the opportunities are vast and PHDC must play a catalytic role in unlocking them,” Minister Jinapor said.
Ghana already serves, in many ways, as an energy hub for the sub-region, with the distribution of power and petroleum products flowing through the country to neighbouring states.
The work of PHDC will further position Ghana to harness this strategic advantage and transform it into sustained economic growth.
The PHDC is a government-led, private sector initiative aimed at developing over 20,000 acres of land in the Jomoro area in the Western Region into a petroleum hub, which will comprise three refineries, each with a minimum capacity of 300,000 barrels per stream day.
Additionally, the hub will have five (5) petrochemical plants, each with a minimum processing capacity of 90,000 barrels per stream day, as well as two jetties with multiple berths.
Egypt’s Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources (MoPMR) has announced a new oil discovery offshore in the Gulf of Suez, following the successful drilling of the Northeast Ramadan Crystal exploration well (NER-1X), located in the North-East Ramadan Concession area.
The discovery was made by the Gulf of Suez Petroleum Company (GUPCO), the operating joint venture (JV) between the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and the UAE’s Dragon Oil.
The Ministry expects the new well to be brought onstream within days, with an estimated initial output of about 3,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) of crude oil.
According to the Ministry, the application of Ocean Bottom Node (OBN) seismic surveying technology enabled the identification of promising geological structures beneath the seabed that were previously inaccessible, significantly enhancing exploration efficiency.
Furthermore, the existing Al-Fanar platform (owned by EGPC) was used for drilling the well and initiating early production, eliminating the need to construct a new platform.
This measure greatly reduces costs and reflects the efficient utilization of the Petroleum Sector’s existing assets and infrastructure, the Ministry confirmed on November 20.
The new discovery supports the sector’s goal of stabilizing and increasing oil production.
Recent discoveries include Khalda Petroleum Company’s new natural gas find, Gomana-1, in the Western Desert, with an estimated production rate of around 36 million cubic feet per day (mmcf/d).
These successes align with the broader goals of the Petroleum Sector, which Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Karim Badawi previously highlighted while reviewing the sector’s progress since July 2024 aimed at retaining production levels.
Badawi stated, during the celebration of National Petroleum Day, that the petroleum sector recorded 75 new oil and natural gas discoveries and brought 383 new wells into production, adding 1.1 billion cubic feet (bcf) of natural gas and nearly 200,000 bbl/d of crude oil.
Additionally, Badawi noted on the ministry’s PetroCast podcast that current natural gas production has reached about 4.2 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d), with plans for further increases.
He added that crude oil production, after earlier declines, has now stabilized and is poised to enter a new growth phase supported by recent discoveries and investments in the Western Desert and Gulf of Suez. Crude oil production had previously stabilized at 540,000 bbl/d in February.
A Japanese regional governor on Friday approved the partial restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant—the world’s largest—as the country intensifies efforts to revive its nuclear sector and reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports.
Niigata Prefecture Governor Hideyo Hanazumi’s approval removes the final major hurdle for plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) to move ahead with plans to restart one or two of the facility’s largest reactors.
With electricity demand expected to rise due to the expansion of data centers and semiconductor manufacturing, “it would be difficult to stop something that passed the country’s regulatory standards without any rational reason,” Hanazumi said at a press briefing.
He added that he would seek a vote of confidence from the prefectural assembly during its regular session beginning December 2.
Hanazumi noted that local residents’ concerns, continued safety assurances and emergency preparedness remain key issues requiring ongoing attention.
Japan’s industry minister, Ryosei Akazawa, said the approval—once endorsed by the assembly—would apply to reactors No. 6 and No. 7, the plant’s two largest units. He said Unit No. 6 alone could improve the supply-demand balance in the energy-hungry Tokyo area by 2%.
Together, the two reactors generate 2,710 megawatts of electricity, roughly one-third of the plant’s total capacity of 8,212 MW.
TEPCO has indicated plans to decommission some of the remaining five units.
In October, TEPCO completed checks at the No. 6 reactor—its priority for restart—after loading fuel, confirming that the main systems required for startup were functioning properly.
A restart would mark TEPCO’s first since the March 2011 tsunami crippled its Fukushima Daiichi plant. It would also represent a major milestone for Japan, which shut down all 54 operational reactors following the disaster, sharply increasing reliance on imported fossil fuels that remain vulnerable to global supply shocks.
Hanazumi said opinion within Niigata Prefecture remains divided, but providing accurate information about safety measures could help build public understanding.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who assumed office last month, has expressed support for restarting more nuclear reactors to bolster energy security and reduce the high cost of energy imports, which currently supply 60% to 70% of Japan’s electricity.
Japan spent 10.7 trillion yen ($68 billion) last year on imported liquefied natural gas and coal, representing roughly one-tenth of its total import bill.
“The restart … is extremely important from the perspective of reducing electricity prices and securing decarbonised power sources,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said on Friday.
Of the 54 reactors operating before Fukushima, Japan has restarted 14 of the 33 that remain operable. TEPCO continues to pay compensation for the Fukushima Daiichi disaster, the world’s worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986.
The Energy Media Group, organisers of the prestigious Ghana Energy Awards (GEA), has scheduled next Friday, November 28, 2025, for the 9th edition of the awards scheme at the Labadi Beach Hotel.
The Minister for Energy and Green Transition Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor will deliver a Keynote Address.
Under the theme “Repositioning the Energy Sector as a Pillar of National Development,” the event is expected to bring together a large gathering of energy sector professionals, policymakers, academics, and civil society groups.
This year’s edition recorded more than 500 submissions, including a remarkable number of first-time entrants, reflecting the growing national interest in recognising excellence within the energy sector.
The 2025 edition features flagship honours such as:Energy Personality of the Year (Male and Female),Chief Executive of the Year (Power and Petroleum), Chief Green Trailblazer Award, Emerging Female Leader in Energy Award, Energy Signature Award, Energy Sector Operational Resilience Award, Energy Advocate of the Year, Energy Reporter of the Year, among many others.
Since its inception in 2017, Michael Creg Afful, Editor and Executive Director of Energy News Africa Ltd (https://energynewsafrica.com), remains the only journalist to have won the Energy Reporter of the Year award on two consecutive occasions. He was adjudged the winner in 2018 and 2019.
Beyond reporting news stories, Michael Creg Afful has authored several articles addressing critical issues within Ghana’s energy sector and beyond
Michael Creg Afful (left) interviewing Nhlanhla Gumede (right), Commissioner at the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA).
Since 2020, Michael has stopped filing for awards.
Some of the notable articles he has written include:
ECG-PSP: Ghana Needs To Do Differently, What consumers expect to see after three pesewa increment in BOST margin Illegal connection: how will Amewu fight it? Why road accidents are deadlier than nuclear power plants.
Egypt and Russia’s state-owned atomic energy corporation, Rosatom, have signed a nuclear fuel purchase order along with a comprehensive cooperation agreement for the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant.
The deal was concluded earlier this week during the installation of the Reactor Pressure Vessel (RPV) for Unit 1 of the plant.
The ceremony was attended by the Presidents of Egypt and Russia — Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Vladimir Putin.
The event coincided with Egypt’s Fifth Annual Nuclear Energy Day, commemorated each year on November 19 to mark the 2015 intergovernmental agreement between Egypt and Russia to build and operate the nation’s first nuclear power plant.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, after meeting with Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev, emphasized the project’s broader developmental goals, according to a statement.
Madbouly noted: “This project is not only for electricity generation; it is a foundation for achieving Egypt’s Vision 2030 and its developmental goals.”
The discussions also covered training programs for Egyptian personnel and future operational cooperation.
The agreement marks a significant step toward bringing the El-Dabaa plant online, positioning nuclear energy as a key pillar of Egypt’s long-term energy security strategy.
The Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Benjamin Boakye, has questioned the Ghanaian government’s decision to allow the national oil company, GNPC, and its subsidiary, Explorco, to engage an independent technical consultant and transactional advisor to evaluate Springfield E&P’s assets for a possible takeover of the Afina-1X oil well in the West Cape Three Points (WCTP) Block 2.
Mr. Boakye, who has extensive knowledge of the oil and gas sector, expressed concerns over the government’s decision.
He described what the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition referred to as “constructive discussions” on a possible takeover of Springfield’s assets in its Wednesday, November 19 press statement as “even more troubling.”
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Boakye argued that the WCTP Block 2 belongs to the state, stressing that contractors are expected to take the risks and share in the benefits only when they succeed.
He contended that when contractors fail, the state’s duty is to reclaim its asset—not underwrite the losses of a private investor, as he believes the government’s current approach seeks to do.
Mr. Boakye alleged that earlier this year, officials from Springfield E&P and Explorco attempted to value Springfield’s asset between US$433 million and US$1.1 billion.
He revealed that GNPC and its subsidiary hired a credible consultant, but provided discredited data, which he said was intended to predetermine the outcome of the assessment.
Reinforcing his point, Mr. Boakye stated that the Petroleum Commission, the upstream regulator, was unequivocal in dismissing Springfield’s recent appraisal, stating that the company’s conclusions were flawed.
The ACEP boss argued that what Ghana needs at this point is not a buyout of Springfield E&P’s assets, but strict enforcement of contractual obligations.
He questioned why the state would consider taking over a non-performing asset when “there is too much poverty in the country” and funds could be better directed toward addressing pressing socioeconomic needs rather than “wasteful, trumped-up ventures.”
In its statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition explained that the rationale behind the move is to help arrest the decline in crude oil production, which currently stands at about 150,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd), down from over 200,000 bopd in 2019.
The downward trend has been a major concern for industry players and energy analysts.
The Ministry believes the intervention is essential to prevent further delays in field development, unlock the block’s long-term economic value, sustain upstream activity and associated national revenues, and enhance Ghana’s overall energy security.
“With Ghana’s national crude oil production declining over recent years, coupled with uncertainties within the global energy transition, Government considers it urgent to advance the development of the WCTP2 resource base,” the Ministry stated.
Despite the ongoing process toward a possible takeover of Springfield E&P’s interest, the Ministry assured the public that the government remains committed to deepening the participation of indigenous Ghanaian companies, strengthening national technical capacity, promoting skills transfer, and ensuring Ghana’s local content framework continues to guide upstream operations.
It further noted that the process is being carried out without prejudice to ongoing investigations involving Springfield E&P or its affiliates.
“Due process and institutional independence remain fully respected,” the Ministry added.
It will be recalled that the Afina-1X well, originally drilled in 2019, is located at a water depth of 1,030 metres and reaches a total depth of 4,085 metres.
The well uncovered a 65-metre-thick light oil reservoir, with 50 metres of net oil pay in high-quality Cenomanian sandstone formations.
Additionally, 10 metres of gas- and condensate-bearing sands were encountered in Turonian-age formations at the structure’s edge.
Springfield E&P later claimed that the Afina-1X discovery straddles Eni’s Sankofa field, which is also within the WCTP area.
This assertion prompted the Ministry of Energy under the previous government to direct both companies to jointly develop the resource for the nation’s maximum benefit.
The directive led to contention between the two companies, with Springfield E&P filing a lawsuit against Eni in Ghana, while Eni initiated legal action against Springfield E&P in London.
To ensure harmony within the upstream sector and restore investor confidence, President John Dramani Mahama, upon assuming office, reversed the directive—a decision subsequently confirmed by the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition in a statement to the media.
Following the reversal, Eni and its OCTP partners, in September 2025 during the Africa Oil Week (AOW) in Accra, signed an MoU to invest US$1.5 billion in their operations in Ghana.
