The latest Saga analyses on upstream across Africa, newest first, each with its key facts and a link to the original source.
- Murphy Oil takes four Cameroon blocks, $202M program
Cameroon · 12 Nov 2026A single operator committing $202 million to four blocks signals renewed explorer confidence in Cameroon's offshore basin. Block awards of this scale typically precede multi-year seismic and drilling campaigns that draw in a broad contractor supply chain.
- Murphy Oil awarded operatorship of four offshore blocks in Cameroon
- Associated exploration programme valued at $202.4 million
- Instrument: block award / operatorship grant — not a signed drilling contract or FID
- ADNOC eyes Nigeria-Morocco $26bn gas pipeline stake
Nigeria · 12 Nov 2026If financing is secured, the NMGP would be a transformational gas infrastructure project spanning West Africa, creating sustained demand for pipeline engineering, subsea crossings, compressor stations, and long-term operations and maintenance services across…
- NNPC is in exploratory talks with ADNOC — no MoU or commitment announced
- NMGP estimated cost: $25–26 billion; pipeline length: 6,800–6,900 km
- ADNOC's international gas arm XRG identified as the vehicle for potential engagement
- NOC, Repsol, TPAO and MOL discuss Libya offshore plans
Libya · 11 Nov 2026Renewed consortium-level engagement with NOC suggests international appetite for Libyan offshore acreage is recovering. If discussions progress to a formal licence award, it would mark a significant step in re-internationalising Libya's upstream sector.
- Libya's NOC held exploration discussions with a Repsol, TPAO, and MOL consortium, reported 11 November, Tripoli.
- No formal instrument — licence, block award, or signed agreement — has been confirmed.
- Repsol (Spain), TPAO (Turkey), and MOL (Hungary) form the three-party consortium.
- QatarEnergy buys 25% in Namibia PEL 82 from Chevron
Namibia · 11 Nov 2026QatarEnergy's repeated farm-ins alongside majors in Namibia signal sustained institutional confidence in the Walvis Basin. Licence activity at this stage typically precedes multi-year seismic and drilling campaigns that generate significant demand for…
- QatarEnergy acquires 25% working interest in offshore licence PEL 82, Namibia — instrument: farm-in agreement
- Chevron retains operatorship and a 55% equity interest in PEL 82
- PEL 82 covers 11,444 sq km in the Walvis Basin offshore Namibia
- Ghana launches $137m Takoradi floating dock project
Ghana · 11 Nov 2026A large-capacity floating dock at Takoradi would reduce West Africa's dependence on remote drydock facilities and create a credible regional maintenance hub, typically accelerating demand for associated engineering, outfitting, and equipment supply services.
- Project: $137 million Prime Meridian Floating Dock, Port of Takoradi, Ghana
- Instrument: 25-year concession awarded by Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA)
- Planned lifting capacity: 13,500 tonnes
- Afreximbank offers Dangote $10bn for Africa expansion
Africa · 10 Nov 2026Afreximbank anchoring $10 billion behind a single sponsor signals growing continental capacity to finance mega-infrastructure without relying solely on Western multilaterals, potentially accelerating project timelines in target markets including Namibia.
- Afreximbank signals readiness to extend up to $10 billion financing to Aliko Dangote — a public commitment, not a signed facility
- Namibia is listed among Dangote's target countries for major infrastructure development
- Afreximbank president George Elombi cited Dangote's project delivery and repayment track record as basis for confidence
- Orlen drills third exploration well in Libya
Libya · 6 Nov 2026A third consecutive exploration well by an international operator signals growing confidence in Libyan upstream access and typically triggers incremental service and logistics procurement as the drilling programme matures.
- Poland's Orlen is drilling its third exploration well in Libya, confirmed by the National Oil Corporation (NOC).
- NOC announced the development following a meeting with Orlen representatives.
- Drilling is scheduled for this month, with operations described as imminent or already mobilising.
- Afreximbank backs Dangote projects in Namibia
Namibia · 5 Nov 2026Pan-African development finance institutions signalling readiness to co-fund Namibian upstream and industrial projects reduces one structural barrier to FID. If Dangote formalises an entry, it could accelerate demand for engineering, construction, and marine…
- Afreximbank President George Elombi pledged financial support for investment projects in Namibia.
- Dangote Group cited as a key beneficiary of Afreximbank's support framework in Namibia.
- Commitment is a statement of intent; no financing amounts, instruments, or timelines disclosed.
- Afreximbank, APPO launch Africa Energy Bank
Africa · 31 Oct 2026The Africa Energy Bank's formal establishment creates a dedicated multilateral financing channel for African oil and gas at a time when international lenders have retreated under ESG pressure. Projects stalled at appraisal or pre-FEED stages — particularly…
- Afreximbank and APPO jointly established the Africa Energy Bank at the inaugural General Meeting.
- The bank is mandated to finance African oil, gas, and energy infrastructure projects.
- Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri attended the launch.
- TOR targets 200,000 b/d Tema refinery by 2029
Ghana · 27 Oct 2026Ghana's proposed Tema refinery expansion to 200,000 b/d would materially increase domestic crude processing and reduce reliance on imported refined products. If sanctioned, the grassroots phase alone would rank among West Africa's largest refinery…
- Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) proposes expanding its Tema facility to 200,000 b/sd combined capacity by 2029.
- Brownfield phase targets a 40,000 b/sd capacity addition at the existing Tema refinery site.
- Greenfield grassroots unit would add 115,000 b/sd on the same site, requiring full-scope EPCM delivery.
- EXXOIL SA wins 100% of Tunisia's El Menzah concession
Tunisia · 23 Oct 2026Full consolidation of the El Menzah concession under a single private operator removes state co-participation, which typically streamlines contracting and financing decisions. Newly consolidated operators often initiate field activity reviews, signalling a…
- Tunisia's Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy authorised the transfer of 100% rights in El Menzah concession to EXXOIL SA.
- Former co-holders ETAP and Ecumed Petroleum Grombalia Limited ceded their stakes as part of the transaction.
- El Menzah is an operating hydrocarbon exploitation concession located in Tunisia.
- XRG in talks to buy stake in Eni Libya unit
Libya · 23 Oct 2026Gulf sovereign capital moving into established European operator positions in Libya signals growing confidence in long-cycle North African upstream assets. If completed, such a transaction typically accelerates capital allocation decisions and can trigger…
- XRG, ADNOC's international investment arm, is in advanced talks to acquire a stake in Eni's Libya oil and gas business.
- Eni holds interests across multiple onshore and offshore producing concessions in Libya; no stake size or financial terms disclosed.
- Libya holds Africa's largest proven crude oil reserves; Eni has operated there for decades.
- Libya NOC targets 2M bpd with AI digital push
Libya · 22 Oct 2026Libya's NOC is shifting from fragmented manual operations to centrally coordinated AI-driven field management, signalling that digital capability is now a prerequisite for upstream growth. If the two-million-bpd target advances, it would materially increase…
- Libya's NOC is deploying AI, automation and upgraded communications infrastructure across oilfields in 2026.
- Target: double crude production to 2 million bpd from current levels.
- Ministry of Oil and Gas launched the New Energy Tech initiative to address upstream operational inefficiencies.
- Eni's Meleiha Phase 2 delivers early gas trickle into energy-starved Egypt
Egypt · 21 Oct 2026Early gas production from Meleiha Phase 2 marks a live addition to Egypt's supply-constrained domestic market, where upstream output has lagged industrial and power-sector demand. Brownfield ramp-up phases of this type typically trigger progressive…
- Eni has commenced start-up operations at the Meleiha Phase 2 gas project in Egypt's Western Desert.
- Initial output is characterised as a modest trickle, with no specific production capacity figures cited.
- The project is part of an integrated gas production and gathering hub within the Merged Meleiha concession.
- Cyprus Aphrodite field nears Egypt gas export deal
Egypt · 20 Oct 2026Progress toward a financial framework for the Aphrodite field reinforces Egypt's role as a regional gas processing and export hub, with LNG liquefaction capacity at Idku and Damietta as the likely destination. A final investment decision would trigger subsea…
- Egypt and Cyprus energy ministers witnessed the initialling of a heads-of-agreement on Aphrodite field's financial framework.
- The instrument is a pre-contract, non-binding initialling — no final investment decision or procurement process has been announced.
- Aphrodite is an offshore gas discovery in Cypriot waters targeted for export to Egypt via pipeline.
- APPO NOC CEOs forge cooperation pact in Cape Town
South Africa · 13 Oct 2026The joint declaration signals African NOCs aligning upstream strategies collectively, which typically shapes local-content rules, vendor qualification frameworks, and partnership models that govern future procurement across APPO member states.
- APPO NOC CEOs Forum eighth edition convened in Cape Town on 12 October 2026.
- African Petroleum Producers' Organization, headquartered in Brazzaville, organised the forum.
- CEOs issued a joint political declaration; no contracts, block awards, or financing commitments were signed.
- Petrosen targets Sangomar Phase 2 by 2028
Senegal · 2 Oct 2026 - TotalEnergies greenlights Ima field FID offshore Nigeria
Nigeria · 23 Sep 2026 - Equatorial Guinea holds ConocoPhillips gas talks in Houston
Equatorial Guinea · 21 Sep 2026 - TotalEnergies Secures Operated Stake in Namibia's Mopane Discovery
Namibia · 7 Sep 2026 - TotalEnergies Gains Namibia Approval for Mopane Stake as Venus FID Advances
Namibia · 23 Jul 2026 - ExxonMobil Commits $1bn to Usan Infill Project on Nigeria's OML 138
Nigeria · 9 Jul 2026 - BW Energy Greenlights $300 Million FID for Gabon Bourdon Offshore Oilfield
Gabon · 22 May 2026 - BW Energy Greenlights $300 Million Bourdon Offshore Development in Gabon
Gabon · 22 May 2026 - BW Energy Greenlights Bourdon FID and Golfinho Infill Wells Offshore Gabon
Gabon · 20 May 2026 - Libya's Sabha hosts Southern Refinery progress meeting
Libya · 22 Oct 2025 - Zallaf inspects Erawin-Sharara pipeline in Libya
Libya · 5 Dec 2024
