Upstream interest in the wider West African region has returned
Central Africa’s upstream attracts IOCs
Recent announcements demonstrate sustained interest in the mature region, especially among independents
Neighbours Gabon, Congo-Brazzaville and Equatorial Guinea form a cluster of long-established oil and gas producing countries in western Central Africa. These nations have never been able to match the sheer output of Nigeria to the north or Angola to the south, and are now all experiencing decline in their respective hydrocarbon sectors. But upstream interest in the wider West African region has returned, particularly since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, spurring renewed activity and resulting in a recent spate of developments in the three neighbours. In a ceremony on 25 April, Congo-Brazzaville’s president, Denis Sassou Nguesso, and Eni CEO Claudio Descalzi laid the foundation stone for Cong
Also in this section
21 February 2025
While large-scale planned LNG schemes in sub-Saharan Africa have faced fresh problems, FLNG projects are stepping into that space
20 February 2025
Greater social mobility means increased global demand for refined fuels and petrochemical products, with Asia leading the way in the expansion of refining capacity
19 February 2025
The EU would do well to ease its gas storage requirements to avoid heavy purchase costs this summer, with the targets having created market distortion while giving sellers a significant advantage over buyers
18 February 2025
Deliveries to China decline by around 1m b/d from move to curb crude exports to Shandong port, putting Iran under further economic pressure
