Mapolao Mokoena

The Institute for the Regulation of Petroleum Derivatives has confirmed a 13,000 barrel per day surge in domestic crude supply to the Luanda plant, marking a significant step in Sonangol's push to curb refined product import reliance while commercial testing begins at the new Cabinda facility.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has opened its 2026 licensing round with 40 blocks onshore and offshore. Announcing it at the commission's fifth anniversary in Abuja, Commission Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan declared that the wait was over. Under rules adopted for this round, every bidder must disclose its beneficial owners.

Zambia's Energy Regulation Board was tracking 1,315MW of generation under construction in September, as ministries defended their 2027 spending plans in Lusaka this week. The medium-term plan behind that budget, published on 27 September, puts 10,000MW among its production targets, and comments on its Green Paper close on 9 October.

Senior executives from Aksa Energy's West African division have held talks with the Ghana Revenue Authority to secure a data-sharing protocol for its 370 megawatt generation pipeline.

Minister of Electricity and Energy Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has confirmed the proposed approach to the first section 34 determination under the IRP 2025, prioritising 4,600MW of battery storage and 5,000MW of gas-to-power. Wind and solar wait for a later determination, as the ministry sets out to cut curtailment before adding variable generation.

Nigeria's transmission company is building a 330kV substation close to the Katsina Steel Rolling Company, at the end of a Kano line it calls the largest of its kind in the country. Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe has named the Chinese contractors lined up behind the Presidential Power Initiative and the Zungeru evacuation project.

Developers have been shortlisted for two 100MWp solar plants at Dabakala and Niakaramandougou, each paired with 33MWh of battery storage, under 25-year independent power producer concessions. The procurement sits inside a national target of 45% renewables in the electricity mix by 2030.

Azura Power, which runs 752MW of generation across three African markets, has taken a majority stake in Enpower Trading, its first investment in South Africa. Enpower holds a NERSA trading licence and has provided wheeling services in George since 2022 and in Cape Town since 2024.