Africa Energy

With exploration continuing apace, the country’s hydrocarbons reserves continue to rise, and currently stand at 4.3bn barrels of oil and more than 77trn cu feet of gas. The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation plays the roles of regulator, joint venture partner, licence provider, refiner and marketer for the oil segment. Egypt has the largest refining capacity in Africa, with 10 oil refineries...

Since the discovery of offshore oil reserves in 2007, the Ghanaian government has reached a number of important decisions regarding production and distribution, and set the aim of reaching production in just 42 months. Crude oil output accounted for 6.8% of GDP in 2011, the first year of hydrocarbons production, and production is expected to be increased to 120,000 barrels per day by mid-2013....

Mining and quarrying, excluding oil and gas, accounted for 2.7% of Ghana’s real GDP in 2011, having grown 19% that year. The country has been producing higher levels of many minerals, including bauxite, silica, coltan, gold and manganese. Gold in particular has been a major boon to the sector given the investor flight to gold that occurred in the wake of the global financial crisis. Indeed, gold...

South Africa’s energy landscape is defined by increasing demand and limited capacity as the country’s energy needs have risen rapidly in recent years. Underinvestment in infrastructure remains a key challenge for the sector. The government has in recent years sought to develop a long-term energy strategy and has launched major efforts to diversify electricity-generating capacity, reduce...

The mining industry has long been a driving force behind South Africa’s economic growth. In 2010 it contributed 18% of GDP, and the country’s total reserves, while diminished, remain some of the world’s most valuable, with an estimated worth of $2.5trn. South Africa is perhaps best known for its gold, diamond and platinum riches but its wealth in other metals and minerals have also helped support...