Energy

Kuwait is becoming increasingly concerned over the threat posed by cyber attacks against its strategic oil and gas industry, along with other sectors of the economy, with greater training of staff and improved technology seen as vital front-line defences to ensure cyber security.

Long the country’s Achilles heel, the electricity sector in Nigeria took another step forward in late May, when an increase in end-user tariffs was announced. Though the rise in prices prompted concern from consumers, the change will help to attract fresh capital from private investors who require at least cost-recovery levels for production and distribution.

Rising demand for electricity has prompted Kuwait to sign three multi-billion-dollar deals aimed at significantly boosting the country’s gas imports.

The deep pre-Khuff formation off Qatar’s coast has become the focus of major test drilling and survey work, as energy firms step up their gas exploration efforts.

Malgré une légère modification de la liste des compagnies pétrolières qui ont décroché des blocs offshore lors d’un appel d’offres en octobre 2013, l’attribution suivante de 13 licences à 11 compagnies devrait tout de même entraîner un regain de nouvelles explorations comme on n’en a pas vu au Gabon depuis des années.

Following last year’s successful privatisation programme, Nigeria is looking to increase electrification rates, stepping up investments in transmission infrastructure while also boosting generation capacity, though it will likely be well into the next decade before connectivity targets are reached.