Several information from the SPTEC Advisory newsletter...

Somalia: Somalia expects to announce the winners of its first oil and gas licensing round early next year, as the country seeks petro dollars to help rebuild its struggling economy, a senior government oil official said on Wednesday. Battered by violence and an Islamist insurgency since clan warlords overthrew a dictator in 1991, Somalia is offering seven deep water offshore blocks in its maiden licensing round in one of the world’s last frontier markets. The oil and gas auction officially opened on Tuesday. (Selected by SPTEC Advisory from Reuters, August 5)

Egypt : The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Tarek El Molla, alongside Natasa Pilides, the newly appointed Cypriot Energy Minister, discussed preparations for the establishment of a direct marine pipeline between the two countries, according to a press release. The pipeline deal entailed the transfer of natural gas from Aphrodite field in Cyprus and re-export it through Egypt. Both ministers affirmed that the deal is underway and currently coordination is underway between officials from both parties before implementing the project. (Selected by SPTEC Advisory from Egypt Oil&Gas, August 5)

Nigeria: The refining capacity of Nigeria has increased from 445,000 barrels per day, bpd, to 462,000 bpd, as private investors complete the construction of three new refineries, indicating an increase of 3.8 per cent. The refining capacity of the nation's four refineries, located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Warri, Delta State and Kaduna, Kaduna State, had for several years been stagnated at 445,000 bpd, which was inadequate to meet domestic demand. But in its latest report -List of Valid Refinery Licences - obtained by Vanguard yesterday, the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, stated that the completion of work by Waltersmith Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited, OPAC Refineries Limited and Niger Delta Petroleum Resources (Train2), which have 5,000 bpd, 7,000 bpd and 5,000 bpd respectively, would increase the nation's capacity by 17,000 bpd, bringing the total to 462,000 bpd. (Selected by SPTEC Advisory from All Africa, August 5)