DMEA - Downstream Middle East & Africa
AEC presents African Energy Person of Year 2026 award to Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) has presented the “African Energy Person of the Year” award to Nigerian businessman and industrialist Aliko Dangote, the founder, president and CEO of the Dangote Group.
Diplomatic progress prompts cautious resumption of Hormuz transit
The tentative reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has allowed critical LNG and crude tankers to resume transit amid progressing US-Iran diplomatic negotiations.
Iran-US war MoU reportedly to waive oil, petchem sanctions
Sanctions on Iran’s oil, petroleum products and petrochemical exports would be waived under a possible memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington aimed at ending a war launched by the United States and Israel in late February.
QatarEnergy signs MoU on exporting Cypriot gas via Egypt
The agreement announced on May 21 will examine how future gas production from offshore Cyprus could be integrated with Egypt’s domestic gas network and LNG facilities.
Nigeria's Dangote and Ethiopia plan new oil and gas pipelines through Djibouti
Nigeria's Dangote Group is deepening its expansion into East Africa after submitting plans alongside Ethiopian Investment Holdings to develop a network of refined products, crude oil and natural gas pipelines linking Ethiopia to Djibouti.
Nigeria’s NNPCL accuses Dangote refinery of seeking fuel market monopoly in import licence dispute
Nigeria’s state oil company has accused Dangote Petroleum Refinery of attempting to dominate the country’s fuel market through a lawsuit challenging import licences granted to rival fuel marketers, deepening tensions over competition and supply.
Baghdad accelerates efforts to revive crude exports
The Iraqi government is intensifying negotiations with international energy companies to restart shuttered oilfields as Baghdad urgently seeks to circumvent the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz
Can Chinese investors revive Nigeria’s troubled state-owned refineries?
Nigeria may give Chinese firms long-term operational and ownership stakes in the troubled Port Harcourt and Warri refineries; repeated state-led rehabilitation efforts have failed to restore stable operations.
Iran allows Kurdish border porters to import petrochemicals
Iran’s Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade has allowed the import of some petrochemical and polymer raw materials through two semi‑formal cross‑border trade mechanisms.
Emirates Gas updates LPG cylinder seals
UAE-based ENOC Group subsidiary Emirates Gas has revealed that it is updating its LPG security seal in the Dubai market, having started the process on May 16 this year.
Nigerian fuel marketers push back against fresh Dangote lawsuit
Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector is facing yet another crisis due to a lawsuit filed by the country’s 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) Dangote Refinery requesting courts to block import permits.
Uganda backs Dangote-led East Africa refinery plan as regional energy push deepens
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has endorsed a proposed East African regional oil refinery led by Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, signalling Kampala’s willingness to take an equity stake as governments seek to expand refining capacity
Iran denies petchem hoarding as war damage forces import via informal routes
Iran rejected allegations of petrochemical hoarding as authorities scramble to secure domestic supplies after strikes on key petrochemical infrastructure last month that forced the country to halt exports and turn to imports via unofficial channels.
Tanzania clears construction phase for $4bn East African Crude Oil Pipeline
Tanzania’s Ministry of Energy has formally endorsed the next phase of the $4bn East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), clearing the way for heavy machinery to begin trenching along the 1,443-kilometre route linking Uganda and Tanzania
Iran’s Pezeshkian confirms fuel supply curbs, urges public to cut consumption
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed restrictions on petrol and other energy supplies and called for the shortages to be communicated openly to the public.
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