DMEA - Downstream Middle East & Africa

Syria to launch major modernisation project at Baniyas refinery in 2026

The Oil Administration in Syria has announced plans to modernise the Baniyas refinery by 2026. insisting that the works will not affect the availability of petroleum products in the market

Tanzania expands household, commercial access to natural gas amid clean cooking drive

Tanzania is steadily expanding household and commercial access to natural gas as part of its National Clean Cooking Strategy 2024–2034

Mozambican flag growing popular among sanctioned, "zombie" vessels

South African energy regulator approves Sasol Gas maximum gas price adjustment for Q2 FY2025/26

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa in a statement on September 9 said it had considered and noted Sasol Gas Limited’s adjustment of its maximum gas price for the Q2 of FY 2025/26.

US sanctions Indian petchem traders over Iran deals

The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned six Indian companies for their involvement in trading petrochemicals produced in Iran, according to a report released by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre.

Nigeria’s Dangote refinery says it will not shut petrol unit

Nigeria’s Dangote refinery has moved to deny a Reuters report that claimed the plant was preparing to shut its petrol unit for between two to three months, with Dangote Group spokesperson Anthony Chiejina denouncing it as “fake".

Saudi Aramco, Sinopec sign petchem complex JV

Saudi Arabia’s state-owned Saudi Aramco has launched a joint venture with Chinese state company China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) to construct and operate the second phase of a refining and petrochemical complex in Fujian province, China.

ZPEC and H&L Petroleum DMCC sign deal to drill eight wells in Iraq’s Diyala

Iraq’s state-owned Midland Oil Company (MdOC) has signed a contract to drill eight wells in the Naft Khana block of Diyala province, in a move aimed at boosting the country’s oil and gas production capacity

Nigeria’s Dangote refinery accepts union demands

Nigeria’s Dangote refinery has accepted demands by unions to allow its workers to unionise, with further strike action from NUPENG and PENGASSAN averted.

Iraq’s SOMO holds advanced talks with ExxonMobil on oil storage deal

Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) has entered advanced discussions with ExxonMobil to secure oil storage capacity in Singapore and explore new refining and profit-sharing opportunities in Asia

Iraq resumes Syria talks as SOMO provides updates

Baghdad is continuing talks with Syria about reinvigorating the Kirkuk-Baniyas oil pipeline as it looks for additional export capacity. Meanwhile, the state oil marketer has struck strategic storage deals

APPO to announce launch date for Africa Energy Bank at next ministerial meeting

The African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) will announce the launch date for the Africa Energy Bank (AEB) at the next ministerial meeting.

Kurdish official estimates Iraqi oil losses at $28bn

The 18-month suspension of oil exports from Iraqi Kurdistan has cost the state more than $28bn in lost revenue, a senior Kurdish official has said

Egypt can secure alternative gas supplies if Israel blocks $35bn deal, rules out Gaza concessions

Egypt can mitigate risks to its gas supply if Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu follows through on his alleged threat to block the $35bn export deal to pressure Cairo on Palestine stance

Uganda close to signing FEED contracts for $4b Hoima oil refinery project with Alpha MBM

Uganda’s UNOC is close to finalising a deal with Alpha MBM of the UAE on the planned refinery, targeting 60,000 bpd output to cut fuel imports and boost energy security.

Iraq sees oil market stability as OPEC+ approves October output increase

The OPEC+ alliance announced on September 7 that it will raise oil production by 137,000 barrels per day (bpd) from October, citing stable global economic forecasts and tightening inventories

Nigeria’s PiCNG denies CNG subsidy withdrawal, says price hikes of 65% driven by private operators

PiCNG has denied claims that the Nigerian government has withdrawn subsidies or approved price increases for compressed natural gas (CNG), affirming continued federal support for affordable clean energy

Restoring performance of Sasol’s Southern Africa value chain remains key priority, says CEO

Global energy and chemicals company Sasol has outlined a sharpened focus on its South African operations as it works to secure feedstock, improve financial resilience and advance its decarbonisation strategy.

Iran’s petchem output hits 32m tonnes in five months despite ‘difficult conditions’

Cameroon aims to restart dormant Limbe refinery

Cameroon’s state-owned National Refining Company Ltd. (Sonara) is working on restarting its 42,000 barrel per day (bpd) Limbe refinery in December 2027, bringing it back online after it had been lying dormant since a fire occurred in 2019.

Ex-official of Nigeria's NNPCL faces up to 25-year US jail term in $2.1mn bribery case

Nigeria’s Dangote refinery set to take advantage of Middle East refining pause

As refineries in the Middle East start to close for maintenance Nigeria’s 650,000 barrel per day (bpd) Dangote refinery is prepared to pick up the slack, increasing its exports to foreign countries in place of Gulf refiners, according to The Punch.

Syria begins exporting heavy crude from Tartus terminal

Syria has restarted exports of heavy crude oil from its Tartus terminal for the first time in years, according to Anadolu Agency, which cited an announcement from the country’s energy ministry this week.

West tightens noose on Tehran with sanctions and nuclear ultimatum

Europe and the US are working to increase pressure on Iran as recent talks appear to have led to a dead end

Nigeria’s Dangote refinery buys crude from Ghana

Nigeria’s 650,000 barrel per day (bpd) Dangote refinery has moved to obtain crude oil from Ghana as part of efforts to diversify its feedstock sources, according to The Guardian.