Dear Reader,

West African energy is seen as one of the best prospects for meeting the energy needs of North America and Europe. West Africa is itself a growing market for domestic consumption of energy as regional economies develop.

In this newsletter, you will find the latest information on the West African Governments’ attitude towards private businesses in the energy business, especially in Mauritania, Nigeria and Angola. The United States, feeling threatened by its economy’s high dependence on Middle East energy is in pursuit of chasing Mauritania and Nigeria together with ECOWAS members broadly on this matter. Hence it is crucial to be updated with African energy geopolitics.

Please feel free to contact Laura Sandoval on projects@meconsult.co.uk if you would like to hear about the forthcoming WEG program on West African Energy.

Kind Regards,

Editor: Cem Dedeaga

MEC International Ltd,Granville House

132, Sloane Street
LONDON SW1X 9AX
Tel: (+44) (0)20 7591 4816       Fax: (+44) (0)20 7591 4801
Website: www.meconsult.co.uk

Email: inquiries@meconsult.co.uk

Energy Finance:

Furmanite to invest N58m in oil and gas servicing

 July 08, 2008

FURMANITE international limited, a UK based on-site servicing company with interest in the Nigeria oil and gas sector has disclosed its interest to invest up to the tune of $500 million in the sector through the provision of drilling services for onshore and offshore operations in the oil industry.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11955&Itemid=0

TULLOW OIL PLC - TRADING STATEMENT AND OPERATIONAL UPDATE

July 9, 2008

Tullow Oil plc ("Tullow") issues this Trading Statement in respect of the first half of the 2008 financial year and this Operational Update in respect of recent Production, Development and Exploration activities. There are highlights on the investment strategies of the company that can be very helpful.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/tullow-oil-plc---trading/story.aspx?guid=%7B2F6DAC85-B8D0-4224-986B-A34AC6D10574%7D&dist=hppr

Ghana emerges as energy avenue

July 25 2008

As the current economic climate increasingly squeezes up and financial pockets grow ever-deeper, it’s perhaps refreshing to hear that smaller economies such as Ghana are attracting the investors eyes.

http://www.gasworld.com/news.php?la=1;;a=2961;

Energy politics:

Centric Energy Announces Appointment of Director

July 08, 2008

Centric’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Alec Robinson, said, "It is my pleasure to announce that Mike Harrison has joined Centric Energy’s Board. Mike’s wealth of West Africa and international upstream oil and gas business experience will benefit the Company as we continue to expand our growth and diversification efforts in Africa. The addition of strong industry experience to the team is essential for the Company’s future success."

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Centric-Energy-Corp-TSX-VENTURE-CTE-876714.html

Oklo Uranium Limited Shareholder Newsletter

10/07/2008

Oklo was granted four exploration licenses in Niger. Covering 1,923km. The licenses

comprise the company’s Elmeki Project. This project is considered prospective for hard-rock and sedimentary hosted uranium mineralisation;

www.oklouranium.com/userfiles/file/july%202008%20oklo%20bulletin.pdf

Nigeria Qua Iboe Jul/Aug Crude Loadings Disrupted

July 14, 2008.

LONDON -(Dow Jones)- July and August crude oil loadings at Exxon Mobil Corp.’s (XOM) Nigerian Qua Iboe facility will be subject to delays of up to nine days, traders of West African crude said Monday, although the reasons for the disruption aren’t clear.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200807141314DOWJONESDJONLINE000494_FORTUNE5.htm

Gazprom expansion moves to Africa and Iran

July 15, 2008, 11:46

Russian natural gas monopoly Gazprom will develop oil and gas together with Iran’s state oil company. The decision came after Gazprom`s recent offer to buy all of Libya’s spare exportable gas volumes. Gazprom is extending its international reach day by day. Right after opening its first African office in Algeria - the company offered to buy all of Libya’s spare oil and gas exports.Elsewhere on the same continent, it is looking at exploration licenses in Nigeria and possibly to build a pipeline from the West African state to Algeria in the north.

http://www.russiatoday.ru/business/news/27518

Ivory Coast president wants to redistribute control of oil

Jul 23, 2008

ABIDJAN (AFP) — President Laurent Gbagbo said he intends to change a law that allocates minimal state control over Ivory Coast’s oil production, as he denounced accusations he has taken oil money.

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hUXBJLMQrT9ezDz3A91J_kQYD8Fw

AES To Invest $1.2 Billion In Cameroon Electricity By 2011 Report

July 27, 2008

YAOUNDE, Cameroon -(Dow Jones)- U.S energy giant AES Corporation (AES) will invest $1.2 billion for to raise Cameroon’s electricity production by 2011, a statement from the company’s Cameroon unit said Friday.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200807270800DOWJONESDJONLINE000234_FORTUNE5.htm

US firm seeks listing on African exchange market

27 Jul 2008

CAMAC, a United-States based Nigerian-owned company is being touted to become one of the first fully African-owned oil company to be publicly listed in an African stock exchange market, Empowered Newswire reported on Saturday. Oil industry sources in the US have said CAMAC, which has affiliates in Nigeria and South Africa, is highly speculated to be mulling a debut in the public market in Africa as the first fully African-owned upstream oil company to be listed in an African stock exchange.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200807274533142

Energy technology:

Kosmos Energy Named 2007 “Operator of the Year” by “Petroleum Africa” Magazine

July 08, 2008

Kosmos Energy announces today that “Petroleum Africa” magazine has named Kosmos as Africa’s 2007 “Operator of the Year” for its drilling of the Mahogany-1 well that discovered the prolific Jubilee Field in Ghana’s deep waters, as well as Kosmos’ exploration programs in Nigeria, Benin and Cameroon.

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080708006460&newsLang=en

West Africa Gas Pipeline Project starts July end

15 July 2008,

The West African Gas Pipeline Project is expected to come on stream by the end of the month.

This is about the fourth time the ruling government has rescheduled dates for gas delivery from the project. But the Deputy Energy Minister, Kwame Ampofo Twumasi in an interview with Adom News said gas will definitely flow from the project.

http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/200807/18310.asp

Noble Energy Says It Discovers Oil In West Africa & The Gulf of Mexico

July 15  2008

Tuesday before the bell, oil and gas explorer Noble Energy, Inc. (NBL: News, Chart, Quote ) announced the discovery of oil in West Africa and the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

Noble Energy stated that data from the drilling of its Diega prospect in offshore Equatorial Guinea, confirmed the discovery of multiple hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs. About 38 feet of net gas-condensate pay was identified. The company added that a deeper previously untested feature was also discovered and found to contain 30 feet of net gas-condensate pay underlain by 37 feet of net oil pay. A testing program will commence following the completion of the drilling operations.

http://www.rttnews.com/Content/BreakingNews.aspx?Id=654699&Category=Breaking%20News&SimRec=1&Node=

Social Entrepreneurs Develop Cleaner Alternative to African Wood-Burning Stoves

July 16, 2008

On his first trip to Ghana in September 2006, Mark Henderson traveled through countryside that was lush, but obscured with haze.

The haze was the first thing Henderson saw when his plane landed in Accra, the most populous city in this West African country on the Gulf of Guinea. "I could see the smoke permeating everything," Henderson said. "Villagers told me this smoke is suffocating and toxic."

http://knowledge.wpcarey.asu.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1627