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U.N. told up to 500 killed in South Sudan clashes: diplomats

The United Nations received reports from local sources in South Sudan on Tuesday that between 400 and 500 people had been killed and up to 800 wounded in the latest violence, and the government said it had arrested 10 politicians in connection with a "foiled coup". "Two hospitals have recorded between 400 and 500 dead and (up to) 800 wounded," a diplomat in New York said on condition of anonymity, citing an estimate United Nations peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous gave during a closed-door briefing for the 15-member body. Another diplomat confirmed Ladsous’ remarks, adding that the United Nations was not in a position to verify the figures. Earlier on Tuesday, a South Sudanese health ministry official told Reuters that at least 26 people were dead after fighting in Juba between rival groups of soldiers from Sunday night into Monday morning. Sporadic gunfire and blasts continued […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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South Sudan’s Kiir Imposes Curfew After Failed Coup in Capital

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir imposed a curfew after soldiers supporting former Vice President Riek Machar tried to overthrow the government last night. The government is in control after attacks in the city, including one at at a meeting of the ruling Sudan People’s Liberation movement, at 6 p.m., Kiir told reporters in the capital, Juba. The curfew will be enforced between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., he said. The governments of the U.S. and U.K. warned citizens in Juba to be careful amid reports that fighting was ongoing. “They tried an attempted coup but it failed,” Kiir said. “We are not going to say whom we have arrested and how many.” Kiir fired Machar in July along with the entire cabinet after the former deputy said he will contest the 2015 presidential elections against Kiir. The winner of internal elections for the ruling party will be the party’s […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Heavy gunfire heard in South Sudan capital

Sporadic gunfire rang out early Monday in the South Sudan capital, Juba, in what a senior military official said were clashes between factions of the country’s military. Some military installations in Juba had come under attack from armed soldiers who have since been repulsed, said Col. Philip Aguer, the South Sudan military spokesman. He offered no more details, saying an investigation was underway and that the situation was tense but not likely to deteriorate. "So far the army is in full control of Juba," he said. An Associated Press reporter saw heavily armed soldiers patrolling the streets of Juba early Monday amid sporadic gunfire emerging from Juba’s main army barracks. There has been political tension in the world’s youngest nation since South Sudan President Salva Kiir fired Riek Machar as his deputy in July. Machar, who has expressed a willingness to contest […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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BG Group says Tanzania emerging as natural gas powerhouse

British energy company BG Group said Tuesday it estimated there are 15 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in its reserve basins off the Tanzanian coast. The company said Tuesday its latest discovery, dubbed Mzia, off the southern Tanzania coast holds an estimated 4.7 trillion cubic feet of total recoverable natural gas. The company said that brings its total estimate for reserves spread out over three areas to around 15 trillion cubic feet. BG Group Chief Executive Officer Chris Finlayson said he expected the Tanzanian government to lay out eventual plans to build an export terminal for the country’s natural gas resources. Export plans with its partners at British energy company Ophir Energy and Norway’s Statoil call for deliveries of liquefied natural gas. Statoil last week announced it discovered more than 2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas at its Mronge-1 reserve area off […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Tullow announces dry hole onshore Ethiopia

Despite several recent successes in East Africa, Tullow Oil PLC has announced that its most recent Ethiopian wildcat is a duster. The company reached a total depth of 6,893 ft on its Tultule-1 exploration well in the South Omo block onshore Ethiopia. Tullow reported that the well will now be plugged and abandoned as a dry hole. The Tultule-1 was targeting oil-bearing sand drilled in its nearby Sabisa-1 well, but the formation was not encountered. The company did report however that gas shows were present. Results from both the Sabisa-1 and the Tultule-1 wells will now be analyzed to organize future exploration plans in the region. Tullow serves as operator of the Tultule-1 well with a 50% interest along with partners Africa Oil Corp. (30%) and Marathon Oil Corp. (20%). Tullow is now moving into Ethiopia’s Chew Bahir basin to drill the Shimela prospect, also in the South Omo […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Tullow dry but unfazed by Ethiopian drilling efforts

British energy explorer Tullow Oil said Monday it encountered natural gas but no oil while drilling into a frontier area in Ethiopia. Tullow said its Tultule-1 wildcat well, a well positioned in a region not known previously to contain oil and natural gas reserves, will be categorized as a dry hole after drilling to a depth of 6,893 feet in the South Omo prospect. Tullow said it was targeting a region similar to another area in Ethiopia that had oil potential, though no oil was encountered during the drilling. The company said Monday it found some natural gas deposits, which it says proves the presence of a hydrocarbon source in the region. Tullow said it would move its drilling rig to a different section of the South Omo prospect “where new seismic [survey information] has delineated a number of exciting new prospects.” New wells […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Zambia: Power Deficit Serious Issue

IT is evident that Zambia, like many other countries in the sub region is experiencing an electricity deficit. The problem is not exclusively Zambian. The entire sub-region is experiencing a power deficit largely due to the industrial growth which has by far outstripped the power generating capacity of most countries, Zambia inclusive. Industrialisation, coupled with urbanisation and the loud cry by rural parts of Zambia to be included on the national electricity grid, has stretched the capacity of Zesco to limits, forcing the company to start rationing. That is why Zesco has embarked on the Zambia Power Rehabilitation Project (PRP) whose overall objective is to supplement Government’s efforts of enhancing the ability of Zambia’s electricity supply industry to provide electricity at least cost and in an efficient manner to stimulate more and inclusive growth in the Zambian economy. The PRP involves the rehabilitation and up-rating of the three major […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Resource-hungry Chinese lead railroad drive in Africa

The Chinese, investing heavily in Africa to secure its oil and other raw materials for their expanding economy, are spearheading a new era of railroad building to unlock the continent’s interior. This is an echo of the long-gone colonial empires when a century ago British and French engineers first opened up Africa to plunder its riches. The railroad frenzy is being accompanied by a massive push to build several major ports along the coast of East Africa to accelerate exports across the Indian Ocean, mostly to China, India and Japan, as well as lay down a network of oil and gas pipelines to these ports. “Railways are key to increasing regional trade,” said Darlan Fabio de David, chief executive of Rift Valley Railways, a private equity-backed company rehabilitating the line between the Kenyan port of Mombasa and the inland Ugandan capital of Uganda […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Construction of S Sudan's First Oil Refinery to Start Before Year-End

The construction of South Sudan’s delayed first oil refinery is due to start before the end of the year, its government said Thursday, as the country seeks to end chronic fuel supply disruptions. The information ministry said in a statement that construction of the 5,000 barrel-a-day Bentiu Refinery in the Unity state was originally expected to begin in July but had been delayed, mainly due to bad road conditions that hindered equipment delivery. South Sudan took the majority of Sudan’s oil production when it became independent in 2011 but has no refineries of its own and has had to import fuel from Sudan or other neighboring countries. The Bentiu Refinery is key in helping the country to control escalating fuel prices caused by inflation, a weakening currency and disruptions along the main import route through Uganda caused by flooding. The plant […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple
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Construction of S Sudan’s First Oil Refinery to Start Before Year-End

The construction of South Sudan’s delayed first oil refinery is due to start before the end of the year, its government said Thursday, as the country seeks to end chronic fuel supply disruptions. The information ministry said in a statement that construction of the 5,000 barrel-a-day Bentiu Refinery in the Unity state was originally expected to begin in July but had been delayed, mainly due to bad road conditions that hindered equipment delivery. South Sudan took the majority of Sudan’s oil production when it became independent in 2011 but has no refineries of its own and has had to import fuel from Sudan or other neighboring countries. The Bentiu Refinery is key in helping the country to control escalating fuel prices caused by inflation, a weakening currency and disruptions along the main import route through Uganda caused by flooding. The plant […]

Posted On : Published By : Tom Whipple