LNG

Saipem, the Italian energy and LNG engineering company specialising in subsea work, has been awarded three contracts valued at $3.7 billion in the LNG exporting nation of Angola and on behalf of French major TotalEnergies.

The three Saipem awards are in Angola’s Block 20 oil and gas fields for the Kaminho project relating to the development of the Cameia and Golfinho oil fields, located 100 kilometres (62 miles) off the coast of Angola.

The first contract refers to the engineering, procurement, construction, transportation and commissioning of the Kaminho floating production storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.

The second contract entails the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of the same FPSO for a firm period of 12 years with a potential eight-year extension, leveraging on the expertise acquired from three other FPSOs currently operating in Angolan waters.

The third contract involves the engineering, procurement, supply, construction, installation, pre-commissioning and assistance for the commissioning and start-up of a Subsea, umbilicals, risers and flowlines (SURF) package which includes about 30 kilometres of 8-inch and 10-inch subsea flowlines and risers, and umbilicals.

“The associated structures will be fabricated in Saipem’s local yard in Ambriz,” said Milan-based Saipem.

Investment decision

Saipem’s statement followed meetings held on May 20 in Angola by Patrick Pouyanné, the Chairman and Chief Executive of TotalEnergies, to announce a final investment decision for the Kaminho project.

Pouyanné held talks with João Lourenço, the President of Angola, and Diamantino Azevedo, the Minister of Mineral Resources.

Pouyanné also held discussions with Angola’s leading state energy executives including Paulino Jerónimo, Chairman and CEO of the National Agency of Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG) and Gaspar Martins, Chairman and CEO of national oil and gas company Sonangol.

TotalEnergies holds 40 percent of the Kaminho project and the other Block 20/11 partners are Malaysia’s Petronas with 40 percent and Sonangol with a 20 percent holding.

The Kaminho project’s Cameia and Golfinho fields are located in water depths of 1,700 metres and the venture is the first large deepwater development in Angola’s Kwanza Basin.

“The first development in the maritime zone of the Kwanza Basin is important to showcase the opening of new oil frontiers in Angola, and it’s part of our strategy to keep Angola on the top of African oil producers, bringing important income to our economy,” stated ANPG’s Jerónimo.

Sonangol’s CEO Martins said that the FID for the Kaminho project shows the commitment and efforts made by the Angolan government as well as the partners TotalEnergies, Sonangol and Petronas.

“The right conditions are now in place to contribute to increasing national production of oil and natural gas, and with that the revenues for the country,” Martins stated.

Angola, a liquefied natural gas exporter in the Atlantic Basin for more than 10 years, said it was leaving the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries because membership of the crude oil cartel was not serving its interests.

African Energy Week 2021 is scheduled to take place in Cape Town from November 9-12 and will unite African Energy Ministers, oil and gas executives as well as national and international companies for four days of discussions and presentations.

The four-day event is taking place at the V&A Waterfront in the South African coastal city.

As the premier oil and gas event and the first sub-Saharan energy conference to take place on the continent in 2021, AEW 2021 is expected to provide the most suitable platform for a collaborative discussion on Africa’s energy future.

The theme of the Cape Town conference is “Making Energy Poverty History by 2030” and it will be hosted by South African Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe, who will be one of the key speakers.

“AEW is a major exhibition and networking event of the African Energy Chamber (AEC) that seeks to unite African energy stakeholders and drive industry growth and development,” said the AEC.

“The event promotes Africa and its energy future with a four-day, high-level conference comprising networking sessions, innovative exhibitions, one-on-one private meetings and much more,” added the AEC.

Attendees

African ministers likely to attend AEW include those from leading LNG producers and countries with LNG projects, including Chief Timipre Sylva, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum, Diamantino Azevedo, Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources and Petroleum, Gabriel Obiang Lima, Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons and Aissattu Sophie Gladima, the Minister of Petroleum and Energy for Senegal.

Other ministers in the line-up include Jaden Ali Obaid from Sudan, Alhaji Sesay of Sierra Leone, Ruth Nankabirwa from Uganda, Bruno Jean Richard Itoua, Minister of Hydrocarbons for the Republic of Congo, and Tom Alweendo, Minister of Mines and Energy for Namibia.

After attending AEW 2021 in Cape Town, the ministers will likely head for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. hosted ADIPEC forum in the United Arab Emirates, taking place from November 15-18.

ADIPEC will provide another platform for the discussion of Africa’s energy landscape, with a dedicated “Focus on Africa” session, led by African energy ministers and offering up key insight into Africa’s post-Covid-19 pandemic energy outlook.

“The UAE and Africa have a long history of successful relations across the entire energy sector value chain,” said Equatorial Guinea’s Gabriel Obiang.

“Through the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, as well as with regard to the African energy transition, the UAE has emerged as a valuable partner for the continent, working closely with African countries to help develop both their economies and energy sectors,” stated the Minister.