Spotlight | Gabon
Traders compete to finance GOC's bid to takeover Carlyle's oil assets

Gabon
President's office and Karpowership at loggerheads

Tempers flared on 27 November, during a meeting between Turkish electricity operator Karpowership and Arnauld Engandji, special adviser to the president on energy issues.

Gabon
Vitol wants debt paid before helping GOC buy Carlyle's assets

Geneva-based trader Vitol is making a loan to enable the Gabon Oil Co to acquire Carlyle's Gabonese assets conditional on the repayment of a debt owed to Sogara.

Gabon
Savannah Energy joins the race for a share of Carlyle's oil assets

The company owned by British national Andrew Knott, along with half a dozen other oil companies, is positioning itself to profit from the sale of assets producing some 45,000 barrels per day.

Niger
Niamey pits BB Energy and BGN against CNPC in Agadem crude deal

Crude oil traders are courting Niamey in a bid to win the contract to market the state's output from the Agadem oil field, which is operated by China's CNPC. The Niger junta is not satisfied with the terms offered by CNPC and wants to open the market to competition.

Palace Intrigues
Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, Paul Biya, Patrice Talon, Andry Rajoelina

Intrigues big and small... Every Thursday, Africa Intelligence takes a peek into the corridors of power in Africa and beyond.

GabonTurkey's BGN cosies up to General Oligui

CameroonPaul Biya refuses to replace head of presidential guard

BeninPatrice Talon on voicemail only at ECOWAS summit

MadagascarRajoelina to be sworn in without a French minister present

Gabon
New regime prepares to pre-empt Carlyle's oil assets

Until recently, Maurel & Prom was the best-placed bidder for US investment group Carlyle's Gabonese oil interests, but the new regime in Libreville is working on an alternative all-Gabonese takeover plan.

Spotlight | Gabon
Maurel & Prom rivals hope for post-coup reallocation of Carlyle assets

The new regime in Libreville will need to give its verdict on the planned sale of Carlyle's oil assets in Gabon to Maurel & Prom. Ali Bongo's government did not formally approve the deal and some disappointed parties believe they have an opportunity to get back into the running.

Gabon
Perenco, Maurel & Prom and Assala remain sanguine after coup

Since the coup on 30 August, oil operators in the country have continued regardless. They are working to build relations with the new power, whose choices of oil and gas officials have been reassuringly well-known figures.