Global Energy and Automotive News, Trends & Expert Analysis 28/05
London, May 28, 2025 (Oilandgaspress) –- Eni, through its subsidiary Eni Natural Energies (ENE), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food Production of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore new opportunities for collaboration in the agricultural and agro-industrial sectors for the production of vegetable oil for bio-refining use. In particular, the agreement aims to enhance the rubber (hevea) supply chain and to assess the introduction of oilseed crops on marginal and degraded lands, thereby contributing to the country’s sustainable agricultural development without competing with food production and forest ecosystem.
The MoU was signed during the Salon International de l’Agriculture et des Ressources Animales (SARA), currently taking place at the Parc des Expositions in Abidjan. The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani and the Managing Director of Eni Natural Energies Côte d’Ivoire, Luca Faccenda. During the event, the parties highlighted the positive impact of the project already launched by Eni Natural Energies Côte d’Ivoire in collaboration with the Federation of Rubber Producers of Côte d’Ivoire (FPH-CI). This project is enabling the valorization of rubber residues – a crop widely cultivated in the country – by transforming them into raw materials for biofuel production, generating economic and social benefits for thousands of farmers. Read More
Tata Launches Wide Range of Commercial Vehicles in Egypt Tata Motors, one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers along with MM Group for Industry and International Trade (MTI), one of Egypt’s largest distribution companies, announced the launch of its commercial vehicles range in Egypt. Designed to address the country’s growing mobility needs across cargo and passenger segments, the diverse portfolio, including Tata Xenon, Ultra T.7, Ultra T.9, Prima 3328.K, Prima 4438.S, Prima 6038.S, and LP 613 bus will support Egypt’s infrastructure growth, rising urbanization, and expanding logistics sector. The launch marks a significant step forward in Tata Motors’ commitment to the market, combining global expertise with a customer-centric approach to deliver reliable, efficient, and future-ready solutions.
Agreement for construction of three photovoltaic plants in Italy Plenitude and Marelli, a multinational company specializing in the supply of high-tech products and systems for the automotive industry, have signed an agreement for the construction of three photovoltaic plants and an Energy Community. The plants will be located at Marelli’s production sites in Melfi (Potenza), Sulmona (L’Aquila), and Turin, with a total installed capacity of 5.4 MWp. The projects will be carried out under an EPC (Energy Performance Contract) model, allowing Marelli to obtain renewable energy at a fixed cost without any initial investment.
At the Melfi site, Plenitude has also designed an Energy Community for Marelli under the Individual Remote Self-Consumption (AID) configuration The photovoltaic park, with a capacity of 999 kWpwill be installed on land owned by Marelli, who will share the energy produced with a neighboring company. Once operational, the plant will benefit from the 20-year state incentives provided for AID, with a portion of the funds allocated, as per regulations, to support social initiatives in the area hosting the plant.
This initiative reinforces Plenitude’s strategy of promoting Energy Communities as a key tool in the transition to a more sustainable and participatory energy system, based on sharing renewable energy locally between producers and consumers.
Plenitude will support Marelli in all phases of the initiative, from the design and construction of the plants to the application for incentives, also providing its technological platform, “Plenitude Comunità Energetiche,” which will enable the management and monitoring of the AID configuration.
Alpine A390: in sport fastback. Alpine’s second all-electric model, the A390, joins the A290 in the brand’s Dream Garage. The A390 is a 5-seat sport fastback with the agility and performance of the A110. Thanks to its onboard technology, three motors and Alpine engineering magic, the A390 embodies Alpine’s DNA in a passion-filled vehicle that will take on winding mountain roads without shying away from its competitors on the track.
The A390’s platform is sourced from Ampere and includes charging services developed by Mobilize Power Solutions, such as bidirectional V2G charging, as part of a comprehensive electric ecosystem for an optimal experience.
The Alpine A390 is designed and manufactured in France at the brand’s historic factory, the Manufacture Alpine Dieppe Jean Rédélé. It will be available from the fourth quarter of 2025. At launch, the A390 price in GT and GTS versions will range from €65,000 to €76,000. Final prices will be announced when orders open in each country. The Alpine A390 Première pass will provide initial buyers priority access to orders for their A390.
2025 Formula One Spanish Grand Prix BWT Alpine Formula One Team joins the entire Alpine family this weekend in proudly celebrating the brand’s 70th anniversary. Founded in 1955 by Jean Rédélé in Dieppe, France, Alpine grew out of his passion for motoring and racing, and is still competing today at the top of motorsport in Formula One and the World Endurance Championship. As an automotive leader, last year, Alpine launched the A290 to great acclaim, winning the European Car of the Year award and on 27th May, the world premiere of its first sport fastback was unveiled at Dieppe and will be presented to the general public during the 70th anniversary weekend.
The anniversary is being celebrated by BWT Alpine Formula One Team at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix with an updated A525 livery sporting the special Alpine 70 years logo. Drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto will race in specially-designed, one-off overalls and gloves in white with red and blue stripes and featuring the A70 logo.
A special Alpine logo for the 70th Anniversary:
The A-arrow symbol proudly celebrates the brand’s 70 years: 1955-2025. The use of blue, white and red emphasises the origins of the French brand created by Jean Rédélé in Dieppe in 1955. The number 70 extends the A-arrow, signifying a brand rooted in its past but looking to the future. The red target in the centre of the wheel, another automotive symbol, represents the challenges the brand will take on over the next 70 years!
Eni signs agreement with GIP for the potential sale of a co-control stake in Eni CCUS Holding
Eni has signed an agreement to enter into a period of exclusivity with Global Infrastructure Partners (“GIP”), a leading global infrastructure investor and a part of BlackRock, aimed at progressing the confirmatory due diligence phase and completing the drafting of the documents related to the sale of a co-control stake of 49.99% in Eni CCUS Holding – a leading European player in the CCUS sector (Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage) – which includes and operates the following projects: Hynet and Bacton in the UK, L10 in the Netherland, and, in the context of a maturation of the regulatory and market framework, has the future right to acquire the Ravenna project in Italy. In the medium-to-long term, additional prospects could be added to build a wide platform of CCUS projects.
According to the final agreement under negotiation, besides the initial acquisition of a 49.99% stake in Eni CCUS Holding, GIP will support investments in the CCUS projects.
The agreement follows a thorough selection process involving several prominent international players who expressed strong interest in the company, further confirming the great appeal of its business and its growth prospects. This step represents another example of the development of Eni’s satellite model strategy, aiming at attracting strategically aligned capital from valuable new partners at attractive terms, confirming the value Eni is creating in its new energy transition related businesses and funding their further growth.
CCUS is a mature and safe technological process and it is one of the key levers for the energy transition being the most efficient and effective decarbonization tool to support hard-to-abate industries in reducing their emissions.
Horisont Energi Extraordinary General Meeting with Shareholders Horisont Energi AS (HRGI) is proposing a strategic realignment of its business model with an even clearer focus on the CO₂ storage project at Gismarvik, while also planning a cash distribution of NOK 0.50 per share to the company’s shareholders.
The Board recommends that the Barents Blue project is to be spun off through the distribution of shares in the subsidiary Horisont Ammoniakk AS. All shareholders in Horisont Energi will receive one share in Horisont Ammoniakk for each share they own in the parent company.
“The cash distribution gives our shareholders flexibility: they can reinvest in Barents Blue or use the funds as they see fit,” says Leiv Kallestad, CEO of Horisont Energi.
Horisont Energi will continue to support the Barents Blue project with resources through an existing service agreement and provide other necessary support during the transitional period, but the spun-off company will independently operate Barents Blue and continue existing dialogues with the project’s stakeholders.
The Polaris carbon storage project will continue to be a part of Horisont Energi.
“With this strategy, we strengthen our focus while providing shareholders with direct value distribution and the opportunity for continued ownership in both projects,” concludes Kallestad.
For a more detailed description, please refer to the notice of the Extraordinary General Meeting (Norwegian with English Office Translation) on June 11th, which is attached.
First oil from Mero-4 FPSO in Brazil pre-salt Shell Brasil Petróleo Ltda. (Shell Brasil), a subsidiary of Shell plc, announced the start of production at the floating production storage and offloading facility (FPSO) Alexandre de Gusmão in the Mero field in the Santos Basin offshore Brazil.
As part of the Mero-4 project, the FPSO will be connected to 12 wells, with an operational capacity of 180,000 barrels of oil production and 12 million cubic meters of gas compression per day (Shell share 19.3%). The FPSO is located 180 kilometres from the coast of Rio de Janeiro in a water depth of approximately 2,000 metres.
“Mero-4 is the latest example of how we are working with our partners to unlock value from world-class reservoirs, sustaining material liquids production and providing for the world’s current energy needs,” said Peter Costello, Shell’s Upstream President. “Our Brazil portfolio features long-life assets with high flow rates, resulting in some of our most competitive barrels on both operating cost and carbon footprint.”
The unitized Mero field is operated by Petrobras (38.6%), in partnership with Shell Brasil (19.3%), TotalEnergies (19.3%), CNPC (9.65%), CNOOC (9.65%) and Pré-Sal Petróleo S.A (PPSA) (3.5%) representing the Government in the non-contracted area.
39th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting In light of the continued commitment of the OPEC and non-OPEC Participating Countries in the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) to achieve and sustain a stable oil market, the Participating Countries decided to:
Reaffirm the Framework of the Declaration of Cooperation, signed on 10 December 2016 and further endorsed in subsequent meetings.
Reaffirm the level of overall crude oil production for OPEC and non-OPEC Participating Countries in the DoC as agreed in the 38th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting until 31 December 2026.
Reaffirm the mandate of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) to closely review global oil market conditions, oil production levels, and the level of conformity with the DoC, assisted by the OPEC Secretariat. The JMMC meeting is to be held every two months.
Reaffirm the JMMC’s authority to hold additional meetings, or to request an OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting at any time to address market developments, whenever deemed necessary.
Reiterate the critical importance of adhering to full conformity and the compensation mechanism.
Mandate the OPEC Secretariat to develop a mechanism to assess participating countries maximum sustainable production capacity (MSC) to be used as reference for 2027 production baselines for all DoC countries.
Hold the 40th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting on 30 November 2025.
| Oil and Gas Blends | Units | Oil Price | Change |
| Crude Oil (WTI) | USD/bbl | $62.39 | Up |
| Crude Oil (Brent) | USD/bbl | $65.50 | Up |
| Bonny Light 28/05/25 CBN | USD/bbl | $66.18 | Up |
| Dubai | USD/bbl | $63.53 | Down |
| Natural Gas | USD/MMBtu | $3.23 | Down |
| Sahara Blend | USD/bbl | $63.89 | Down |
| OPEC basket 27/05/25 | USD/bbl | $63.78 | Down |
ZER01NE Fund III to Drive Future Technology Innovation with Startups Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) announced today the launch of ZER01NE Fund III, a KRW 125 billion strategic investment fund aimed at accelerating innovation in future technologies through early-stage startup investments. The new fund marks a 1.5-fold increase in size over the previous ZER01NE Fund II and is supported by 10 affiliates of the Group, including Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, Hyundai Motor Securities, Hyundai GLOVIS, Hyundai WIA, Hyundai Rotem, Hyundai MOBIS, Hyundai AutoEver, Hyundai Capital, and Hyundai BNG STEEL.
ZER01NE Fund III will focus on discovering and investing in startups worldwide that align closely with the Group’s evolving business strategies, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, cybersecurity, hydrogen and energy technologies.
“This fund reinforces the Group’s position as a leading strategic investor in transformative technologies,” said Kyuseung Keith Noh, Vice President and Head of ZER01NE Group at Hyundai Motor Group. “By deepening collaboration with innovative startups, we aim to generate meaningful synergies across our affiliates and accelerate our future-ready business initiatives.”
The new fund builds on the success of its predecessors. ZER01NE Fund I (approximately KRW 10 billion) and ZER01NE Fund II (KRW 80.5 billion) collectively invested in over 105 startups, leading to over 200 collaboration cases within the Group.
ASEAN Hyundai Cup™ The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) has today announced that Southeast Asia’s premier men’s national team tournament and the region’s top football event will be named the ASEAN Hyundai Cup™ after its new title partner Hyundai Motor, the global smart mobility leader. Under the agreement concluded by the AFF’s exclusive commercial partner SPORTFIVE, Hyundai is also a Presenting Partner of three other major ASEAN football championships – the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™, the ASEAN Women’s MSIG Serenity Cup™ and ASEAN U-23 Championship™, which together with the Hyundai Cup™, are collectively branded ASEAN United FC.
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor operates in over 200 countries and is dedicated to tackling global mobility challenges while transforming into a Smart Mobility Solution Provider through investments in robotics, Advance Air Mobility, and zero-emission technologies including hydrogen fuel cells and EV innovations. As a part of this forward-looking vision, football sponsorship has been a core element of Hyundai’s brand and sports marketing strategy, beginning in 1999 with its partnership with FIFA and expanding by becoming the official sponsor for CONMEBOL Libertadores in Latin America.
Hyundai Cup™ is the South Korean mobility provider’s first partnership with ASEAN football as it strategically targets Southeast Asia for growth – increasing its presence in the region’s key markets and strengthening its connection with the passionate ASEAN football community. The 2024 edition of ASEAN’s flagship event once again smashed records with an audience of 541.5 million and cumulative views of 12.66 billion on social media channels.
Hyundai Air & Sea Show Hyundai proudly announced the return of the National Salute to America’s Heroes for Memorial Day weekend, May 24-25, 2025, on the iconic sands of Miami Beach. Now in its ninth year, this free two-day patriotic extravaganza remains the nation’s premier celebration honoring the U.S. military, first responders, and their families. Featuring the thrilling Hyundai Air & Sea Show® and an engaging display village complete with interactive exhibits, simulators, and entertainment suitable for all ages, this event promises fun and excitement for the whole family.
Since its debut in 2017, the National Salute to America’s Heroes has evolved into the premier U.S. Military celebration and remembrance event held annually during Memorial Day weekend. This event stands as a cornerstone of Hyundai’s enduring dedication to supporting the U.S. military. Continuing this commitment for the fifth consecutive year, Hyundai will contribute $50,000 to Folds of Honor, facilitating scholarships for the spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members.
The National Salute to America’s Heroes is headlined by the Hyundai Air & Sea Show®—proudly known as The Greatest Show Above the Earth™. This awe-inspiring Memorial Day Weekend tradition honors the men and women of the United States military and first responder agencies through thrilling demonstrations on land, sea, and in the air. The event is free and open to the public, with prime viewing areas along Miami Beach from 1st to 10th Street and from 14th to 15th Street.
Expanding across five city blocks, the Florida Power & Light Patriot Display Village (open 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.) delivers an immersive, hands-on experience showcasing the strength, technology, and innovation of the U.S. Armed Forces. Located east of Lummus Park along Ocean Drive between 11th and 14th Streets, the Florida Power & Light Patriot Display Village features an impressive lineup of military equipment including an M1 Abrams tank, an F-16 fighter jet, rifle ranges, tactical gear, and interactive exhibits. Among these, the Hyundai Hangar stands out as a patriotically themed consumer event space paying homage to the military and first responders. Positioned between 12th and 13th Street, it showcases the 2025 IONIQ 5 and 2026 IONIQ 9 with a hydration station, alongside a collaborative Letters to Heroes branded writing station, encouraging guests to send letters to U.S. Troops. Additionally, there are various interactive activities and themed giveaways to engage visitors. Outside the hangar, the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT and 2026 Palisade XRT Pro models are on display. Hyundai’s presence extends further with several activations across the area, including specially wrapped Hyundai Tucson N Line, Santa Cruz , Santa Fe , and IONIQ 9 vehicles, honoring the five branches of the military and first responders.
McDermott Publishes 2024 Sustainability Report McDermott announces the publication of its 2024 Sustainability Report, presenting the company’s progress supporting a lower-carbon energy future as an integral part of McDermott’s safe, ethical and efficient business operations.
This fifth annual report demonstrates McDermott’s sustainability strategy and how sustainability priorities – from decarbonization to circularity, and human rights to social investment through capacity building – are embedded across our operations and project delivery. From early front-end engineering design to fabrication, construction, installation and commissioning (EPCIC), McDermott’s integrated delivery model, assets and high-performing workforce deliver sustainability successes in our operations and for customers, advancing goals across traditional and emerging energy sectors.
2024 performance highlights include:
Industry-Leading Safety: Achieved a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 0.07 and a Lost Time Incident Rate (LTIR) of 0.01, among the best in the industry.
Renewable Energy: Increased renewable energy sourcing to 80% of grid electricity demand across operations.
Carbon Reduction and Energy Efficiency: Achieved a 35% reduction in carbon intensity and ISO 50001 energy management certification at four major fabrication yards, reflecting long-term improvements in energy efficiency.
Energy Transition: Progressed delivery of the world’s first large-scale green steel project and began fabrication of a second high-voltage direct current (HVDC) offshore converter station to support Europe’s energy transition objectives.
People-First Progress: Doubled participation in internal training and talent development programs; recognized by the Ugandan government for leading in-country workforce and capacity development programs for the second year.
Saab equips Swedish Visby-class corvettes with enhanced air defence capabilities Saab has been awarded a contract by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to equip the Swedish Navy’s five Visby-class corvettes with the Sea Ceptor air defence system from MBDA. This upgrade, valued at approximately SEK 1.6 billion, will significantly enhance Sweden’s and NATO’s air defence capabilities.
The order for Saab is part of FMV’s long-term plan to maintain and modernise the five Visby-class corvettes. This new naval air defence system allows for protection of a considerably larger area and the engagement of air targets at longer ranges compared to the existing weapon systems currently on board the vessels.
“This modification strengthens both Sweden’s and NATO’s air and missile defence by increasing the Swedish Armed Forces’ operational capability and ability to operate across the entire conflict spectrum. With the air defence system on board, the Visby-class corvettes will continue to be a vital platform for many years to come,” says Mats Wicksell, Head of Saab’s business area Kockums.
FMV has previously placed an order for the Sea Ceptor air defence system with MBDA. Saab’s work on modifying the Visby-class corvettes and installing the system will begin in early 2026.
POWWR Announces Innovative Learning Programmes for Brokers POWWR, the respected energy software provider, today announces the appointment of experienced learning and development (L&D) professional Visheshta Choudhary. Starting immediately, Choudhary will be working on onboarding and providing a streamlined learning programme for the 1000+ brokers that use POWWR’s award-winning cloud-based software solutions daily.
Choudhary is a L&D professional with over 20 years’ experience spanning diverse industries including banking, telecom, government and retail. Throughout her career, Choudhary has consistently looked to improve workforce performance through innovative training initiatives and stakeholder management. She has led multiple successful L&D projects focused on employee performance, onboarding, continuous improvement and compliance for the likes of Serco, Studio Retail Ltd., TMS Global, and urbanbubble Ltd.
“We are thrilled that Choudhary has joined the team. She is highly skilled in developing learning programmes, working with learning management systems and streamlining business processes through continuous improvement methodologies. The brokers that use our solutions are in good hands,” explains Patrick Gardiner, Senior Vice President of Customer Success, POWWR.
POWWR Broker360 was developed specifically with energy consultants in mind. Whether a broker is from a one-person shop or a multi-location consultancy, they can gain access to the cutting-edge tools needed to succeed and grow in today’s competitive energy landscape. Because of Broker360’s diversity of tools and features, the platform has become the gold standard for brokers looking to grow.
Toyocolor Receives Toyota Battery’s Zero Defects Award. Toyocolor Co., Ltd., the colorants and functional materials division of the artience Group, received the “Award for 10 Consecutive Years of Zero Quality Defects” from Toyota Battery Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation. The recognition underscores Toyocolor’s ability to prevent the introduction of harmful foreign matter in automotive battery materials, from both the raw materials selection stage on through to processing. Representatives of Toyocolor accepted the award at a supplier meeting hosted by Toyota Battery on April 22, 2025, in Japan.
Since 2015, Toyocolor had been supplying Toyota Battery with acetylene black dispersions as a conductive additive in lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). Subsequently, in September 2023, this supply was replaced by new carbon nanotube (CNT) dispersions developed by Toyocolor. Foreign matter contamination during LiB fabrication can lead to short circuits. This in turn results in reduced battery performance and increased heat generation, potentially triggering ignition. Thus, high-output batteries that adopt CNT dispersions require even more rigorous quality controls against metal impurities.
“We are delighted to be recognized for manufacturing excellence by a world-class battery maker like Toyota Battery,” said Masaki Nagatsubo, Managing Director of Toyocolor. “At Toyocolor, we uphold three principles for contamination control – Zero Tolerance, Zero Occurrence and Zero Defect. We believe it is this mindset of striving for perfection that has allowed us to maintain a high level of foreign matter control. It starts with the quality control of raw materials and extends through all stages of processing, and filling and shipping.”
Building on this accolade, Toyocolor will continuously work to make further performance enhancements to its conductive CNT dispersions and their quality controls, with the aim of realizing a sustainable society through the spread of clean mobility.
Woodside welcomes proposed NWS Extension approval Woodside and the North West Shelf Joint Venture welcome the Federal Government’s proposed decision to grant environmental approval for the North West Shelf Project Extension. Woodside Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Australia Liz Westcott said the proposed Federal Government approval will provide certainty for the ongoing operation of the North West Shelf Project following rigorous assessments and appeals.
“This proposed approval will secure the ongoing operation of the North West Shelf and the thousands of direct and indirect jobs that it supports.
“This nationally significant infrastructure has supplied reliable and affordable energy to Western Australia for 40 years and international customers for 35 years and will be able to continue its contribution to energy security.
“Since starting operations in 1984, the North West Shelf Project has paid over A$40 billion in royalties and taxes, and supported regional development opportunities in the Pilbara.” Woodside has received the proposed Federal conditions which relate to matters including cultural heritage
management and air quality. We recognise the significance of these matters and are reviewing the proposed conditions to understand their application.
Amazon and Stellantis’ SmartCockpit partnership is winding down (Reuters) – Amazon’s deal with Stellantis to create in-car software that the companies hoped would transform the driving experience while bolstering their vehicle-tech credentials is “winding down,” the companies confirmed after a Reuters inquiry.
The Stellantis (STLAM.MI), opens new tab SmartCockpit project, which would rely on Amazon’s in-car technology, is the latest example of traditional automakers struggling to work with Silicon Valley to introduce more sophisticated vehicle software.
Baker Hughes Rig Count: U.S. -10 to 566 Canada -7 to 114
U.S. Rig Count is down 10 from last week to 566 with oil rigs down 8 to 465, gas rigs down 2 to 98 and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 3.
Canada Rig Count is down 7 from last week to 114, with oil rigs down 3 to 71, gas rigs down 4 to 43 and miscellaneous rigs unchanged at 0.
| Region | Period | Rig Count | Change |
| U.S.A | 23 May 2025 | 566 | -10 |
| Canada | 23 May 2025 | 114 | -7 |
| International | April 2025 | 891 | -8 |
| Baker Hughes |
Nissan offers buyouts to US workers Japan’s Nissan has started offering buyouts to U.S. workers and has suspended merit-based wage increases worldwide, internal emails reviewed by Reuters showed, as the automaker expands cost cuts amid weak performance in key markets. CEO Ivan Espinosa announced a new round of cost cuts this month that include closing seven production sites globally and cutting 11,000 more jobs, taking its total planned workforce reduction to around 20,000.
As part of the cuts, Nissan has offered separation packages to workers at its Canton plant in Mississippi as well as to salaried workers in human resources, planning, information technology and finance, showed one email sent last week.
KBR Awarded $476M Base Operations Support Contract in Djibouti KBR announced today it has been awarded a firm fixed price, $476M contract by the U.S. Navy Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) to continue performing Base Operations Support (BOS) services at Camp Lemonnier and Chabelley Airfield in Djibouti. This contract supports the only permanent U.S. Navy base in Africa.
Under the Djibouti BOS contract, KBR will provide mission support services for the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa. As one of the Navy’s largest base operations support contracts, KBR will provide full-scale support, from facility operations and maintenance to fire and emergency services to airfield and security operations for thousands of military personnel. KBR will also provide basic life support services such as power generation, water supply, housing and food services. The period of performance is November 2025 to May 2034.
NesmaKent Energy Secures Contract with Aramco NesmaKent Energy Company (NKJV), a pioneering joint venture between Nesma & Partners (N&P) and Kent, has signed a strategic contract with Aramco to lead the commencement of phase one of the National EPC Champion Initiative. This milestone marks the commencement of the first Project Management Consultancy (PMC) contract, reinforcing NesmaKent’s role as a key partner in advancing Saudi Arabia’s energy infrastructure.
The inaugural seed project under this agreement focuses on enhancing water handling facilities in the South Ghawar Area, a critical initiative aligned with Aramco’s long-term corporate strategy to sustain crude oil production and meet Maximum Sustainable Capacity (MSC) targets. NesmaKent’s expertise in EPCM services, advanced execution technologies, and operational efficiency will play a crucial role in optimizing the project’s success while ensuring minimal operational disruptions.
NesmaKent’s Value Addition to the National EPC Champion Program
Aramco’s National EPC Champion Program was launched to support a growing, sustainable national economy by creating jobs and contributing to the Kingdom’s GDP. NesmaKent Energy integrates local expertise with global engineering standards, positioning itself as a key driver of transformation in Saudi Arabia’s EPC landscape. Through this initiative, NesmaKent will bring significant value to the project.
Uganda Oil and Gas – CSO Conference – Commitment to Human Rights · The leading figures in Uganda’s oil and gas development united at a conference in the capital Kampala to enhance collaboration on business and human rights.
· The critical yet underappreciated role of Community Liaison Officers (CLOs), who operate on the frontlines of extractive projects, was highlighted as crucial to issue resolution.
· Programs celebrated which have already improved livelihoods for over 11,000 people in the project areas by increasing access to education, healthcare and food markets.
· Event emphasises country’s commitment to ensuring that oil and gas development uplifts rather than undermines the rights and welfare of the people of Uganda.
Key stakeholders from civil society, government, and the oil and gas sector have pledged to deepen cooperation and foster mutual understanding in a renewed effort to advance best practice in business and human rights in Uganda’s extractive industry.
This commitment was reaffirmed during the 3rd Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Conference on Oil and Gas, organised by the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) in partnership with various actors. The annual event continues to serve as a vital platform for dialogue, transparency, and trust-building across the sector.
Mr. Ernest Rubondo, Executive Director of the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), emphasised the importance of open dialogue in his opening remarks. “We’ve made significant progress thanks to stakeholder alignment across most activities. However, differences have emerged—particularly around business, social, and human rights perspectives. It’s crucial that even in disagreement, we foster constructive engagement that promotes learning without hindering Uganda’s socio-economic development,” Mr. Rubondo said.
He further acknowledged the work undertaken by civil society actors in supporting information sharing, community empowerment, policy enhancement, and adherence to international best practices, especially in areas related to social inclusion and human rights.
The keynote address by Ms. Ana Maria Esteves, founder of Community Insights Group and Honorary Professor at both the Australian National University and the University of Strathclyde, delivered a compelling call to action on the centrality of social and human rights performance in business—particularly for marginalized and often overlooked communities.
She highlighted the critical yet underappreciated role of Community Liaison Officers (CLOs), who operate on the frontlines of extractive projects, managing complex power dynamics and the competing expectations of companies and communities. “True human rights due diligence means seeing and supporting everyone, especially those often overlooked. Community Liaison Officers are at the frontline, navigating complex power dynamics and expectations. Their voices, and the communities they represent, must be central to our performance and progress,” emphasised Ms. Esteves.
Looking ahead, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, in a statement delivered on her behalf, committed to institutionalising a multi-stakeholder Human Rights and Extractives Forum, supporting local government and community capacity-building, and encouraging licensees to operationalise human rights due diligence frameworks.
As Uganda moves towards first oil, such multi-stakeholder engagements reaffirm the country’s commitment to ensuring that oil and gas development uplifts rather than undermines the rights and welfare of its people.
For more information, contact: Ms. Gloria Sebikari, Manager Corporate Affairs at the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) on corporateaffairs@pau.go.ug or Afsa Umutesi at afsa@zebek.co.uk or on +256 783 669 019
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OilandGasPress Energy Newsbites and Analysis Roundup | Compiled by: OGP Staff, Segun Cole @oilandgaspress.
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