Infrastructure

Nigerian independent launches new medical diagnostics laboratory in Delta State

Picture: Delta Plus Diagnostics

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ND Western, a member of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) of Nigeria, and the state-owned Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, have officially commissioned a new world-class laboratory in Delta State yesterday.

The Delta Plus Diagnostics facility was completed earlier this year in Ogunu and provides a world-class, fully equipped, molecular laboratory offering Covid-19 and blood testing services to hospitals, health management organisations (HMOs), corporations and individuals.

The project is the result of a successful and strategic partnership between ND Western, Nigerian think tank Bloom Public Health and Nigerian provider of laboratory equipment Katchey Laboratories.

“This partnership is an outstanding model in health financing, and one to be emulated by other stakeholders in Nigeria’s public health sector,” said Bloom Public Health.

Delta Plus Diagnostics is accredited by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and now serves the South-South region of Nigeria with critical medical diagnostics services, thereby reducing the need to travel long distances.

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Gabon considers new 340Km railway line between Owendo and Booué

Earlier this week, the Government of Gabon signed a contract with INPEX SA, subsidiary of RISE Gabon, to carry out necessary studies on the planned 340km Komo-Ogooue Railway (KOR) project. RISE Gabon is an investment vehicle dedicated to financing the country’s infrastructure and was born out of a partnership with the Islamic Development Bank in 2020. The new railway line would link Owendo in Libreville to Booué in Central Gabon. It is part of the country’s efforts to expand its logistic network and support the diversification of its economy. Under a 30-year concession, Gabon is already financing and upgrading its strategic 650km Transgabonaise railway line that connects Owendo to Franceville. Since 2015, the Transgabonaise railway has notably been subject to a €509m modernization, renovation and upgrade programme (the “PRN”) to restore its initial capacity by 2024. In 2021, an additional CAPEX of €197m was agreed upon (“PRN2”) to further increase the capacity of the line to reach a total of 19 m MT by 2027.

Six operators pre-qualified under Mozambique’s 6th Licensing Round

Following the evaluation of pre-qualification documents from thirteen bidders, Mozambique has pre-qualified 12 companies under its ongoing 6th Licensing Round. Only Nigerian independent Aiteo Exploration & Production did not meet the requirements for pre-qualification. Pre-qualified operators include three Chinese national oil companies (NOCs): CNOOC, Sinopec International and PetroChina International. The three international oil companies (IOCs) already present in the country, Eni, ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies, also pre-qualified as operators. Under the 6th Licensing Round, companies are able to apply for Exploration and Production Concession Contracts (EPCC) after studying data licensed by the INP under standard Master Licensing Agreements (MLA). Most work commitment programmes include a first sub-period with seismic acquisition and a minimum spending of $5m. Drilling commitments must be made only when entering the second sub-period. To support bidders, the INP has made available 2D and 3D seismic datasets for Multi-Client licensing. These surveys cover both onshore and offshore areas and consist of 22,715 sq. km of 3D seismic, 41,905 km of offshore 2D seismic and 18,735 km of onshore 2D seismic.