Bitumen Africa Podcast
Podcast about Market and Finanacial Events
Updated Weekly on Saturday
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South Africa Launches SANPC: A New Era for Oil and Gas?
In a decisive energy sector shake-up, South Africa has officially launched the South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) — a bold attempt to resuscitate the nation’s stagnant oil and gas sector and secure its energy future. Born from the merger of PetroSA, iGas, and the Strategic Fuel Fund, SANPC will operate under the Central Energy […]
China Shatters Records with Rooftop Solar Installations
In the first quarter of 2025, China set a new record by installing 60 gigawatts (GW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity, the highest ever for a first quarter. Of this, 60%, or 36 GW, came from rooftop installations, marking the largest quarterly increase in distributed PV in the country’s history. This rapid growth was driven […]
African Nations Lead in Critical Mineral Supply
Africa has a long-standing history of mining, and as global demand for critical minerals rises due to the green energy transition, the continent is becoming increasingly attractive to international mining companies. Several African nations stand to benefit from this demand by developing their mining and processing sectors, adding value to raw materials that previously went […]
OPEC+ has paused its aggressive supply-cut strategy
Over the past two years, OPEC+—a coalition of oil-producing countries led by Saudi Arabia and Russia—has tried to raise oil prices by limiting supply. Despite Saudi Arabia’s disciplined efforts, their attempts were largely unsuccessful due to external macroeconomic forces beyond their control. Global economic uncertainty, especially fears stemming from U.S. trade policies and the threat […]
Kazakhstan’s Renewable Energy Push: From Coal Dependence to Green Ambition
Kazakhstan, the world's largest landlocked country, is embarking on an ambitious transition toward renewable energy, aiming to reduce its reliance on coal, which still makes up nearly two-thirds of its power generation. The government’s National Green Growth Plan outlines a rebalanced energy mix by 2030, with increased shares of gas, nuclear, and renewables. However, experts […]
A war between India and Pakistan would significantly destabilize Central Asia
A war between Pakistan and India would have major consequences for Central Asia, considering its proximity to Afghanistan and the region's growing economic ties. The conflict could disrupt trade and energy routes, exacerbate militancy, and invite intervention from global powers like China, Russia, and the United States. The ongoing competition among external powers already makes […]
Russia Backs Iraqi Push To Reopen Key Oil Pipeline To Syria
Russia’s strategic interest in Syria became evident in 2011 when President Putin ordered military intervention to support Bashar al-Assad’s regime against a popular uprising. This move, supported by Iran, ensured continued Russian influence in the region until Assad was overthrown in December 2024 by U.S. and U.K.-backed rebel forces. Following the coup, Russia has quickly […]
Rethinking Land Use: How Shifting from Biofuels to Solar Can Boost Energy and Food Security
As the global transition to clean energy accelerates, large-scale solar and wind farms are demanding increasingly vast areas of land. These renewable energy projects require specific geographical and climatic conditions, often overlapping with fertile agricultural land. This overlap has sparked tension between the needs for energy security and food production. Unlike coal or natural gas […]
Africa is projected to play a major role in the global LNG market
Africa is poised to become a key player in the global liquefied natural gas (LNG) market, with production capacity expected to rise sharply as global demand increases. Rystad Energy projects global LNG capacity to surge from 486 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) in 2023 to 755 Mtpa by 2030, with Africa accounting for around 20% […]
Brazil’s Oil Ambitions Challenge Climate Goals
The COP climate summits are designed to advance global efforts against climate change, encouraging a green transition and economic decarbonization. However, the conferences themselves have faced criticism for environmental contradictions, including unsustainable developments in host countries, a heavy presence of fossil fuel lobbyists, and widespread use of private jets. This year, COP30 will be hosted […]