Oil sector reform committee to submit report before March

Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Yakubu Lawal, Deputy Energy Editor

THE Minister of State for Energy (Petroleum), Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, said the report of the Oil and Gas Reform Committee will soon be presented to the Federal Government.
The minister, while speaking with journalists after the meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna, Austria, last week, said though the ministers were not part of the committee, but that reports reaching his office indicated that work was in top gear and would be ready on schedule.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/energy/article01//indexn3_html?pdate=060208&ptitle=Oil%20sector%20reform%20committee%20to%20submit%20report%20before%20March&cpdate=120208

Nigeria risks blacklisting over N'Delta crisisBy

Monday, February 11, 2008
Yakubu Lawal, Bayo Ohu, (Lagos) and Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt)

THE crisis in the Niger Delta may get the country into the black books of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) with very adverse consequences for the country's economy, indications emerged at the weekend.
The body has issued a warning to Nigeria that if the safety of the territorial waters continued to be threatened by the crisis, no foreign vessels will be allowed to come to the country to lift crude oil or gas.

http://www.guardiannewsngr.com/news/article03//indexn2_html?pdate=110208&ptitle=Nigeria%20risks%20blacklisting%20over%20N'Delta%20crisis

Ngudjolo Chui makes first appearance at ICC on DR Congo war crimes charges

Caitlin Price at 1:07 PM ET

[JURIST] Former Congolese Nationalist and Integrationist Front leader Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui [ICC materials] on Monday appeared before the International Criminal Court (ICC) [press release] at The Hague for the first time. The public hearing allowed judges to verify Ngudjolo Chui's identity and to read his arrest warrant [PDF text] for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Ngudjolo Chui's lawyer asked that the case be dismissed, saying that Ngudjolo Chui had already been acquitted of the same charges by a court in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) [JURIST news archive]. A hearing to confirm the charges is set for May 21.

http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2008/02/ngudjolo-chui-makes-first-appearance-at.php

Anglo Platinum production drops

I-Net Bridge
Anglo Platinum (AMS), the world’s largest platinum producer, reported a 2.8% drop in its diluted headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the year to end December 2007.
The company’s FY07 diluted HEPS was 52.01 rand compared to 53.52 rand for the full year to end December 2006.


http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=703264

What are the main issues in South Africa?

President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday South Africa could overcome in a "relatively short "period" a power supply crisis that has hurt the mining industry and raised concerns among foreign investors.

In a state of the nation address to parliament, Mbeki said his government would maintain its fiscal policies to support economic growth.

Source:

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20080208120014433C255304

British visa plan to restrict relations - DA

Any move by Britain to impose visa requirements on South Africans wishing to visit that country will have a serious effect on relations between the two countries, according to the DA.

According to reports, British MPs were examining evidence that might lead to such a visa requirement soon, DA foreign affairs spokesperson Tony Leon said.


Source:
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3045&art_id=vn20080207062257224C334331

Energy, water crisis early warning sign - WWF

The power supply crisis and looming fresh water shortage are early warning signs that South Africa needs to curb use of natural resources, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said on Wednesday.

"South Africa has a narrowing time window in which to act decisively to prevent critical resource shortages that could dash our hopes of sustained economic growth," said South African WWF for nature chief executive Dr Morne du Plessis.

Source:

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=124&art_id=nw20080206111551845C505941