Verity Ratcliffe

Middle East & North Africa editor

Verity Ratcliffe joined Interfax in May 2015 from the BBC, where she wrote business and economics news. She previously covered power and renewable energy for Middle East Economic Digest for three years from Dubai and has written for the Financial Times and Bloomberg, among others.

verity.ratcliffe@interfax.co.uk +44 (0)20 3004 6216

North Africa-Europe pipeline flows continue to rise

North African pipeline exports to Europe rose by 5.8% last week from the previous week, to 709.5 MMcm.

19 June 2018
Halliburton trucks

Halliburton in talks to develop Bahrain’s pre-Khuff gas

The US company hopes to become an investor in the development and has also been lined up for a drilling contract in the Khaleej Al-Bahrain Basin.

13 June 2018

North Africa-Europe pipeline volumes tick upwards

Exports increased by 1.8% last week from the previous week, to 670.7 MMcm.

12 June 2018

Saudi Arabia boosts gas drilling in the Middle East

The number of rigs targeting gas in the Middle East rose by 2% month on month in May, to 100 rigs.

8 June 2018
A Qatargas LNG vessel

Qatar crisis has limited impact on gas exports

Qatar’s diplomatic spat with its Middle Eastern neighbours has entered its second year, but the overall effect on the country’s exports has been limited.

8 June 2018
Seef district in Bahrain

Bahrain focuses on spot LNG for new FSRU

Bahrain's FSRU is likely to come online before other import facilities, and will therefore benefit from lower spot prices before it seeks out longer-term deals.

5 June 2018

Lower Italian imports cause drop in Africa-Europe flows

North African pipeline exports to Europe fell by 1.5% last week from the previous week as Italian imports dropped.

5 June 2018
A South Pars rig

Time running out for Total in Iran

The French major has effectively conceded it will not win a waiver for South Pars, but the time it has left in Iran may be shorter than previously thought.

1 June 2018
A Shell drill team in Oman

Jordan licensing round draws interest from majors

Jordan has prequalified four bidders for its largest-ever exploration licensing round.

31 May 2018

North African gas flows to Europe rise on all lines

North African pipeline exports to Europe rose by 13.5% in Week 21 from the previous week.

29 May 2018

GreenStream restart boosts African exports to Europe

North African pipeline exports to Europe rose by 12.7% week on week in Week 20, following the completion of maintenance work on the GreenStream pipeline.

22 May 2018
A rig offshore Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi’s first licensing round draws IOC interest

ADNOC has seen significant interest from IOCs in Abu Dhabi’s upcoming licensing round.

22 May 2018
Work on South Pars.

Total unlikely to receive sanctions waiver for South Pars

US sanctions mean the French major will likely pull out of Phase 11, and if its Chinese partner does likewise then Iran will have to go it alone.

18 May 2018
Energy minister Gabriel Obiang Lima

Equatorial Guinea diversifies gas supplies for EGLNG

The government intends to use gas from the offshore Alen field to supply the Punta Europa LNG plant.

16 May 2018
Ophir Energy exploration in East Africa

Clock ticking on FID for Fortuna FLNG

Ophir Energy is under pressure to take an FID on the Fortuna FLNG project in Equatorial Guinea before it loses its gas supplies.

15 May 2018

Africa-EU piped flows down despite GreenStream restart

North African pipeline exports to Europe fell by 3.8% last week even though supplies have restarted on the GreenStream pipeline.

15 May 2018
A Shell storage tank at Harweel, Oman

Shell and Total to develop Oman gas for GTL and LNG

Shell and Total will develop Omani gas resources under new MOUs, which the country hopes will offset its production decline.

14 May 2018
An FPSO vessel off the Ghanaian coast

Ghanaian licensing round adds to LNG uncertainty

Ghana will put six offshore blocks up for auction this year, but the tender has cast further doubts on the country's LNG import plans.

11 May 2018

Egypt and Oman boost rig count in April

Egypt added one rig in April while Oman added two, more than offsetting a decline in drilling in Pakistan.

11 May 2018
Sharjah's port of Hamriyah.

Sharjah to launch exploration tender this summer

Sharjah is the latest emirate to announce a tender for acreage, but it it is unclear whether it will offer investment or service contracts.

9 May 2018

Viewing 1-20 of 494 articles