Energy and Mining

Kenya has suspended Tata Chemicals Magadi's mining operations and ordered the company to leave after a compliance audit found it had not applied for a mineral right under the Mining Act, instead relying on legacy land concessions. The government says the company also failed to meet obligations on royalties, community development agreements, local processing, employment and procurement. Tata disputes that it ignored regulatory requirements, saying it submitted a comprehensive response to the ministry on August 11.

Oil prices in China have hit record highs after attacks in Iraq forced Saudi Arabia to shut a key cross-peninsula pipeline, compounding disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz that have choked off two vital routes for Middle Eastern crude. With Russian and Iranian supplies also constrained by US sanctions, Chinese refiners are scrambling for alternative barrels, pushing prices higher globally. Restoring flows through the Strait of Hormuz has become a pressing priority for Beijing ahead of talks between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.

Nigeria opened the largest IPO in African history on September 14, 2026, for the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which has a crude-processing capacity of 700,000 barrels per day. Domestic refining has cut petrol imports from about 400,000 barrels per day in 2024 to roughly 83,000 barrels per day this year, but fuel prices have risen above 1,000 naira per litre since the petrol subsidy was removed.

The United States has proposed a $5 billion fund to rebuild energy infrastructure damaged in attacks on Iran.