HIGH PROFILE CYBERATTACKS INCREASE EMPHASIS UPON CYBER RESILIENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA’S ENERGY SECTOR

CYBERATTACKS ON ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE IN SOUTH AFRICA On Thursday the 25th of July 2019, the City of Johannesburg’s electricity service provider, City Power, suffered a ransomware attack which encrypted its databases, applications and network. The attack disabled the utility’s website and prevented its customers from being able to purchase electricity from the utility which potentially … Read more

How will hydrogen disputes be resolved?

With a rapidly-emerging energy market set to fuel a rise in disputes, we explore how arbitration could offer the solution A global transformation of the energy sector is underway. Markets appear to now accept that deployment of hydrogen at scale could be the next major energy source from around 2030. For that daunting goal to … Read more

Podcast: Patents for the clean energy transition: the debate continues

In this podcast, Emma Iles and Rebekah Gay from our Melbourne and Sydney offices are joined by Andrew Wells from our London office to discuss the role of intellectual property rights in a rapid and fair renewable energy transition. Global players are competing to set increasingly ambitious net-zero emissions targets. Do patents help or hinder … Read more

Sharm El-Sheikh COP 27 – day 10 (17 November 2022)

Release of the draft text Thursday 17 November saw the UN climate agency publish the draft text of the COP27 overarching agreement, the focus of the last week of negotiations and the document that will symbolise COP27 for years to come. The text appeared to still be in a very preliminary stage and many voiced … Read more

Africa’s competitive edge as a clean hydrogen hub

The following article by Nina Bowyer, a partner based in our Paris office and the co-Head of the firm’s Africa Practice Group, and Barbara McNulty, an associate based in our London office, was first published by Africa Oil Week (AOW) ahead of AOW 2022, taking place in Cape Town in October 2022. Herbert Smith Freehills … Read more

EGYPT – A GREENER FUTURE WITH HYDROGEN

Egypt has recently announced a partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for the development of a hydrogen strategy as part of the government’s ambitious energy transition plans. It was reported that Egypt would allocate $40 billion to fund the implementation of the strategy, with the aim of achieving a production capacity … Read more

HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS IS NAMED AFRICA-WIDE PROJECTS & ENERGY LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR AT THE CHAMBERS AFRICA AWARDS 2022

Herbert Smith Freehills was named Africa-wide Projects & Energy Law Firm of the Year at the Chambers Africa Awards 2022. These awards recognise a law firm’s pre-eminence in key jurisdictions in the region and they also reflect achievements over the past 12 months, including outstanding work, impressive strategic growth and excellence in client service. In granting this … Read more

Algeria – Launch of the Solar 1,000 MW call for tender

The Algerian Ministry of Energy Transition and Renewable Energies launched the “Solar 1,000 MW call for tender on 23 December 2021 (the “Call for Tender“). This Call for Tender aims to implement the first installment of the 15,000 MW of electricity generation capacity based on renewables that Algeria aims to achieve by 2035, as provided … Read more