ENCA - Saudi Arabia's planning to build an oil refinery and a petrochemicals plant in South Africa. It's part of a $10-billion (R138-billion) investment in the country.

WNN - Russia's National Operator for Radioactive Waste Management (NO RWM), Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD) today signed an agreement to cooperate in radioactive waste management. The agreement was signed by Igor Igin, NO RWM's director genera, Oleg Kryukov, Rosatom's director of state policy on radioactive waste, used nuclear fuel and decommissioning, and Cha Sung-soo, chairman of KORAD.

WNN - Energy infrastructure is a critical component of South Africa's National Development Plan (NDP), which was published in 2011 and identifies the need for investment in a strong network of economic infrastructure designed to support the country’s medium- and long-term economic and social objectives. The IRP plays a crucial role in contributing to the objectives of the NDP, the Committee said in its report.

OGJ - The governments of China and the Philippines have signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in oil and gas exploration and development, easing a territorial dispute in the South China Sea.

IMF - Some of the negative effects of the changing external environment are already being felt in South Africa despite its economic resilience.

PLATTS - South Korea's crude oil imports from Iran plunged 86.5% in August from a year earlier due to pending re-imposition of US sanctions on Tehran, according to preliminary data released by the Korea Customs Service Monday.

U.S. EIA - The South China Sea is a major trade route for crude oil, and in 2016, more than 30% of global maritime crude oil trade, or about 15 million barrels per day (b/d), passed through the South China Sea.

WNN - A draft updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) approved by South Africa's cabinet on 22 August sees the country's nuclear capacity remaining at its current 1830 MWe over the period to 2030. Energy Minister Jeff Radebe yesterday released the plan for public comment.

PLATTS - South Korea's crude oil imports from Iran dropped 45.8% year on year in July in the wake of the re-imposition of US sanctions, while intakes from Kazakhstan, the US and Mexico jumped as alternative sources.

PLATTS - South Korean LPG providers' sales to the domestic market in the first six month rose 4.2% on the year despite higher retail prices, driven by solid demand for petrochemical production, company officials said Thursday.