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S&P Global-African Energy Chamber (AEC) Webinar Explores Africa’s Promising Investment Opportunities

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Kinetiko Energy

A webinar hosted by the African Energy Chamber in partnership with S&P Global Commodity Insights highlighted the role attractive fiscal terms play in getting large-scale oil and gas projects off the ground

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, November 17, 2023/APO Group/ — 

At a time when the energy transition presents newfound challenges for large-scale oil and gas projects in Africa, a wave of fiscal reforms has shown how policy serves as a catalyst for development. A webinar titled, Africa’s Giant Fields: Faster and Greener, and hosted by the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) and S&P Global Commodity Insights on November 16, 2023, delved into the timelines of key upstream projects in Africa, underscoring how regulation played an instrumental part in advancing the timeline from discovery to production.

Kicking off the discussion, Verner Ayukegba, Senior Vice President of the AEC stated that “It is really important to try and figure out what it takes to develop African projects and resources – both oil and gas – in record time so that we can continue to attract investments in the sector.” Ayukegba highlighted that this subject was a key part of the discussions at African Energy Week (AEW) (https://AECWeek.com) in October 2023, and that the anticipation is high for the continuation of this dialogue going into AEW 2024 – scheduled for 4-8 November.

Echoing Ayukegba’s sentiment and highlighting challenges for large-scale developments, Etienne Kolly, Associate Director of Upstream Solutions Africa at S&P Global, emphasized that “access to capital is challenging [and that] the decarbonization topic is important for the timeline of these projects.”

Analene Enslin, Technical Research Principal of Upstream Solutions Africa at S&P Global, also believes that “Timelines are affected by many factors, with oil projects less complicated compared to gas.”

According to Enslin, some factors include “government fiscal regimes and host governments relationships with the partners in the country.”

It is really important to try and figure out what it takes to develop African projects and resources – both oil and gas – in record time

The concern globally is how to make these projects greener as banks are becoming more reluctant to fund oil and gas projects. Rebecca Vyse, Director of Upstream Solutions Europe at S&P Global, stated that in Europe, “shareholders of funds are refusing to invest in oil and gas projects that are not reducing emissions.”

However, African projects are showing promise with some of them reaching final investment decisions and a few estimated to reach first oil in 2024. Kolly explained that Eni is set to showcase the feasibility of an offshore net-zero oil development in Ivory Coast: the Baleine field. Meanwhile, energy companies bp expects reaching first gas at the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim project while Woodside Energy is targeting first oil at Sangomar oilfield development in 2024.

In Mozambique, TotalEnergies, Eni and ExxonMobil, along with their partners, are advancing the development of multi-trillion cubic feet (tcf) gas reserves from expansive complexes using innovative mid-scale Liquefied Natural Gas plants. According to Nicholas Waters, Sr Technical Research of Upstream Solutions Africa at S&P Global, the comparative analysis of fiscal regimes reveals relative similarity among the considered nations.

In terms of oil, Mauritania adopts cautious fiscal terms. Senegal’s 2019 Production Sharing Agreement terms, transitioning from the frontier to the de-risked frontier, are advantageous. Ivory Coast offers negotiable and attractive fiscal terms, including contractor-paid Corporate Income Tax (CIT). In terms of gas, Mauritania strategically adopts cautious fiscal terms for gas revenues given its developmental stage. Senegal enjoys the most favorable terms, facilitating a transition from frontier to de-risked frontier. Tanzania faces challenges with poor fiscal terms, prompting a recent revision to attract investors.

The long-term outlook regarding oil and gas was also brought into question. On this note, Joseph Medou the General Manager of Reseau Gazier du Senegal, stated that, “In Senegal, we have a lot of demand. By 2030, we see 500 million standard cubic feet (mscf/d) a day in demand which can go up to 700 mscf/d a day.”

Senegal is engaging in exploring gas export opportunities to neighboring countries through the Nigerian Gas pipeline project and the Maghreb-Europe Gas Pipeline. The initiative involves the transportation of gas from Senegal and Mauritania to Morocco, with the ultimate aim of reaching the European market. The strategy encompasses both local gas consumption within Senegal and potential sales to Europe, showcasing the long-term viability of oil and gas in Africa.

On the decarbonization side, leveraging renewable energy to power operations and reduce emissions has become a strategic method for attracting investment. Tasnika Goorhoo, Sr Technical Research of Upstream Solutions Africa at S&P Global, emphasized that BlueFloat Energy is advancing the Granadilla 50MW project in the Canary Islands and Greenalia is working on a 250MW project. These projects have played a central role in enhancing the attractiveness for foreign capital, and upcoming developments in Africa should adopt the same approach.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Ministers among hundreds of energy-sector leaders to attend AOW event

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Sinclair

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

AOW: Investing in African Energy (https://AOWEnergy.com) – Africa’s leading oil, gas and energy event – has confirmed attendance for more than 80 ministers and senior officials, representing African governments, energy departments and regulators at next month’s event.

These influential stakeholders will be among the more than 1 600 senior delegates and industry leaders who will be attending the event to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa’s energy future.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.”

Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention

Among the officials and government ministers attending will be energy leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda, CAR, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Zanzibar, Liberia, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.

In addition, the event will feature high-level delegations from numerous national oil companies, as well as multilateral bodies including the African Union, (AU), African Energy Commission (AFREC), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

AOW will see these energy leaders networking with C-suite executives and decision-makers from more than 760 top energy companies at daily networking events, to discuss insights, forge new relationships, and negotiate major energy deals.

“We are so excited to see the calibre of delegates at this year’s AOW event,” says Chief Executive Officer of Sankofa Events, Paul Sinclair. “Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention. The high-powered attendance proves AOW is a key platform to enable this intervention.”

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s AOW will be sustainable upstream development; expanding gas value chains; renewables and new energies; adoption of best-in-class technologies; and access to finance.

AOW: Investing in African Energy will culminate in a special anniversary party at Groot Constantia Vineyard to celebrate 30 years of the AOW event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

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Afreximbank approves US$20.8 million for Starlink Global’s cashew factory project in Lagos

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PAPSS

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs

CAIRO, Egypt, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$20.8 million financing facility for Nigeria-based Starlink Global & Ideal Limited to enable the company construct and operate a 30,000-metric tonne per annum cashew processing factory in Lagos.

We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria

According to the facility agreement signed in on July 22, 2024, Afreximbank will provide the funds in two tranches with the first tranche of US$7.48M going toward capital expenditure for the construction of the factory and the second, totalling US$13.25M to be deployed as working capital for the operations of the factory.

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs once the factory becomes operational. It is also expected to support about 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that by supporting Starlink Global to establish a modern processing facility, Afreximbank is making it possible for Africa to add value to its agro-commodities, thereby facilitating exports and subsequent inflow of much-needed foreign exchange into the continent.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria. It will contribute to value creation and to the development of the local community while also improving the lots of smallholder farmers and small business suppliers that will work with Starlink across the value chain,” Mrs. Awani added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Sonangol to Lead Decarbonized Oil & Gas (O&G) Development, Says Angolan National Oil Company (NOC) Head

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Sonangol

Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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