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A Partner of the Future: Sonangol Targets Robust Oil & Gas Growth

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AEC

The AEC believes that Sonangol is a strategic partner for Angola’s oil and gas industry and will continue to play a major role in facilitating investment and driving project developments

LUANDA, Angola, June 14, 2024/APO Group/ — 

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) (www.EnergyChamber.org)– led by Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk – met with Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins in Luanda this week, where the parties discussed Sonangol’s vision for the oil and gas industry. Martins is speaking at the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy conference this November – Africa’s premier energy event, hosted in Cape Town.

The AEC believes that Sonangol is a strategic partner for Angola’s oil and gas industry and will continue to play a major role in facilitating investment and driving project developments. With a focus on expanding exploration and production, the company plays a critical role in Angola’s efforts to boost its oil and gas industry and bolster economic growth.

Angola aims to produce 1.1 million barrels of oil per day (bpd) by 2027, with plans to reach two million bpd in the long-term. At the same time, the country aims to increase the share of natural gas in the energy mix to 25% by 2025, highlighting strategic opportunities for foreign investors and project developers. To achieve these goals, the country’s NOC Sonangol has undergone a transformation – underpinned by a privatization initiative spearheaded by the government. Now, Sonangol has emerged as a strong and reliable partner for oil and gas companies, and is committed to ushering in a new era of economic growth on the back of oil and gas development.

To support exploration and production, Sonangol is driving a series of projects in partnership with IOCs. The NOC – alongside project partners TotalEnergies and Petronas – made FID on the Kaminho deepwater project in May 2024. Comprising the Cameia and Golfinho fields, the project represents the first large deepwater development in the Kwanza Basin. Production is on track for 2028. Additionally, Sonangol is developing the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development Project in collaboration with international energy company Azule Energy. This project involves drilling 36 new wells and installing an FPSO with a production capacity of 120,000 bpd, a gas injection capacity of 230 million standard cubic feet per day, and a water injection capacity of 12,000 bpd. Scheduled for operational by late-2025, this initiative underscores Sonangol’s commitment to expanding oil production.

Additionally, in January, Sonangol announced the successful drilling of the second evaluation well in Block 11 of the onshore Kwanza basin. The drilling confirmed positive results in the Tobias field, greatly enhancing its potential. This positive outcome, alongside the success of the Tobias 13 well, positions Sonangol and its partners for the reactivation of production in the Kwanza basin by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Sonangol’s strategic initiatives are not only focused on increasing oil production but also on embracing a more sustainable energy mix. The company’s commitment to boosting the share of natural gas reflects a broader trend towards cleaner energy sources. By integrating more natural gas into its energy portfolio, Sonangol aims to reduce carbon emissions and support global efforts towards energy transition. In December 2023, Sonangol inaugurated the Falcão Phase 2 gas project, enhancing the Angola LNG plant’s capability to supply gas to the Soyo 1 combined-cycle power plant. This initiative has increased processing capacity to 125 million cubic feet and extended gas distribution to industrial and petrochemical facilities in southern Angola.

“Sonangol is positioning itself as a key partner in Africa’s energy sector, driving significant advancements and fostering partnerships both locally and internationally. With a strategic focus on expanding E&P capabilities, Sonangol plays a central role in Angola’s ambitions to enhance oil and gas output,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. “Sonangol’s vision for Angola encompasses not only meeting domestic energy needs but also leveraging its expertise to support regional energy security, foster economic diversification and alleviate energy poverty.”

At the upcoming AEW: Invest in African Energy conference – scheduled for 4-8 November in Cape Town – Sonangol will play a leading role. A key event highlight will be the Invest in Angola Energies roundtable, where Sonangol’s participation is set to stimulate discussions among stakeholders, investors and policymakers on advancing Angola’s oil and gas sector through strategic investments and opportunities.

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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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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