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Republic of Congo Lighting the Way for African Oil and Gas (By NJ Ayuk)

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2 years ago

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Congo

The Republic of Congo’s (ROC’s) burgeoning oil and gas success story stems from a recognition of and a willingness to act on multi-faceted opportunities

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, August 14, 2024/APO Group/ — 

By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber (www.EnergyChamber.org).

French oil and gas supermajor TotalEnergies announced in May that the company intends to invest $600 million in the Republic of Congo (ROC) before 2024 is out. The funding will support exploration and improve production in the deep offshore Moho Nord field, which currently produces at a rate of 140,000 barrels per day (bpd), accounting for roughly half of all Congolese oil production. With their added capital, TotalEnergies expects to increase this rate by 40,000 bpd — a welcome boost that will undoubtedly help the ROC get closer to its goal of doubling its total daily rate to 500,000 bpd.

In addition to their operations in the Moho Nord field, TotalEnergies also holds the ROC’s Marine XX permit. The site recently welcomed the arrival of two drilling rigs that TotalEnergies is confident will facilitate new discoveries, which the company also anticipates before the end of the year.

TotalEnergies, of course, has a significant presence on the continent, with a diverse portfolio built over 80 years. Still, this new commitment in Moho Nord is but one of many developments that reflect international confidence in the Congolese hydrocarbon sector and offer justification for the ROC to serve as a model for other African nations to follow.

Getting Out Ahead

The ROC’s burgeoning oil and gas success story stems from a recognition of and a willingness to act on multi-faceted opportunities.

A nation with proven reserves of 1.8 billion barrels (bbl) of oil and 284 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas, the ROC has not fallen victim to the stagnation of red tape and endless deliberation that have plagued other African nations. Instead, the ROC set out to create an enabling business environment within its borders that would attract and retain foreign investment.

Helmed by Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, the Congolese minister of hydrocarbons, the ROC’s efforts to reinvigorate its hydrocarbon sector have been open and inclusive, incorporating numerous global partnerships and multiple focal points across the industry spectrum.

During remarks at the Invest in African Energy 2024 forum in Paris, Itoua confirmed the ROC’s formation of a gas master plan and a comprehensive gas code. The government will also establish a national gas company in the third quarter of 2024. 

Itoua explained how, going forward, the ROC will steer gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) primarily toward their local market with any excess reserved for export to the sub-region to tend to Africa’s energy needs first rather than Europe’s.

He also addressed the importance of public-private cooperation in relation to achieving his ministry’s goals of increasing production by 60% in the next two years while working toward alleviating energy poverty and funding the energy transition.

“Maybe 95% of investment in the oil sector in the Congo comes from the IOCs (international oil companies),” Itoua said. “Our responsibility [as the government] is to create the best business environment, best legal network, and best facilities to attract investors and partners interested in building solutions with us.”

Itoua’s outlook, which reflects his government’s approach to revitalizing the ROC’s hydrocarbon sector, is key to understanding how this small nation is writing its own very big energy success story.

During the leadup to Itoua’s announcement of a new gas master plan, thanks to the existing enabling environment in the ROC, both investor confidence and exploration and production activities were already on the rise.

Upstream and Downstream Projects

As a component of the ROC’s initiative to double its total hydrocarbon output, Pointe-Noire-based oil and gas service Trident OGX Congo commenced its seven-year project to increase production through hydraulic fracturing in the Mengo-Kundji-Bindi II oil fields. With $300 million in financing from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) kickstarting the program, operators expect the facility to eventually attract $1.5 billion in investments, create new jobs, provide an economic boost to the region, and increase the ROC’s total oil production level by 30%.

Our responsibility [as the government] is to create the best business environment, best legal network, and best facilities to attract investors and partners

Anglo-French oil and gas company Perenco has been active offshore, acquiring 3D seismic data ahead of its exploration schedule planned for the Tchibouela II, Tchendo II, Marine XXVIII, and Emeraude permits the company holds.

Also a testament to the ease of doing business under current ROC leadership, Trident Energy — the London-based international oil and gas company committed to redeveloping mid-life assets — announced in April of this year that it had inked deals with both Chevron and TotalEnergies to acquire interest in ROC fields. Upon final approval, which is expected before the close of Q4 2024, the arrangements will see Trident Energy with an 85% working interest in the Nkossa and Nsoko II fields, a 15.75% working interest in the Lianzi field, and operational control of all three. Trident Energy will also have a 21.5% working interest in the ultra-deepwater Moho–Bilondo field which TotalEnergies will continue to operate.

Commenting on the agreement, Trident Energy Chief Executive Officer Jean-Michel Jacoulot said, “The transaction aligns with our strategy to acquire and operate high quality assets in a safe, efficient and responsible manner.

“Building on our continued successes in Equatorial Guinea and Brazil, we are excited to unlock further value and create opportunities for our partners in the Republic of Congo, host communities and all our stakeholders.”

The ROC also has sought to enhance its refining capabilities, offering potential investors the opportunity to support upgrades to its Congolaise de Raffinage refinery, which currently operates at a rate of 600,000 tons per year.

Construction of an additional refinery, the Atlantique Pétrochimie in Fouta just south of Pointe-Noire, is expected to begin in 2024. With financial backing from the Chinese company Beijing Fortune Dingheng Investment, the refinery will process 2.5 million tons of hydrocarbon products per year, including gasoline and diesel, as well as LPG, kerosene and fuel oil, and raw materials like propylene, propane, hydrogen naphtha, and sulfuric acid.

Turning Up the Gas

With existing natural gas production either stable or in decline over the past decade, another primary drive for the ROC in 2024 is to expand and monetize production with sights on becoming a global LNG exporter in short order.

The ROC sent its first export of LNG to Italy in February 2024 from the first of the two Tango floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facilities located 3 kilometers offshore at the Marine XII concession. The Tango FLNG operation is a partnership with Italian multinational energy company Eni with an expected capacity of 4.5 bcm per year once construction of the second FLNG facility wraps up in 2025.

On May 21, 2024, in Brazzaville, Itoua and Algerian Minister of Energy and Mines Mohamed Arkab signed a memorandum of understanding between the two countries covering future cooperation between Algeria’s state-owned oil company, Sonatrach, and Congolese national oil company Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC). Though the memorandum concerns the ROC’s entire hydrocarbon sector, it highlights knowledge-sharing for industry development in LNG, LPG, and petrochemicals as well as carbon footprint reduction.

An associated gas production project at the onshore Banga Kayo block seeks to harness previously flared gas resources for LNG, butane, and propane production for domestic use and regional export in contribution to the ROC’s gas monetization goals.

The conventional oilfield at Banga Kayo, operated by China’s Wing Wah Oil Company, consists of approximately 250 wells currently producing 45,000 bpd with an expected peak of 80,000 bpd. The April 2024 signing of an amended production sharing contract (PSC) between Wing Wah and SNPC that will govern the project marked the start of development for its first phase which aims for a production capacity of one million cubic meters per day (mcm/d). Two subsequent phases slated for March and December of 2025 will up the site’s production to five mcm/d.

The Banga Kayo project design incorporates power generation and environmentally friendly water treatment for each unit of the facility, with provisions of excess power and clean water sources for the surrounding communities. The workforce at the site, currently over 3,000 members strong, is also majority Congolese. By promoting efficiency, scalability, reduced emissions, and local benefits, the Banga Kayo project exemplifies the best approach for maximizing production and progress in the ROC and elsewhere in Africa.

With the assurance of a concrete gas master plan and gas code nearing finalization, promising developments like these are certain to multiply and increase in frequency and substance in the days ahead.

Betting on a Winner

By seeking and securing mutually beneficial relationships with international oil companies of varying sizes, both in and out of Africa, and by working towards defined goals, the ROC will ensure that it remains engaged in sustainable development and on a path toward economic growth.

The ROC’s enabling hydrocarbon policies attract sizeable foreign investment and offer a profitable working environment for operators of any size that is free from the paralyzing delays they often encounter in other countries.

By continuing in this fashion, in the years to come, the ROC will likely enjoy economic benefits widespread throughout its population, and it will surely find itself where it wants to be — in its rightful place alongside the other major energy exporters of the future.

The process by which it got there will also likely serve as a valuable template for other nations seeking to convert their natural wealth into long-term prosperity.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber

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Rhino Resources Joins African Energy Week (AEW) as Gold Sponsor as Southern African Exploration Expands

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32 minutes ago

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May 13, 2026

By

African Energy Chamber

Rhino Resources will participate at the 2026 edition of the African Energy Week conference and exhibition – Africa’s premier event for the energy sector – as a gold sponsor

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 8, 2026/APO Group/ –Exploration company Rhino Resources has joined the African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 Conference and Exhibition as a Gold Sponsor, reinforcing its role as one of Africa’s emerging independents driving frontier and greenfield exploration across Southern Africa.

 

Scheduled for October 12–16 in Cape Town, AEW 2026 comes as Rhino Resources accelerates exploration activity across Namibia’s Orange Basin while broadening its footprint into South Africa’s Karoo Basin. The sponsorship reflects the company’s strategy to deepen engagement with investors, service providers and policymakers as it advances multiple assets toward development readiness and future final investment decisions.

At the core of Rhino Resources’ upstream momentum is its multi-well deepwater drilling campaign in Namibia’s Orange Basin – one of the world’s most prolific frontier exploration hotspots. The company is targeting FIDs between late 2026 and early 2027 across operated and partner-led assets, including the co-development of the Volans and Capricornus discoveries in Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) 85.

Rhino Resources represents a new generation of African-focused independents that are willing to take on frontier risk to unlock long-term energy value

Recent drilling results have strengthened the commercial case of these Namibian assets. The Volans-1X well delivered strong gas-condensate flow rates in February 2026, while the earlier Capricornus-1X well confirmed the presence of light oil, positioning Rhino Resources among the key players contributing to Namibia’s ambition of achieving first oil production by 2030.

Beyond Namibia, Rhino Resources is broadening its portfolio through onshore exploration in South Africa’s Karoo Basin. The company is advancing a six-well campaign targeting helium, methane and hydrogen resources in the Free State Province – a move that reflects both geographic diversification and a wider strategy to support a more resilient and diversified regional energy mix.

This expansion comes at a time when Southern African economies face energy security challenges due to ongoing disruptions to global shipping routes, reinforcing the importance of unlocking domestic resource potential to support industrial growth and reduce external vulnerabilities.

Rhino Resources’ role as Gold Sponsor at AEW 2026 therefore comes at a pivotal stage in its growth trajectory. The event provides a platform to showcase its exploration progress, strengthen partnerships and position its projects within the broader African energy investment landscape.

At AEW 2026, Rhino Resources’ executives are expected to participate in high-level panel discussions, offering insights into frontier basin development, cost-efficient exploration strategies and pathways to fast-tracking project commercialization across emerging African markets.

“Rhino Resources represents a new generation of African-focused independents that are willing to take on frontier risk to unlock long-term energy value,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “The company’s recent discoveries in Namibia and expanding exploration strategy in South Africa highlight the scale of opportunity across the continent and the critical role independents play in translating resources into production, investment and economic growth.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Levene Energy Joins African Energy Week (AEW) as Gold Sponsor Amid Regional Expansion and Market Diversification

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33 minutes ago

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May 13, 2026

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Levene Energy

Levene Energy is scaling its presence across Africa through strategic investments spanning gas infrastructure, upstream development and renewable energy solutions

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 8, 2026/APO Group/ –Nigerian integrated energy company Levene Energy has joined the African Energy Week (AEW) Conference and Exhibition as a Gold Sponsor, reinforcing its position as an emerging pan-African energy platform focused on infrastructure expansion, energy access and long-term market diversification.

 

Taking place October 12–16 in Cape Town, AEW 2026 comes as Levene Energy accelerates its transition from a project-focused developer into a long-term energy infrastructure investor with interests spanning upstream, midstream, downstream and renewable energy segments.

A key milestone of this strategy was reached in January 2026 when the company secured a $64 million facility from the African Export-Import Bank to acquire a 30% stake in Axxela Limited. The transaction marks the company’s entry into Nigeria’s regulated gas infrastructure space, strengthening its position in gas processing, distribution and industrial energy supply.

Africa’s energy future depends on building integrated, locally anchored energy systems that can withstand global volatility while delivering reliable and affordable power

The investment also aligns with Nigeria’s Decade of Gas initiative, which seeks to monetize the country’s estimated 600 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves while expanding energy access, supporting industrialization and improving access to cleaner cooking solutions nationwide.

Beyond gas infrastructure, Levene Energy continues to strengthen its upstream portfolio. The company holds interests in multiple producing and exploration assets in Equatorial Guinea, including Blocks EG-03, EG-04, EG-19 and Block P, alongside bitumen assets in Nigeria. This upstream footprint supports a broader strategy to increase resource development and supply in response to rising regional demand for hydrocarbons.

At the same time, the company is advancing its renewable energy business as part of a diversified energy mix strategy. Through its subsidiary LPV Technologies, Levene Energy operates a 200 MW solar panel manufacturing facility in Lagos, supporting both rural electrification initiatives and commercial and industrial adoption of solar power. The focus on distributed energy solutions and local manufacturing reflects Levene Energy’s growing emphasis on energy access, grid resilience and local value creation.

“Africa’s energy future depends on building integrated, locally anchored energy systems that can withstand global volatility while delivering reliable and affordable power,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Levene Energy’s expansion across gas, renewables and infrastructure reflect the kind of long-term, value-driven strategy needed to unlock the continent’s full energy potential.”

The company’s participation at AEW 2026 builds on its recognition as a Local Content Champion at AEW 2025, highlighting its commitment to local capacity building, inclusive growth and the development of African-led energy solutions. AEW 2026 provides a platform for the company to engage with policymakers, investors and industry stakeholders to forge new partnerships and advance its regional expansion strategy across Africa’s evolving energy landscape.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Gas Supply in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Can Africa’s Natural Gas Power the Continent’s Digital Future?

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35 minutes ago

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May 13, 2026

By

African Energy Chamber

As AI-driven data demand accelerates, Africa’s vast natural gas reserves are emerging as a critical enabler of data center growth – placing gas at the center of discussions at African Energy Week 2026’s AI and Data Center Track

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 8, 2026/APO Group/ –As artificial intelligence (AI) drives an unprecedented surge in data processing, one constraint is becoming increasingly clear: power. Data centers – the backbone of AI – require vast, stable and continuous energy supply. For Africa, this challenge intersects with an opportunity. The continent’s abundant natural gas resources could position it as a future hub for AI infrastructure – if supply can be effectively mobilized.

 

Africa holds over 600 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, representing a significant share of global supply. Yet despite this abundance, the continent consumes only a fraction domestically, with much of production historically geared toward exports.

 

At the same time, Africa’s digital infrastructure remains underdeveloped. The continent accounts for just 0.6% of global data center capacity – despite representing nearly 20% of the world’s population. Total installed capacity stands at roughly 1.2 GW across active, planned and pipeline projects, with only about 360 MW currently operational.

 

Demand, however, is accelerating rapidly. Africa’s data center needs are expected to increase 3.5 to 5.5 times by 2030, requiring up to $10–20 billion in investment. Power demand is rising in parallel, growing at 20–25% annually and projected to reach 8,000 GWh in the coming years.

 

This is where natural gas becomes critical. Unlike intermittent renewables, gas-fired power offers dispatchable, baseload energy – making it particularly suited to the always-on requirements of data centers. Globally, data centers already consume around 1.5% of total electricity, with demand growing at roughly 12% annually, far outpacing overall electricity consumption. In emerging markets, where grid reliability is inconsistent, this reliability advantage becomes even more important.

AI data centers require constant, reliable power at scale, and natural gas is the only resource Africa has today that can deliver that immediately

 

Major gas projects across Africa underscore the scale of potential supply. Mozambique’s offshore developments – among the largest globally – are expected to produce over 13 million tons per year of LNG, while Nigeria continues expanding its gas monetization strategy around its 200+ trillion cubic feet of reserves. Meanwhile, new producers such as Senegal and Mauritania are entering the market with large-scale LNG developments.

 

The opportunity is not simply about exporting gas, but about using it domestically to power industrialization and digital infrastructure. Today, Africa exports energy while still facing chronic power shortages, creating a disconnect between resource wealth and economic development.

 

Bridging this gap could redefine the continent’s trajectory. Gas-to-power projects, integrated with data center development, offer a pathway to anchor digital infrastructure in energy-rich regions. Countries such as Nigeria, Egypt and Algeria are particularly well positioned, while emerging producers like Mozambique and Senegal could embed domestic supply into new industrial and digital hubs from the outset.

This convergence is now moving to the forefront of industry discussions. At African Energy Week 2026, the AI and Data Center Track will focus on how power – particularly natural gas – can underpin the continent’s digital expansion. As AI infrastructure scales, the track highlights a central reality: without reliable, scalable energy, Africa risks missing out on the next wave of global digital investment.

“This is not just an energy discussion – it’s an economic strategy,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “AI data centers require constant, reliable power at scale, and natural gas is the only resource Africa has today that can deliver that immediately. If we align gas development with digital infrastructure, we can industrialize, create jobs and position Africa as a serious player in the global AI economy.”

Still, challenges remain. Infrastructure gaps, pricing constraints and regulatory uncertainty continue to limit domestic gas utilization. Without coordinated investment in pipelines, power plants and digital infrastructure, the continent risks continuing its role as an energy exporter while importing digital services.

As AI drives a new wave of energy demand, natural gas is emerging as a critical enabler of digital infrastructure. For Africa, the challenge – and opportunity – is to turn that advantage into global competitiveness.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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