During AEW: Invest in African Energy, CLG will delve into the state of play of Africa’s energy policies

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, September 25, 2024/APO Group/ — 

In line with its commitment to unlock Africa’s energy market potential, pan-African legal, tax and business advisory conglomerate CLG has joined this year’s African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy conference – scheduled for November 4-8 in Cape Town – as a platinum sponsor. During the event, CLG will participate in high-level panel discussions, workshops and project showcases, spotlighting lucrative opportunities across Africa’s entire energy value chain.

With a strong presence across both the regional and international market, CLG has established itself as the go-to advisor for global investors seeking commercial opportunities in Africa. The firm offers unique insight into the African energy market and leverages its expertise to support deals and new investments. At AEW 2024, the firm will facilitate deal-signing and negotiations in line with a shared goal to make energy poverty history by 2030.

CLG has positioned itself as a reliable facilitator of deals between African stakeholders and global investors, fast-tracking the flow of investments and expediting project rollout

AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

Renowned for its innovative and flexible approach to meeting the diverse needs of its clients, CLG has supported various strategic projects in Africa. In May 2024, the firm negotiated a deal between Africa + Rain Cage Ltd. – a subsidiary of global cleantech firm Rain Cage Carbon – and Nigerian energy firm Sapele Power to decarbonize the Sapele Thermal Power Plant. The deal facilitates the adoption of carbon storage techniques, reducing the plant’s emissions while increasing power output by an additional 1,000 MW, thereby enhancing the reliability of Nigeria’s power grid. In December 2023, CLG advised Nigerian upstream firm Oranto Petroleum Limited on the renewal of its oil exploration license in Uganda, paving the way for new investments to unlock Uganda’s oil and gas potential. As Africa continues strengthen its environment for foreign investment, CLG is poised to play a more central role in supporting transactions.

Across both emerging and established energy markets in Africa, a slate of regulatory reforms and block opportunities are cropping up under efforts to boost exploration and production. Licensing rounds, for example, are expected to be launched in markets such as Nigeria, Zanzibar, Tanzania, Angola and more, providing access to strategic acreage. Given its experience in contract negotiation, CLG offers both guidance and strategic support for companies interested in participating in African licensing rounds. Further insight will be provided at AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024.

Meanwhile, as African nations revamp regulatory frameworks to create more favorable conditions for investors, CLG remains at the forefront of the continent’s energy market expansion, publishing regular insights and whitepapers to guide investors on the state of African energy policies. For example, Namibia is finalizing its local content development policy to increase local participation in energy developments and ensure the sustainable management of hydrocarbon resources. Similarly, the Republic of Congo is finalizing its Gas Master Plan to accelerate gas development and drive local involvement. To help global stakeholders navigate and capitalize on these regulatory changes, CLG released a report on Unleashing Africa’s Next Big Play: Namibia’s Emerging Oil and Gas Sector this September, highlighting prospects in Namibia and recent fiscal reform. CLG published similar reports in September and August 2024, offering guidance on regulatory changes in Nigeria and the Republic of Congo. At AEW: Invest in African Energy, CLG will explore the role of Africa’s evolving legal landscape in driving the expansion of the energy market.

“Africa is taking bold strides to revitalize its investment landscape by reforming laws and regulations. CLG has positioned itself as a reliable facilitator of deals between African stakeholders and global investors, fast-tracking the flow of investments and expediting project rollout,” stated NJ Ayuk, the Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Incorporating AfricaCom, AfricaTech, AfricaIgnite, and The AI Summit Cape Town, Africa Tech Festival 2024 will welcome 15,000 visitors, over 400 speakers, and more than 300 exhibitors

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, September 25, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Informa Tech, organisers of the 27th annual Africa Tech Festival (www.AfricaTechFestival.com)  2024, are pleased to announce that the South African Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) will be an official partner of this year’s event, taking place from 12 to 14 November in Cape Town. 

Incorporating AfricaCom, AfricaTech, AfricaIgnite, and The AI Summit Cape Town, Africa Tech Festival 2024 will welcome 15,000 visitors, over 400 speakers, and more than 300 exhibitors. Topics include enterprise tech innovation and disruption across key sectors such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud and data centres, and green ICT.  

“Africa Tech Festival is the largest and most influential telecoms and technology event in Africa, with an audience that spans the entire ICT ecosystem, including trade and other ministries. The partnership with the DCDT is a clear indication of the South African government’s commitment to engaging with these key stakeholders from across the continent, opening dialogue, sharing insights, and working together to advance Africa’s digital transformation journey,” said Informa’s James Williams, Event Director of Africa Tech Festival.   

One of the highlights of the partnership is the AfricaCom 2024 Ministerial Summit, a closed-door VIP event bringing together close to a dozen African and international ministers from across critical sectors such as ICT, innovation, trade, finance, education, and enterprise. The Ministerial Summit will provide government leaders with a platform that facilitates discussion, collaboration, and sharing of learnings on how progressive policy is nurturing tech ecosystems, building efficient workforces, unlocking technological innovation across public and enterprise sectors, and driving Africa’s socioeconomic development.  

Another initiative that forms part of the partnership is an exclusive government pavilion at which a small group of top South African businesses, SMEs, and startups will be hosted, again reflecting top-tier support for businesses that are contributing to the country’s technology-driven agenda.  

The Africa Tech Festival presents such platform for different innovative minds to come together to explore and exchange tech solutions for Africa and the rest of the world

“The importance of collaborative efforts and partnerships in realising our goal of a connected and digitally transformed society cannot be overemphasised. The Africa Tech Festival presents such platform for different innovative minds to come together to explore and exchange tech solutions for Africa and the rest of the world. This global platform will not only afford us an opportunity to learn best practices but also afford our SMEs to market their innovative solutions to the more than 15 000 visitors from across the globe. We are committed to ensuring that Africa does not become a mere consumer of digital solutions developed elsewhere but a meaningful participant in the digital economy by being a supplier of solutions and infrastructure that are tried and tested in our shores. We are looking forward to welcoming the world to our shores.” said Ms Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani, Director-General of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies. 

The introduction of the Ministerial Summit, along with the official endorsement of the event by the DCDT, add significantly to the depth of Africa Tech Festival. In addition to showcasing the immensely innovative nature of the industry, the event is also a targeted networking platform for tech leaders, role-players, and investors to make a positive contribution to Africa’s successful navigation of a tech-driven future. 

Confirmed Africa Tech Festival 2024 speakers include: 

• Faith Burn, Chief Information Officer, Eskom Holdings SOC  
• Funke Opeke, CEO, MainOne  
• Kerissa Varma, CISO, Vodacom Group  
• Leo Skarlatos, CEO, AT (formerly Airtel Tigo)  
• Mary Mahuma, CIO, Southern Africa, Philip Morris  
• Motunrayo Opayinka, Founder and CEO, Womenovate  
• Nollie Maoto, Chief Data and Analytics Officer – Merchant Services, FNB South Africa  
• Norbert Prihoda, Deputy CEO, Tunisie Telecom 
• Prasanna Kumar Burri, Group Chief Information Officer, Dangote Group  
• Samwel Magesa, Chief Data Officer, NBC Bank  
• Simbah Mutasa, Managing Director, Bank of America  
• Sithembile Songo, CISO, Eskom Holdings SOC  
• Hon. Solly Malatsi, Minister, Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies, The Republic of South Africa 
• Hon. Rose Pola Pricemou, Minister, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, Republic of Guinea 
• Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, CEO, M-Pesa 
• Brelotte Ba, Deputy CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, Orange 
• Hazem Metwally, CEO, e& Egypt (etisalat) 
• Christian Bombrun, Group CEO: Digital Platforms, MTN Group 
• Faith Burn, Chief Information Officer, Eskom Holdings SOC 
• Funke Opeke, CEO, MainOne  
• Thomas Dohmke, CEO, GitHub 
• Alex Okosi, Managing Director, Africa, Google 
• Hardy Pemhiwa, President & Group CEO, Cassava Technologies 
• Morgane Imbert, CEO (South Africa), Jumia 

Register now to secure your spot and join us in shaping the future of technology in Africa: https://AfricaTechFestival.com/ 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Tech Festival.

As a Diamond Sponsor at AEW 2024, SNPC is set to unveil its Gas Master Plan as the company seeks to unlock the Republic of the Congo’s natural gas resources

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, September 25, 2024/APO Group/ — 

The Republic of Congo’s (ROC) national oil company (NOC) Société nationale des pétroles du Congo (SNPC) has joined the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy 2024 conference – taking place in Cape Town from November 4-8 – as a Diamond Sponsor. Marking a pivotal step for the ROC, SNPC is set to officially unveil its proposed Gas Master Plan at the event as the NOC looks to unlock the full potential of the country’s natural gas resources.

The plan is set to provide a framework that incentivizes investment in the development of the ROC’s resources with a specific focus on natural gas, which are estimated at 10 trillion cubic feet. The Gas Master Plan also aims to create a roadmap to enhance gas monetization and utilization by focusing on infrastructure development, gas processing plants, pipelines and power generation facilities. Poised to reduce reliance on imported energy, the plan aims to boost domestic energy production and promote local content development.

AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

With a target to produce 2.4 million tons of LNG by 2025, the ROC achieved a major milestone this year after delivering its first LNG cargo to Italy from the Congo LNG project’s Tango FLNG facility, which features a 1-billion-cubic-meter-per-annum liquefaction capacity. A second FLNG vessel with a 3.5-billion-cubic-meter-per-annum capacity is set to start production next year. The project is supported by a sales and purchase agreement signed between the SNPC, energy major Eni and multinational energy corporation Lukoil in September 2023. With the project, the ROC is set to produce an initial 600,000 tons of LNG per year and up to 2.4 million tons per year by 2025.

We commend SNPC for their leadership in transforming natural gas into a catalyst for broader economic progress

The SNPC has also been streamlining gas for domestic industrial use through projects such as the Banga Kayo conventional oilfield – led by Chinese oil and gas company Wing Wah Oil Company –, which features a phased expansion plan to monetize previously flared gas resources. Over several phases, the project will progressively increase gas valorization capacity to produce LNG, LPG, butane and propane for the domestic market. Three trains will be developed, the first of which will have a capacity of one million cubic meters per day while the second and third will each have a capacity of two million cubic meters per day. The second and third trains will come online by March 2025 and December 2025, respectively.

The SNPC has also been leading the ROC’s efforts to boost oil production in the country, with a target to increase production from 259,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 500,000 bpd by next year. Additionally, in an attempt to drive upstream exploration, the NOC partnered with oil and gas independent Perenco last November to complete offshore 3D seismic acquisition targeting with the Tchibouela II, Tchendo II, Marine XXVII and Emeraude permits. With data from the campaign expected to identify future drilling targets and enhance exploration success, the partnership serves as a model for public-private sector collaboration within the sector.

“By unveiling their Gas Master Plan, SNPC is taking significant steps to eradicate energy poverty and maximize the monetization of the country’s rich natural resources. Their commitment to local content development has positioned the country to empower communities and stimulate economic growth. We commend SNPC for their leadership in transforming natural gas into a catalyst for broader economic progress,” states African Energy Chamber Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk.

In recent years, the SNPC has gained recognition for its role in establishing the ROC as a competitive oil exporter. The company’s efforts to diversify energy sources through gas-focused initiatives like the Gas Master Plan demonstrate its broader commitment to sustainable energy development. As such, AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 is set to facilitate the company’s mandate to advance the nation’s energy infrastructure, promote the local workforce within the sector and ensure that oil and gas revenues support national development goals.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.