As demand for advanced oilfield technologies and drilling services grows across the continent, NOV is positioning itself at the forefront of Africa’s next phase of hydrocarbon development. The company’s portfolio spans drilling automation, digital well optimization, offshore rig systems, production technologies and FPSO-related equipment, placing it among the leading technology providers supporting increasingly complex African oil and gas projects.

NOV’s participation at AEW 2026 is particularly timely as mature producers such as Angola, Nigeria, Algeria, Libya, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea intensify drilling activity to sustain production and unlock additional reserves. At the same time, frontier markets, including Namibia, Mozambique and Sierra Leone, are advancing new offshore exploration campaigns that require advanced deepwater technologies and efficient project execution capabilities.

In Egypt, NOV recently demonstrated the impact of its digital drilling technologies through the deployment of its Drilling Beliefs & Analytics solution in the Western Desert. By leveraging remote operations and real-time monitoring of machinery and well conditions, the operator achieved the longest bit run in the field’s history while improving drilling efficiency and reducing operational costs. The project eliminated the need for multiple in-person site visits, saving approximately $75,000, highlighting how automation is increasingly reshaping Africa’s upstream sector.

NOV’s NOVOS automation platform and Kaizen AI drilling optimization systems are expected to play an increasingly important role as African operators expand offshore drilling programs where efficiency, safety and reduced non-productive time have become critical priorities.

Beyond drilling optimization, NOV continues to strengthen its role in Africa’s gas monetization drive. In 2024, the company secured multiple orders for advanced gas processing and water treatment equipment packages for floating production storage and offloading units destined for operations in West Africa. The contracts reinforce NOV’s growing participation in offshore gas infrastructure projects supporting regional energy resilience, LNG expansion and export capacity growth.

“Africa’s economic stability will depend heavily on its ability to drill more wells, develop infrastructure faster and commercialize its oil and gas resources efficiently,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “The digital transformation taking place across the global energy industry cannot be ignored, and NOV is bringing advanced innovation into African oil and gas operations to simplify processes, improve safety and accelerate project delivery.”

NOV’s participation at AEW 2026 reflects its broader ambitions to scale its services across the continent. As the largest energy gathering in Africa, the event convenes operators, investors, policymakers and service providers to discuss the future of the continent’s energy sector.

This shift is already beginning to translate into outward-looking investment strategies, with South America emerging as a key target market. Africa’s oil and gas production is expected to reach 11.4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2026, with upstream capital expenditure at $41 billion. At the same time, asset sales and farm-downs are creating entry points for new players, while transactions such as Vitol’s $1.65 billion acquisition of Eni assets in Ivory Coast and the Republic of Congo reflect a broader shift toward independents and trading houses taking a more prominent role.

As African players consolidate positions at home, attention is increasingly turning outward. South America offers large-scale, resource-rich opportunities with increasingly well-defined development pathways. Brazil’s pre-salt continues to deliver some of the most competitive deepwater barrels globally, while Argentina’s Vaca Muerta is moving into a new phase focused on infrastructure, LNG exports and long-term monetization. Beyond upstream, Brazil’s offshore gas infrastructure, FPSO-driven developments and subsea supply chains are creating opportunities across services and midstream segments, while Argentina’s LNG export ambitions, pipeline expansions and gas processing infrastructure are opening the door to long-term capital deployment.

The opportunity, however, is not one-directional. African investors are entering the market with relevant experience. Exposure to deepwater developments, LNG monetization and complex project structures is increasingly common among state-backed funds and their partners. This is particularly relevant in areas such as floating LNG and gas commercialization, where Africa has already demonstrated operational capability in markets like Congo, Nigeria, Cameroon and Mozambique. That expertise is directly transferable to South America’s next phase of gas and infrastructure development.

A South Atlantic Energy Corridor is beginning to take shape, driven by capital flows, shared investment priorities and growing institutional ties. Africa and South America are often seen as competing for the same capital, technology and market access, but there is increasing scope for coordination. African capital is seeking diversification and scale, while South America is advancing projects that require long-term investment and experienced partners.

Institutional alignment will be critical to realizing this potential, and the groundwork is already in place. The African Energy Chamber (AEC) has developed bilateral engagement frameworks linking Latin American stakeholders with African governments, national oil companies and private sector players. In Venezuela, this has been formalized through cooperation with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and PDVSA across upstream, gas and investment promotion, while similar structures have been advanced with Brazil. The objective is to move beyond ad hoc engagement toward structured South-South energy cooperation, leveraging the Chamber’s network across more than 40 African countries to create direct pathways for investment, partnerships and government-to-government collaboration.

“The Atlantic has historically been treated as a barrier between these two regions,” said NJ Ayuk, AEC Executive Chairman. “The reality is that it is a corridor – and the opportunity is to build the institutional and commercial relationships that allow capital, technology and expertise to move in both directions.”

There is also a broader strategic dimension. Both Africa and South America have taken clear positions on energy sovereignty, local content and the right to develop hydrocarbon resources in line with national priorities. Aligning those positions at a multilateral level – from the G20 to the International Energy Forum – strengthens their collective influence at a time when global energy policy remains contested.

The capital required to develop the next generation of energy projects will not come from traditional sources alone. As South America advances large-scale developments across deepwater, LNG and infrastructure, the opportunity lies in engaging that capital early, before investment relationships are locked in elsewhere.

Recently appointed to lead the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, Minister Onanga has already signaled a strong focus on fast-tracking projects, strengthening local content participation and positioning the Republic of Congo as a competitive regional gas hub. His agenda aligns with a period of rapid transformation in the country’s hydrocarbons sector, driven by major offshore gas developments and renewed investor momentum.

At the center of this growth is Eni’s Congo LNG project, which entered a major new phase in early 2026 with the launch of exports from the Nguya FLNG facility offshore Pointe-Noire. The startup of the second floating LNG unit has increased Congo’s liquefaction capacity to approximately 3 million tons per year, building on the earlier Tango FLNG development and reinforcing the country’s emergence as a strategic LNG exporter to international markets. Drawing gas from the offshore Nené and Litchendjili fields in the Marine XII permit, the project has become one of Africa’s most significant recent gas monetization successes and a cornerstone of Congo’s broader diversification strategy.

Momentum is also building across the country’s upstream sector. TotalEnergies continues to expand its offshore footprint through exploration activity tied to the Nzombo permit, while Perenco is advancing redevelopment work at the Kombi-Likalala-Libondo II field to sustain production and improve gas recovery. Alongside these developments, Congo has been advancing regulatory reforms aimed at attracting new capital into both oil and gas projects, including efforts to strengthen the legal framework for gas development and support future licensing activity.

As global demand for diversified gas supply continues to rise, Congo is increasingly positioning natural gas not only as an export driver, but also as a catalyst for domestic industrialization, power generation and long-term economic growth. The country’s expanding FLNG infrastructure, combined with its established offshore production base and strategic Atlantic coastline, has elevated its profile within Africa’s evolving LNG landscape and strengthened its role in supporting energy security for both regional and international markets.

“Africa is entering a new era of gas development, and the Republic of Congo is emerging as one of the continent’s most important LNG and offshore growth stories,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “With major FLNG expansion, upstream investment and a renewed focus on local content and deal execution, Congo is demonstrating how African producers can leverage gas resources to drive industrial growth, energy security and long-term economic value.”