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G20’s Impact on African Regional Energy Development: A Focus on China

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China

Chinese companies are deepening their energy ties with Africa, as the African Energy Chamber’s investor forum in Shanghai next month highlights key opportunities ahead of African Energy Week 2025 in Cape Town later this year

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, February 25, 2025/APO Group/ –China’s growing influence in Africa’s oil and gas sector, particularly in exploration and production (E&P), continues to reshape the region’s energy landscape. At the heart of this expansion is China’s strategic interest in securing energy resources to fuel its growing economy while advancing its Belt and Road Initiative. As the global energy transition accelerates, China’s engagement with Africa’s oil and gas sector has evolved, reflecting both a long-term investment strategy and a deeper commitment to regional energy security.

China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) is actively developing key oil fields across Africa, including Nigeria’s ultra-deep Egina field and the recently operational Akpo West field. In Niger, China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) signed a $400 million crude supply deal in 2024 and is building a 1,980-km pipeline linking the Agadem Rift Basin to Benin’s Atlantic Oil Terminal. In South Sudan, Dar Petroleum Operating Co., which counts CNPC and Sinopec as major shareholders, resumed production this month after nearly a year-long hiatus. Sinopec is also expanding its footprint in Algeria through a March 2024 agreement with Sonatrach, which includes plans for the Hassi Berkane Nord exploration zone. Meanwhile, United Energy Group is set to double its Egyptian output after acquiring Apex International Energy’s Western Desert portfolio, adding over 22,000 barrels per day to its production across five concessions.

In the Republic of Congo, Chinese firm Wing Wah is leading the Banga Kayo gas monetization project, converting flared gas into LNG, butane and propane. CNOOC is advancing Uganda’s Lake Albert project, targeting first oil from the Kingfisher field in 2025. In Mozambique, CNPC is a partner in the $30 billion Rovuma LNG project, expected to reach FID in 2026, while CNOOC signed agreements in April 2024 for five exploration blocks in the Save and Angoche offshore areas. CNOOC is also making waves in Gabon, drilling the Tigre-1 probe in a high-potential deep-water oil prospect, marking the company’s first exploration in Gabon’s deep waters in over five years.

China’s expanding role in Africa’s energy sector is not only reshaping regional markets, but also creating vital opportunities for investment

China’s energy investments in Africa extend beyond exploration and production to include vital infrastructure development, including pipelines, power plants and refineries. In Angola, China National Chemical Engineering Co. secured the EPC contract for the $6 billion Lobito Refinery, while China Engineering and Machinery Corp. was recently awarded the contract to build a 350 MW gas power plant in Nigeria. In South Sudan, CNPC and the government are exploring plans to build a new pipeline passing through Djibouti and Ethiopia, aimed at enhancing export capabilities as production increases in Blocks 3 and 7. Additionally, CNOOC is a key partner in the $5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline, which will facilitate the first Ugandan oil exports, with financing from the China Export-Import Bank and several other Chinese banks. These infrastructure projects are part of China’s broader push to integrate African nations into global energy supply chains, enabling greater energy access while supporting regional economic growth.

Looking toward 2025 and beyond, China’s role in Africa’s energy sector is expected to evolve in response to emerging trends in the global energy market, including the drive toward cleaner energy sources and greater emphasis on sustainability. Through companies like China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), JinkoSolar and China Energy Engineering Group, China is funding wind, solar, nuclear and hydropower projects across the continent, reinforcing its commitment to the African energy transition. This shift aligns with China’s broader climate goals, which include achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, and highlights the growing synergy between China’s energy investments and Africa’s renewable energy ambitions.

As part of this growing collaboration, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) will host the Invest in African Energies investor forum in Shanghai on March 13, 2025.The event will focus on strengthening China-Africa relations and creating new opportunities for Chinese producers, investors and equipment suppliers to expand their footprint across Africa. The Shanghai forum will set the stage for the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference in Cape Town, where key stakeholders will continue to discuss how China’s increasing energy investments in Africa can drive future development, support the continent’s energy transition, and unlock new avenues for energy cooperation across both traditional and renewable sectors.

“China’s expanding role in Africa’s energy sector is not only reshaping regional markets, but also creating vital opportunities for investment, infrastructure development and long-term energy security. As we prepare for the Invest in African Energies investor forum in Shanghai and African Energy Week 2025 in Cape Town, we look forward to strengthening partnerships that drive sustainable growth across both traditional and renewable energy industries,” said Leoncio Amada Nze Nlang, CEMAC Executive President at the AEC.

To register, visit: https://apo-opa.co/41hZqCm

AEW: Invest in African Energies 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. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Africa50’s Nabil Saimi Joins MSGBC 2026 as Senegal’s Project Pipeline Draws Infrastructure Capital

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Etu Energias

Africa50 invests in projects at their earliest stage, with power and midstream gas among its priority sectors

DAKAR, Senegal, October 22, 2026/APO Group/ –Nabil Saimi, Senior Investment Director for the Project Development Fund at Africa50, will speak at MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 in December. His confirmation brings one of the continent’s leading infrastructure investors to the Dakar conference, with a focus on the earliest and most decisive phase of the project cycle: when concepts become bankable assets. Africa50’s model is built around carrying projects from development through to financing, an approach well matched to the basin’s expanding pipeline of gas, power and infrastructure projects.

 




 
 

Africa50 was set up by the African Development Bank (AfDB) alongside African governments and now has 33 shareholder states, with Senegal, Mauritania and The Gambia among them. The platform has mobilized close to $9 billion in investment across the continent, according to Senegal’s Presidency. Its Project Development business invests equity at the preparation stage to ready projects for financiers, generally targeting developments worth more than $100 million, with power, transport, midstream gas and information and communications technology as priority sectors.

Senegal has been central to Africa50’s power portfolio. At its 2017 shareholders meeting in Dakar, Africa50 partnered with national utility Senelec under a joint agreement to develop the 120 MW Malicounda combined cycle power plant and select its strategic sponsor. The €154 million plant entered commercial operation in August 2022, adding 8% to Senegal’s generation capacity, and was built with the ability to run on the country’s own gas once supply is available. In April 2026, an Africa50 delegation met President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in Dakar and reaffirmed its support for Senegal’s development priorities.

Project development is gathering momentum across the organization. In September 2026, Africa50 appointed former International Finance Corporation (IFC) regional director Cheick-Oumar Sylla as CEO of its Project Development Fund, a key appointment under its 2030 roadmap. Separately, the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa Project Development Fund (AGIA-PD), managed by Africa50, secured $50 million from Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and France’s Proparco in 2026, adding to the $118 million raised at its first close in August 2025 as the fund targets $400 million.

Africa50’s reach now extends deeper into gas and grid infrastructure across the continent. In 2026, the platform unveiled partnerships in Tanzania covering LNG and electricity transmission, while a $20 million commitment from British International Investment took its Infrastructure Acceleration Fund to roughly $330 million in total commitments. Both areas carry weight in the MSGBC basin, where LNG exports and gas-to-power plans are shaping the region’s next phase of development.

Plants such as Malicounda were built with domestic gas in mind, and the basin’s next generation of power and gas infrastructure will depend on capital committed early in development. Saimi’s participation strengthens MSGBC 2026’s focus on connecting the region’s project pipeline with the investors able to advance it.

Organized by Energy Capital & Power (ECP) and held under the High Patronage of Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 takes place December 1-3 in Dakar and will convene heads of state, ministers, investors, operators and development partners from Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Conakry. Explore opportunities and secure your participation at www.MSGBCOilGasAndPower.com.

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

 




 

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Algeria Energy Minister Brings Regional Power Expertise to MSGBC 2026

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Etu Energias

Minister Mourad Adjal joins Algeria’s Hydrocarbon Minister Mohamed Arkab at the Dakar conference, bringing new perspectives on power and renewable energy development

DAKAR, Senegal, October 22, 2026/APO Group/ –Algeria’s Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies Mourad Adjal will participate as a speaker at MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026, bringing senior government expertise on gas, power infrastructure, renewable energy and regional energy integration to the event’s investment and policy discussions. Minister Adjal joins Algeria’s Hydrocarbons Minister Mohamed Arkab at the event, taking place December 1–3 in Dakar.

 




 
 

His participation comes as Algeria advances major renewable energy and hydrogen programs while strengthening its position as a regional energy partner. The country is implementing a 15,000 MW renewable energy program through 2035, with a first phase comprising 3,200 MW of solar capacity currently underway. The program offers relevant experience for MSGBC countries seeking to expand generation capacity while integrating larger shares of renewable power into their energy systems.

Hydrogen is also becoming a major component of Algeria’s energy strategy. The country is participating in the SoutH2 Corridor, which aims to establish infrastructure linking North African hydrogen production with European markets, while the Algeria-Europe Alliance for Hydrogen is progressing toward the publication of its feasibility study results in 2027.

These developments have direct relevance to the MSGBC region, where Mauritania and Senegal are positioning themselves for large-scale green hydrogen development alongside expanding oil and gas production. The combination of new generation capacity, transmission infrastructure and export-oriented energy projects is creating growing demand for integrated regional energy systems.

Minister Adjal also brings extensive experience from Algeria’s electricity and gas sector at a time when MSGBC countries are developing gas-to-power infrastructure and cross-border energy connections. Senegal is advancing domestic gas utilisation and new power capacity, while Mauritania is combining LNG development with emerging hydrogen projects and wider plans for energy-intensive industrial development.

Before becoming minister in September 2025, Adjal served as Chairman and CEO of Sonelgaz, Algeria’s state-owned electricity and gas utility, from December 2021. He previously led the Electricity and Gas Distribution Company and held senior regional roles including President of the Mediterranean Transmission System Operators Association and Chairman of the Maghreb Electricity Committee.

His participation adds senior North African perspective to an MSGBC market increasingly focused on converting resource discoveries into producing assets, reliable power and integrated infrastructure. As Senegal, Mauritania and neighbouring markets develop gas, electricity and renewable projects, Adjal’s experience across utility-scale energy systems will contribute to discussions on building the infrastructure required for the region’s next phase of growth.

MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power will convene international operators, service companies and investors in Dakar to explore opportunities across the region’s energy sector. To secure a delegate pass or learn more, visit www.MSGBCOilGasandPower.com or email sales@energycapitalpower.com.

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

 




 

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Dangote Refinery Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joins South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) 2026 as $1.8B Kenya Expansion Opens Regional Distribution Opportunities

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Etu Energias

David Bird’s participation comes as Dangote advances its East African refining and distribution strategy, anchored by a 700,000-bpd Lamu Refinery and 25% stake in KPC

JUBA, South Sudan, October 22, 2026/APO Group/ –Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals is expanding its footprint across East Africa, with a $16 billion refinery planned in Kenya and a $335 million investment in Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC). As these developments open new opportunities for regional petroleum trade, the company’s CEO and Managing Director David Bird has joined the South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) 2026 conference as a speaker.

 




 
 

Taking place in Juba on November 24-25, SSOP returns for its seventh edition as the nation’s premier platform for investment, dealmaking and policy. Bird’s participation comes as South Sudan looks to translate its resource potential into renewed exploration, higher production and greater participation in regional petroleum value chains. With major downstream investment reshaping East Africa’s energy market, SSOP 2026 offers an opportunity for producers, refiners and investors to establish the partnerships needed to advance regional energy trade and unlock new commercial opportunities.

The event arrives at a strategic time for Dangote. On September 30, the company officially broke ground on a 700,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery in Lamu, Kenya. Set to come online in 2029, the facility is designed to supply gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to East African markets, with regional governments offered a combined 30% stake in the project. The project aims to replicate Dangote’s 650,000-bpd Nigerian facility, which is currently operating at full capacity and is set to expand to 1.2 million bpd. A delegation from South Sudan attended the Lamu groundbreaking ceremony, underscoring the country’s commitment to strengthening regional petroleum ties.

https://apo-opa.co/4zQaHcU

Beyond the Lamu facility, Dangote is strengthening its footprint across East Africa’s distribution networks. Just this month, the company acquired a 25% stake in KPC, securing access to established infrastructure transporting petroleum products from Kenya’s coast to regional markets, including Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Following the $335 million transaction, Dangote plans to invest an additional $1.5 billion to expand KPC’s approximately 1,300-km pipeline network, bringing its total planned investment to $1.8 billion.

https://apo-opa.co/4zS8fCN

For South Sudan, East Africa’s only established commercial crude oil producer, Dangote’s expansion introduces new opportunities for regional petroleum integration. The country holds approximately 3.5 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and is seeking to increase production through new exploration, redevelopment of mature fields and investment in supporting infrastructure. While no crude supply agreement between South Sudan and Dangote has been announced, the development of additional regional refining capacity could create opportunities for future feedstock supply arrangements, subject to commercial viability, infrastructure and crude compatibility.

Bird brings extensive experience across refining, petrochemicals and integrated energy infrastructure to SSOP 2026. Before joining Dangote in 2025, he served as CEO of OQ8, the $9.5 billion Duqm refinery joint venture in Oman, overseeing the development and commissioning of major refining, pipeline and terminal infrastructure. He also held senior leadership positions at Shell, spanning upstream production, downstream operations and global energy supply chains. His participation at SSOP 2026 will bring expertise in large-scale refining investment, project delivery and regional petroleum market development to discussions on South Sudan’s next phase of growth.

https://apo-opa.co/3WotMnT

As the country’s official energy event, held in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum, SSOP 2026 provides a platform for advancing discussions around regional trade, refining and infrastructure investment. The conference brings together international and national oil companies, refiners, trading companies, infrastructure developers, financiers and technology providers to negotiate partnerships, mobilize investment and connect South Sudan’s petroleum resources with regional and international markets.

Register for SSOP 2026: https://apo-opa.co/3WGMyXJ

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

 




 

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