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Rolls-Royce: Sustainably Powering Africa’s Regional Connectivity (By Lydia-Claire Halliday)

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aviation

Africa urgently needs a more extensive and robust aviation network, given the region’s relative lack of alternative long-distance transportation infrastructure

DAKAR, Senegal, December 28, 2022/APO Group/ — 

By Lydia-Claire Halliday, Executive Director, Stakeholder Relations & Strategy, LCH Consultancy Ltd.

The African aviation market has been underserved for a long time. Before 2020, only 9% of Africa’s air traffic was between African countries, the rest being intercontinental. And today, globally, the region accounts for less than 2% of total air traffic despite being home to around 17% of the world’s population.

Africa urgently needs a more extensive and robust aviation network, given the region’s relative lack of alternative long-distance transportation infrastructure. Indeed, unlike the United States and Europe, where there is an extensive road and rail network, in Africa, these vital modes of intracontinental transport remain underdeveloped.

“African countries have experienced unprecedented economic growth in the past years, with a fast-growing population, but the airline industry has not enjoyed the same positive trend.  African airlines have been marginalised, and this is evidenced by the sharp drop of their market share in the past years. In the intra-African regional market, there is need for airlines to deploy the appropriate right-sized aircraft. As the air transport sector resumes the growth trajectory post-COVID, growth will be enhanced by implementing the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). A shift of strategies and focus on the regional operations to feed, and de-feed major hubs is important for African carriers to harness the growth opportunity and enhance competitiveness.” Mr Abderahmane Berthé – AFRAA Secretary General, speaking at the associations’ Annual General Assembly in Dakar Senegal.

While infrastructure is being developed, aircraft manufacturers are also responding to the call. Embraer, in particular, has long seen the potential for its planes in Africa and has thus extensively marketed its aircraft to African airlines.

Rolls-Royce proudly supplies the Brazil-based aircraft manufacturer with AE3007 engines for its 50-seater ERJ family of aircraft. Since the engine achieved FAA/EASA certification in 1995 for Embraer, Rolls-Royce has delivered more than 3,200 engines worldwide, with more than 65 million flight hours. The AE3007 also reliably and efficiently powers the Cessna Citation X passenger aircraft. In the Defence sector, the AE3007 powers the Northrop Grumman RQ-4A Global Hawk & Triton; in fact, the AE engine family was initially developed for defence applications. Still, the constant development of the common core has given us a range of highly robust and versatile engines.

In Africa, Rolls-Royce powers more than 100 regional aircraft in operation. These range from premium full-serviced regional airlines, government-owned flagship airlines, charter operations, and mining companies to operators serving humanitarian missions for the United Nations and the World Food Program.

The majority of these aircraft, however, are Embraer’s ERJ 145/140/135 and Legacy twin-turbofan regional jets. The Long Range version of the ERJ140 can carry a full load of passengers over a distance of more than 3,000 kilometres. This range can intra-connect Eastern, Central, Western, Southern and Northern African sub-regions.  

As this connectivity increases and barriers to trade and travel are lowered, we expect demand for this aircraft type to grow.

During the pandemic, with many aircraft grounded, Rolls-Royce took the opportunity to complete an extensive maintenance program on their AE3007 engines in the region, upgrading to the latest standards without charge. This allowed operators to comply with an Airworthiness Directive (necessary for all grounded aircraft) before operations restarted, giving them an all-important head start.

Meanwhile, in September 2021, Rolls-Royce penned an important extension of its TotalCare maintenance service agreement with South African airline Airlink.

Rolls-Royce has submitted a proposal to Embraer to power the new 70-90 seater rear-mounted turboprop that the airframer plans to launch in early 2023

“I’m very proud to say that we have had a long-standing relationship with Rolls-Royce since 2001. These engines power up our 28-aircraft Embraer ERJ fleet. Rolls-Royce has never dropped the ball, and Airlink has extreme reliability on these engines. Kudos to Rolls-Royce, who has been awarded our supplier of the year and on an unbelievable and excellent relationship.”  Rodger Foster, Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director Airlink

The key to TotalCare is that Rolls-Royce takes back time-on-wing and shop visit cost risks, providing airlines with peace of mind that their maintenance schedules will run at a fixed cost per engine flying hour.

The service is underpinned by predictive maintenance, i.e. fixing problems before they occur. It relies on extensive gathering and analysis of performance data, which helps engineers to diagnose potential future faults and act on them to avoid downtime.   

Indeed, this has been central to Airlink’s impressive on-time performance, consistently above 97% throughout its use of TotalCare.

Moving forwards, if Africa is to build a more extensive regional flying network, maintenance infrastructure will be essential to ensure it runs smoothly. Indeed, Rolls-Royce has observed the need to diversify services to keep as many aircraft flying in the region as possible.

A relentless focus on efficiency and the pathway to zero-emissions

Deploying the right aircraft on suitable routes is also crucial to running the network as environmentally and sustainably as possible.

According to research by Embraer, some 14% of all domestic African flights are operated on widebody aircraft. In addition, the company observes that almost all (99%) of these flights flown with widebodies fly on sectors under 4,500 kilometres – in other words, the scope for narrowbody aircraft seating 120-150 passengers to increase operational efficiency is sizeable.

In the longer term, the regional aviation industry has a huge opportunity to be a flagbearer for net zero flying.

And here, as one example in Norway, Embraer and Rolls-Royce, in collaboration with Widerøe, are deep into a study on a conceptual zero-emission regional aircraft. The 12-month project, set to conclude in February 2023, aims to accelerate the knowledge of the technologies necessary for the net zero transition, progress which could pave the way for clean fuels and electrification to be the significant enablers of a new era of regional aviation. The study examines a variety of potential solutions, including all-electric, hydrogen fuel cell or hydrogen-fuelled gas turbine-powered aircraft.

Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce has submitted a proposal to Embraer to power the new 70-90 seater rear-mounted turboprop that the airframer plans to launch in early 2023. A key reason why Embraer has chosen to switch the design to rear-mounted engines is that it enables easier accommodation of a hydrogen system which could be integrated in the future. With its ongoing R&D into hydrogen-propelled aircraft, Rolls-Royce will be well-placed to fulfil this need.

In addition, the company is set to prove that all its aero engines will be able to run on 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel by the end of 2023. Any sustainable fuel that meets the D1655 jet fuel standard and requirements is now approved for use in AE3007 engines. Currently, seven different blend varieties can be used, some being certified to blend up to 50% with conventional jet fuel, dramatically reducing carbon footprints.

In keeping its fingers on the pulse, Rolls-Royce is ideally positioned to steer Africa’s growing regional aviation sector in a sustainable direction over the coming years. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rolls-Royce.

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Nigeria’s Upstream Reform Program Captures 40% of Africa’s Final Investment Decision (FID) Activity After a Decade on the Margins

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May 8, 2026

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A government three-year review documents how executive action under President Tinubu reversed a decade of upstream decline

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 8, 2026/APO Group/ –Nigeria has gone from capturing 4% of Africa’s upstream final investment decisions (FIDs) to commanding 40% in two years, according to Nigeria’s Energy Sector Reforms 2023-2026: A Three-Year Review, published by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy and spearheaded by Special Adviser Olu Verheijen. The $50 billion project pipeline now in development beyond 2026 points to sustained capital commitment at a scale not seen in the Nigerian upstream for at least a decade.

 

Between 2014 and 2023, Nigeria was among the continent’s weakest performers for upstream FIDs despite holding 37.5 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, the second-largest endowment in Africa. Algeria captured 44% of African upstream FIDs during that period, Angola held 26%, while Nigeria trailed Mozambique, Ghana, Senegal and Namibia. In the third quarter of 2022, crude production briefly dropped below one million barrels per day, as years of underinvestment, pipeline vandalism and regulatory ambiguity compounded each other. However, reforms instituted by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu have dramatically turned this trend around. Through deliberate and coordinated steps, the government has reset the trajectory.

Addressing Fiscal Terms, Regulatory Scope and Contracting Speed

President Bola Tinubu’s administration moved simultaneously on fiscal terms and regulatory architecture. Policy directives in 2023 clarified the boundary of jurisdiction between the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), resolving an ambiguity that had complicated project sanctioning. Presidential Directive 40 introduced targeted tax incentives, and a separate Notice of Tax Incentives for Deep Offshore Production in 2024 was designed to draw international oil companies (IOCs) back into capital-intensive, long-cycle deepwater projects. The VAT Modification Order 2024 and Upstream Cost Efficiency Order 2025 addressed the cost structures that had rendered marginal projects uneconomic. NNPCL contracting timelines were compressed from 36 months to a maximum of six months.

Four Divestments Transferred Onshore Control to Indigenous Operators

In parallel, the administration deployed targeted security directives and accelerated ministerial consents for four IOC asset transfers. Renaissance acquired Shell’s onshore portfolio. Seplat Energy completed its acquisition of ExxonMobil’s Nigerian upstream interests. Oando took over from Agip, and Chappal acquired Equinor’s local assets. The four transactions totaled approximately $4 billion. The transfer of onshore and shallow-water blocks to indigenous operators contributed directly to production recovery. Output rose by approximately 400,000 barrels per day between 2023 and 2025 to reach 1.6 million barrels per day, the highest onshore production level in 20 years.

When a government rebuilds fiscal competitiveness and regulatory predictability at the same time, capital responds

Signed Projects Total $10 Billion, With a $50 Billion Pipeline Beyond

The reforms produced a concrete FID response from Shell and TotalEnergies. Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) sanctioned the $5 billion Bonga North deepwater development in December 2024 and committed a further $2 billion to the HI Non-Associated Gas (NAG) project. TotalEnergies and NNPCL took a joint FID on the $550 million Ubeta gas field development in June 2024.

Together those three commitments account for more than $10 billion in signed investment after a decade of near-zero sanctioning activity. The pipeline beyond 2026 spans a further $50 billion across 11 projects including Bonga South West, Owowo, Usan and Erha. Nigeria approved 28 field development plans valued at $18.2 billion in 2025 alone, targeting an estimated 1.4 billion barrels of reserves.

“When a government rebuilds fiscal competitiveness and regulatory predictability at the same time, capital responds,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Nigeria has done both, and the FID numbers are concrete proof.”

The Counterfactual Illustrates How Much Was at Stake

The presentation includes a no-reform projection that puts the gains in context. Without intervention, total crude and condensate production was on track to fall from 1.371 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2022 to 579,000 by 2030. Under the reform trajectory, output reached 1.77 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2026, with a stated government target of 3 million barrels per day. Export gas utilization rose 39% over the same period, while domestic utilization grew by 7%.

The durability of these gains will be tested by two factors: whether the institutional architecture put in place under the Tinubu administration holds over the long term, and whether the deepwater commitments signed in 2024 and 2025 advance to execution on schedule. The project pipeline is large enough that partial delivery would still represent a generational shift in Nigeria’s upstream output profile.

 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Angola Strengthens Global Investment Drive Across Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources

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May 8, 2026

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With sweeping reforms across the extractive sector, Angola is entering a new phase defined by transparency, regulatory modernisation, value addition, and international partnership

LONDON, United Kingdom, May 8, 2026/APO Group/ –At a defining moment in Angola’s economic transformation, the Critical Minerals Africa Group (CMAG) (https://CMAGAfrica.com), together with the Government of Angola and the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas of the Republic of Angola (MIREMPET), will convene global investors, policymakers, and industry leaders in London for the Angola Oil, Gas & Mining Investment Conference on 14 May 2026.

 

More than a conference, this gathering represents a strategic international engagement at a time when Angola is actively reshaping its economic future and positioning itself as one of Africa’s most compelling destinations for long-term investment in natural resources, infrastructure, and industrial development.

With sweeping reforms across the extractive sector, Angola is entering a new phase defined by transparency, regulatory modernisation, value addition, and international partnership. The country’s leadership is sending a clear message to global markets: Angola is open for investment and ready to build transformational partnerships that support sustainable growth and economic diversification.

This is not simply about resource development, it is about building long-term industrial growth, strengthening energy and mineral supply chains, and shaping Angola’s future

The event will be headlined by H.E. Diamantino Azevedo, Minister for Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas of Angola, whose leadership since 2017 has been central to advancing Angola’s mineral and hydrocarbons agenda. Under his stewardship, Angola has accelerated institutional reform, strengthened governance frameworks, promoted private sector participation, and prioritised sustainable resource development.

As global demand intensifies for critical minerals, energy security, and resilient supply chains, Angola is uniquely positioned to become a strategic partner to international investors and industrial economies. The country’s vast untapped mineral wealth, significant oil and gas reserves, expanding infrastructure ambitions, and commitment to economic diversification present a rare investment window for global stakeholders.

Speaking ahead of the event, Veronica Bolton Smith, CEO of the Critical Minerals Africa Group said:

“Angola stands at a pivotal point in its national development. The reforms taking place across the country’s extractive sectors are creating unprecedented opportunities for responsible international investment and strategic partnership. This is not simply about resource development, it is about building long-term industrial growth, strengthening energy and mineral supply chains, and shaping Angola’s future as a globally competitive investment destination. We believe this moment represents one of the most important opportunities for international partners to engage with Angola’s leadership and participate in the country’s next chapter of economic transformation.”

The event is expected to attract a distinguished international audience, including sovereign representatives, institutional investors, mining and energy executives, infrastructure developers, development finance institutions, and strategic partners seeking direct engagement with Angola’s leadership.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Critical Minerals Africa Group (CMAG).

 

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The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group Successfully Concludes Private Sector Roadshow in Baku

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May 8, 2026

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Bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders, the Forum showcased IsDB Group services, activities, and initiatives across its 57 member countries, with particular emphasis on Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 7, 2026/APO Group/ –The Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) affiliates (www.IsDB.org) – namely the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) – in cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank Group Business Forum (THIQAH), organized the “IsDB Group Private Sector Roadshow” in Baku, Azerbaijan, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AZPROMO).

 

The high-profile event which took place on Thursday, 7th May 2026, at Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Economy, came as part of ongoing preparations for the upcoming IsDB Group Annual Meetings and Private Sector Forum (PSF 2026), scheduled to take place from 16 to 19 June 2026, under the high patronage of His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

 

Bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders, the Forum showcased IsDB Group services, activities, and initiatives across its 57 member countries, with particular emphasis on Azerbaijan. It highlighted the Group’s ongoing support for private sector development and its efforts to stimulate promising investment and trade opportunities in the Azerbaijani market.

 

The event also served as a unique opportunity inviting the audience to participate actively in IsDB Group Annual Meetings and the Private Sector Forum (PSF 2026). The program included panel discussions and specialized workshops on ways to enhance economic partnerships and the role of IsDB Group’s institutions in supporting the needs of member countries. The spectra of services, solutions and financial tools were also presented, including lines and modes of Islamic financing, trade finance and trade development solutions, corporate private sector financing, as well as risk mitigation solutions plus investment insurance and export credit insurance services.

 

Keynote speakers, in their speeches, underlined strong commitment to deepening engagement with the private sector and fostering meaningful partnerships that drive sustainable economic growth in light of the upcoming IsDB Group Annual Meetings in Baku, all to showcase integrated solutions especially in Islamic finance, trade, investment, and risk mitigation while working closely and collectively with private sector partners to unlock new opportunities, support innovation, and empower businesses contributing to inclusive and resilient development across IsDB Group member countries.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB Group).

 

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