Over the past five years, AEW has facilitated multi-billion-dollar deals, shaped policy discussions and strengthened regional cooperation. Its inaugural edition in 2021 set a strong foundation, attracting 1,700 delegates, including ministers, global energy executives and financial institutions. The event reinforced Africa’s appeal to investors while establishing AEW’s strategic goal of eradicating energy poverty by 2030. The event introduced key features such as the African Energy Awards, panel discussions and forums covering the entire energy sector across four venues. Country spotlight sessions provided market insights, while the African Energy Chamber, alongside African energy ministers and a representative from the German government, launched the African Green Energy Dialogue Initiative to accelerate investment in Africa’s green energy space.

The 2022 edition of AEW kicked off with opening remarks from esteemed African leaders including the presidents of Uganda and Mozambique, Minister of Hydrocarbons from the Republic of Congo, as well as prominent industry figures from APPO, the European Commission, the International Energy Forum and the private sector. AEW 2022 provided a platform for high-level discussions on investment opportunities, energy policy and strategies for driving Africa’s energy transition. In addition to insightful discussions and networking opportunities, AEW 2022 introduced the Just Energy Transition Concert, blending music and culture with energy dialogue to promote investment, development and wider participation across the energy industry.

AEW 2023 saw an unprecedented level of participation, with opening remarks from the presidents of Namibia, Senegal and Uganda, alongside energy ministers from South Africa, South Sudan, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of Congo, Ghana and Mozambique. Representatives from OPEC, APPO, GECF, and key global partners from Russia, the U.S., Europe, and Saudi Arabia further reinforced the event’s strategic importance. Afreximbank played a central role, hosting a dedicated deal room and supporting Africa’s growing M&A activity. Key agreements signed included Afreximbank’s $75 million financing deal with Torxen Energy Resources for Nigeria’s PPL 241, a hydrogen exploration agreement between The Gambia and H2 Gambia Limited, and a $60 million term loan for Alphaden Energy & Oilfield Limited to develop a gas facility in Nigeria. Additionally, the African Energy Chamber partnered with the Black Impact Foundation to promote global opportunities for the Black community. The African Farmout Forum connected investors with available blocks, accelerating exploration and partnerships across Africa’s oil and gas sector.

In 2024, AEW underscored its role as a catalyst for deal-making and sectoral development. Afreximbank committed over $120 million in financial facilities to support Africa’s oil and gas sector, while the Republic of Congo’s Société nationale des pétroles du Congo partnered with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan to modernize the CORAF refinery and the African Farmout Forum returned to highlight available block opportunities for partnership and investment. The event featured a distinguished lineup of speakers and delegations, including energy ministers from South Africa, Namibia, the Republic of Congo, Gabon, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Angola; OPEC and APPO secretary generals; and top executives from Eni, bp, Chevron, TotalEnergies and other leading energy companies.

The fifth edition of AEW promises an even greater focus on investment opportunities and project developments, including 2025/2026 licensing rounds, multi-phase LNG facilities, new refining capacity, drilling and appraisal programs and cross-border pipeline infrastructure. All flagship features will return, including the Big Five Stages of Premium Industry Content, the African Farmout Forum, the Deal Room, the OPEC-Africa Roundtable and more. With capital-intensive projects requiring global financing, AEW 2025 will serve as the premier platform to connect investors with Africa’s most promising energy opportunities.

By bringing together key stakeholders, AEW has enhanced Africa’s global competitiveness, enabled cross-border partnerships and fostered policy dialogue that advances sustainable energy development. As the conference celebrates five years of impact, its role in shaping the future of Africa’s energy sector remains stronger than ever, ensuring that the continent’s vast energy resources continue to drive sustainable development and economic transformation.

“The five-year milestone is a testament to AEW’s commitment to shaping the future of Africa’s energy sector. As the continent continues to navigate the complexities of energy development, AEW remains a vital platform for stakeholders to engage and drive progress across the continent,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, adding “As AEW celebrates five years of impact, its influence on the continent’s energy landscape remains unparalleled. The conference has consistently demonstrated its ability to drive sustainable energy development, ensuring that Africa’s vast energy resources are harnessed to drive economic transformation and sustainable development.”

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.

Organized by Energy Capital & Power, the forum is proud to collaborate with key partners, including Welligence, the Texas Africa Chamber of Commerce, the African Energy Chamber, Moore and S&P Global Commodity Insights, to drive industry engagement and cooperation. These partnerships are set to enhance knowledge sharing, market insights and strategic initiatives across the energy sector.

USAEF serves as a strategic extension of ECP’s flagship events in Tripoli, Brazzaville, Paris, Luanda, Cape Town and beyond, enabling participants to access high-potential African energy projects while leveraging Houston’s role as a global energy hub. By linking U.S. stakeholders to licensing rounds and investment-ready opportunities on the continent, the forum enriches ongoing dialogues and partnerships that culminate in ECP’s Africa-based events.

The forum highlights dynamic African markets, including the Republic of Congo, Libya and Angola, showcasing upcoming licensing rounds, brownfield projects, LNG projects and groundbreaking developments from deepwater oil and gas exploration to utility-scale renewables. With curated roundtable discussions and in-depth sessions on each market, data presentations, one-on-one investor meetings, a private equity and investment roundtable and in-depth session on African minerals and critical resources, USAEF empowers participants to unlock synergies and build connections that resonate across the energy value chain and extend into ECP’s broader event network. The program will also feature fireside chats, a ministerial panel and high-level, open-door panels spanning upstream exploration to downstream refining and trade.

Africa’s energy sector is experiencing unprecedented momentum, solidifying its position as a global leader in upstream investment. With $47 billion in capital expenditure – a 23% year-on-year increase – Africa is driving a significant portion of the $125 billion global upstream investment. Nigeria leads the continent with $13.5 billion in investments, while offshore exploration in Namibia continues at a record pace. Ghana has raised its oil and gas production by 10% and 7%, respectively, and the $5 billion Africa Energy Bank is poised to sustain funding for fossil fuel projects. Recent Final Investment Decisions highlight this surge, including the $6 billion Kaminho Deepwater Project in Angola, Nigeria’s $5 billion Bonga North Tranche 1 and major gas field developments in Nigeria and the Republic of Congo. Greenfield spending is set to outpace brownfield by 10% by 2030, reflecting a strong pipeline of new projects.

As the world’s largest producer of oil and gas and a leader in energy innovation, the U.S. offers advanced technologies, funding mechanisms and strategic expertise that can catalyze Africa’s energy development. Houston, as the energy capital of the world, is uniquely positioned to host USAEF, providing access to over 4,700 energy companies, a thriving innovation ecosystem and a strategic network of investors eager to explore Africa’s untapped potential. The event not only spotlights Africa’s opportunities, but also underscores the role of U.S. stakeholders in driving sustainable energy growth on the continent.

“USAEF is not just an event – it’s a gateway to the opportunities we showcase across Africa. By tapping into Houston’s unmatched investment ecosystem, USAEF creates a unique pathway for stakeholders to connect, collaborate and channel their engagement into transformative partnerships at our Africa-based conferences. This event underscores our commitment to driving impactful investment and growth in Africa’s energy future,” says James Chester, CEO, ECP.

The 15^th Orange Social Venture Prize in Africa (www.Orange.com) and the Middle East will open for submissions on Monday, March 11, 2025. Candidates from the 17 countries within the Orange footprint have until May 18, 2025, to submit their project on the website (https://apo-opa.co/3XHnehU).

Since 2011, the OSVP prize has been rewarding innovative start-up projects that use and develop new technologies to make a positive impact in Africa and the Middle East in the fields such as education, healthcare, e-commerce, agriculture, or environment. Through this prize, Orange, as a committed operator, aims to contribute to the socio-economic development, support social and environmental innovation, and encourage entrepreneurship.

The competition has two stages:

• A national stage to collect applications, between March and May 2025 in Orange’s 17 subsidiaries in Africa and the Middle East. At the end of the competition, the national winners will be chosen by a panel of judges made up of members of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and Orange representatives.
• An international stage, where each subsidiary will be represented by its 3 national winners and up to 3 women entrepreneurs competing for the International Women’s Prize. The projects will be evaluated by an evaluation committee made up of Group employees. Following their evaluation, 10 finalists will be chosen for the International Grand Prize and 5 for the International Women’s Prize.

A final jury made up of leading figures from tech and entrepreneurship in Africa and the Middle East will then be responsible, in October 2025, for choosing the 3 winners of the International Grand Prize and the winner of the OSVP International Women’s Prize from among the 15 projects selected by Orange Group employees. The winners will receive a financial contribution of:

• €25,000 for the 1st prize-winner.
• €15,000 for the 2nd prize-winner.
• €10,000 for the 3rd prize-winner.
• €20,000 for the winner of the International Women’s Prize.

Since its launch in 2011, OSVP, which has received nearly 15,000 applications, has a tangible impact on the lives of the winning entrepreneurs. More than 500 entrepreneurs have been supported and rewarded, including around a hundred at the international level.

In addition to financial support, OSVP winners benefit from support within Orange Digital Centers with the prospect of developing their business outside the borders of their respective countries.