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Sonahydro Director General (DG) to Champion Sustainable Exploration Dialogue During African Energy Week (AEW) 2023

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Marcellin Bilomba Mbale

Marcellin Bilomba Mbale, Director General of Sonahydro SA, will speak at African Energy Week 2023 on the frontier potential of the Democratic Republic of Congo and how the country is prioritizing local content and sustainability in its oil and gas industry

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, August 4, 2023/APO Group/ — 

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) (www.EnergyChamber.org) – the voice of the African energy sector – is proud to announce that Marcellin Bilomba Mbale, Director General of the National Oil Company (NOC) of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), will speak at this year’s edition of the African Energy Week (AEW) conference and exhibition – Africa’s premier event for the energy sector, scheduled for 16 – 20 October in Cape Town. During the event, Mbale will provide insights into how the country plans on integrating sustainability with oil and gas exploration, and how regional collaboration is set to accelerate the country’s local content and infrastructure development.

Representing one of the final frontiers for oil and gas exploration worldwide, the DRC – through Sonahydro – is working towards unlocking the full potential of its untapped acreage with the aim of scaling up energy security and long-term economic growth. While the country’s proven oil reserves equate to 180 million barrels, estimated reserves are measured at over five billion barrels, offering lucrative opportunities for frontier E&P players.

Under efforts to boost foreign direct investment and attract new players to the sector, the DRC launched a 30-block licensing round in 2022. To date, three gas blocks have been awarded with 27 oil blocks still on offer. As such, AEW 2023, with its upstream-focused panel discussions and numerous networking opportunities, represents the best platform for Mbale to showcase the central African country’s upstream potential, signing new deals with E&P players. In addition to bringing in new investments and players across the DRC’s energy landscape, the licensing round will help increase the country’s oil production from the current rate of 25,000 barrels of oil per day. Sonahydro, in partnership with international E&P firm Perenco, is responsible for this production.

Sonahydro has played a crucial role in laying the foundation on which the DRC’s energy market is expanding

As a frontier market, the DRC is also leveraging cooperation with regional producing neighbors, including Angola, Uganda, Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo, to advance energy security, infrastructure and local content development. DRC stands to learn a great deal from regional producing markets, particularly when it comes to sustainable hydrocarbon practices. Through knowledge and skills transfer, the DRC plans on scaling-up sustainability within its sector while ensuring new developments prioritize environmental protection and economic opportunities.  

Partnerships with regional producers include a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Uganda for the utilization of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline; an agreement signed with Equatorial Guinea for the joint development of an oil refinery and storage facilities in the DRC; and a deal signed with Angola for the joint development of Block 14 – situated on the maritime border of the two countries. AEW 2023, with its regional cooperation focus, represents the best platform for Mbale to network with representatives from NOCs from other African countries to discuss current and potential partnership opportunities.

“Sonahydro has played a crucial role in laying the foundation on which the DRC’s energy market is expanding. The NOC is targeting unlocking the country’s full energy potential through a series of exploration and production activities and partnerships with regional and global energy players. The untapped energy potential across the DRC’s Coastal Basin, the La Cuvette Basin and the West Branch Basins will be crucial for driving regional energy security and adding value into the local economy,” states NJ Ayuk, the Executive Chairman of the AEC.

Taking place under the theme ‘The Energy Renaissance: Prioritizing Energy Poverty, People, the Planet, Industrialization and Free Markets’, AEW 2023 will unite African hydrocarbon producing countries including the DRC with global investors to showcase, discuss and maximize investment and partnership opportunities within the continent’s burgeoning energy industry.

AEW is the AEC’s interactive exhibition and networking event uniting African energy stakeholders, driving industry growth and development, and promoting Africa as the destination for African-focused events. For more information about sponsorship, attendance, and partnership opportunities, visit www.AECWeek.com

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Ministers among hundreds of energy-sector leaders to attend AOW event

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The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

AOW: Investing in African Energy (https://AOWEnergy.com) – Africa’s leading oil, gas and energy event – has confirmed attendance for more than 80 ministers and senior officials, representing African governments, energy departments and regulators at next month’s event.

These influential stakeholders will be among the more than 1 600 senior delegates and industry leaders who will be attending the event to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa’s energy future.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.”

Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention

Among the officials and government ministers attending will be energy leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda, CAR, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Zanzibar, Liberia, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.

In addition, the event will feature high-level delegations from numerous national oil companies, as well as multilateral bodies including the African Union, (AU), African Energy Commission (AFREC), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

AOW will see these energy leaders networking with C-suite executives and decision-makers from more than 760 top energy companies at daily networking events, to discuss insights, forge new relationships, and negotiate major energy deals.

“We are so excited to see the calibre of delegates at this year’s AOW event,” says Chief Executive Officer of Sankofa Events, Paul Sinclair. “Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention. The high-powered attendance proves AOW is a key platform to enable this intervention.”

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s AOW will be sustainable upstream development; expanding gas value chains; renewables and new energies; adoption of best-in-class technologies; and access to finance.

AOW: Investing in African Energy will culminate in a special anniversary party at Groot Constantia Vineyard to celebrate 30 years of the AOW event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

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Afreximbank approves US$20.8 million for Starlink Global’s cashew factory project in Lagos

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The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs

CAIRO, Egypt, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$20.8 million financing facility for Nigeria-based Starlink Global & Ideal Limited to enable the company construct and operate a 30,000-metric tonne per annum cashew processing factory in Lagos.

We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria

According to the facility agreement signed in on July 22, 2024, Afreximbank will provide the funds in two tranches with the first tranche of US$7.48M going toward capital expenditure for the construction of the factory and the second, totalling US$13.25M to be deployed as working capital for the operations of the factory.

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs once the factory becomes operational. It is also expected to support about 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that by supporting Starlink Global to establish a modern processing facility, Afreximbank is making it possible for Africa to add value to its agro-commodities, thereby facilitating exports and subsequent inflow of much-needed foreign exchange into the continent.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria. It will contribute to value creation and to the development of the local community while also improving the lots of smallholder farmers and small business suppliers that will work with Starlink across the value chain,” Mrs. Awani added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Sonangol to Lead Decarbonized Oil & Gas (O&G) Development, Says Angolan National Oil Company (NOC) Head

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Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

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

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