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.

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.

A fireside chat during the Angola Oil & Gas conference delved into the exploration opportunities in the Republic of Congo

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

The Republic of Congo is preparing to launch the first phase of its Bango Kayo expansion project – developed in partnership with Chinese energy company Wing Wah – this year. Fabrice Okassa, Upstream Advisor to the Minister of Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Congo, shared that the onshore project will support the country’s diversification efforts during a fireside chat at the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference on Wednesday. The fireside chat was a prelude to the Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CIEF) – organized by Energy Capital & Power – taking place March 25-26, 2025.

As sub-Saharan Africa’s fourth largest oil producer, the Republic of Congo has ambitions to accelerate diversification through investments in natural gas infrastructure. The Bango Kayo project aligns with this goal. As a multi-phase development, the project will produce 30 billion cubic meters of associated gas over a period of 25 years. In addition to Bango Kayo, the country delivered its first LNG cargo from the Tango FLNG facility – part of the Congo LNG project – in February 2024. The project aims to produce 3 million tons of LNG per year by 2025 with the start of a second FLNG vessel.

Our desire is to attract foreign investors and to also create synergy with our brothers in Gabon, Angola and elsewhere

“The idea and vision of the Minister and government is to try and diversify the industry alongside different partners,” Okassa said. “It is necessary to increase the pipeline of upstream investment and diversify through natural gas. We have a lot of big companies working in Congo and this will help us diversify our capacity and tackle production challenges.”

The country has also set a target to increase crude production to 500,000 barrels per day in the medium to long-term. Various upstream projects are underway to achieve this goal. Energy major TotalEnergies is investing $600 million in exploration and production in the country, with specific focus on the development of the Moho Nord field. The company has also increased its stake in the Mogo-Bilondo field to 63.5% while it continues to operate the Marine XX deepwater permit. In 2024, Trident Energy joined the market with the acquisition of Chevron’s Congolese assets while independent energy company Perenco also acquired several oil permits from Eni’s portfolio.

The country is also seeking strengthened partnerships with regional neighbors to drive production. According to Okassa, “With all these new projects, especially in mature fields and the development of gas, we are fully ready to work with our counterparts. In order to optimize production, we need to listen to our investors and put in place strong fiscals. Our desire is to attract foreign investors and to also create synergy with our brothers in Gabon, Angola and elsewhere.”

Taking place in Brazzaville, CIEF underscores the growing role the country plays in Africa’s energy landscape. In the midst of first LNG exports and anticipated oil production, the event will not only provide insight into the latest upstream developments but offer a strategic opportunity for new investors and project developers to join the market.

CIEF is organized in partnership with the country’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and with the support of the African Energy Chamber. Visit www.CongoEnergyInvestment.com for more information.

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