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The Best is Yet to Come for Women in the Power Sector, says Karpowership Chief Communications Officer (CCO)

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7 months ago

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Karpowership

Energy Capital & Power spoke with Karpowership’s Zeynep Harezi about the intersection of gender equality and improved energy access in Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 8, 2024/APO Group/ — 

While only one in five leadership roles in the energy sector is currently held by women, this figure is expected to change as companies increasingly foster diversification and inclusion. For international energy company Karpowership – a subsidiary of Turkey’s Karadeniz Holdings – creating opportunities for women in the industry is a top priority. In an interview with Energy Capital & Power (www.EnergyCapitalPower.com), Karpowership CCO Zeynep Harezi discusses the role of gender equality in the power sector and how improving inclusivity can lead to economic empowerment across Africa.

What is your perspective on the current role of women in the global power sector and how it has evolved over the years?

We are coming to a new era where it is very evident that women are just as successful as men in many areas – from defense to energy to oil and gas to education. Any sector we can think of, women are just as capable. We all have different strengths and weaknesses – whether it’s multitasking or thinking more in-depth about a single thing – and I think it is wonderful to cherish these physiological and biological differences in the workplace and also understand the beauty that comes from diversification.

As Karpowership, we prioritize all of our Corporate Social Responsibility around empowering women and children, because women are ultimately raising the next generation of leaders. Through women’s education, empowerment, self -confidence and mental health, only then will we have a strong society. The most important pillar in all of this is women’s economic independence, and that can only be achieved through education and participation in the workplace. At Karpowership, our office is 40% women, which is a very good figure, especially for a male-dominant industry like power generation.

How do you see gender equality intersecting with the goal of improving energy access in Africa?

In our project in Ghana, we were initially mooring our 500 MW powership in Tema Fishing Harbor, and our biggest supporters have been the women in the fishing community. This is because with the electricity we bring, they can actually freeze the fish, not have to throw it away, sell them and have economic empowerment. The electrification of developing countries creates such an immediate impact on the economic welfare of communities. It attracts foreign direct investors, it creates new employment opportunities, and it ensures that the fish don’t go bad, so that women can take home money. We are meeting many of the United Nations Development Program criteria this way. Additionally, we employ and prioritize women engineers in our operations. There are many African women engineers that work on our ships, and we try to ensure they set an example for younger engineers to come.

What are some of the barriers to entry, particularly for women aspiring to leadership roles, in the African power sector?

Traditionally, women have been the outliers compared to leadership positions. Now, we’re trying to create an environment where what used to be an outlier event becomes the new normal. This can only be done through education, awareness and empowerment. Creating opportunities for women to be leaders, but also equipping them with the necessary tools – both in terms of education and work experience – is critical.

It is very natural for a woman who has children to have conflicting goals. She also wants to be a good mom, take care of her children, as well as be active in the workplace. By creating more flexible working environments, and not making her have to choose, we will enable women in the workplace to prosper and flourish. One way to do that – and it has worked very well globally – is to keep checks on KPIs rather than time. KPIs are a much better way of measuring professional success, and newer applications of measuring performance and success have become much easier. Having video conferences or remote working, especially after COVID, enables more women to thrive in the workplace and also flourish as leaders. With so much technology, so many resources and so much information readily available at our fingertips, our job today is to make sure that ceiling is broken for the next generations.

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

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

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October 4, 2024

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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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October 4, 2024

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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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October 4, 2024

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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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