Category: English

Source: APO

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The African Energy Chamber (AEC) (www.EnergyChamber.org) has reiterated that it will continue boycotting the upcoming Africa Energies Summit – hosted by Frontier Energy Network in London – until meaningful changes are made to the event’s approach to local content and hiring practices. The Chamber’s position reflects mounting concern across the African energy sector that platforms claiming to represent the continent are failing to include African professionals – particularly Black Africans – in leadership and decision-making roles.

The AEC has been explicit: this is no longer a matter of engagement or dialogue, but one of accountability. Despite repeated calls for reform, the organizers of the summit have not demonstrated a willingness to address concerns around exclusion, particularly the lack of Black African representation at senior levels within an Africa-focused platform. For the AEC, this undermines both the credibility and the legitimacy of the event.

“Our position remains the same: if you benefit from Africa’s resources and its development agenda, then you must reflect Africa in your leadership, hiring and decision-making. Local content can no longer be smoke and mirrors – it must be a tangible commitment to inclusion, opportunity and ownership. We cannot accept a situation where Africa is central to the conversation, but Africans are absent from leadership,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.

The decision to continue the boycott comes amid a mass withdrawal by the African public and private sector from the upcoming summit, with stakeholders citing repeated failures by the organizers to address concerns around local content and participation. In March 2026, Mozambique’s oil and gas sector withdrew from the summit, with the Mozambique Energy Chamber expressing that its members will not be attending. In April 2026, Ghana followed suite, citing similar concerns as well as discriminatory hiring practices that sidelined African professionals. This reflects a broader position: Africa will not support events that exclude African professionals.

For its part, the AEC has been firm on this position. Delivering a keynote address to downstream players during ARDA Week 2026, Ayuk called for a continental shift to ‘refine, baby refine,’ highlighting the need for African-led innovation and infrastructure development to address energy security challenges. Drawing attention to African-led projects such as the Dangote Refinery – Africa’s largest facility at 650,000 barrels per day – as well as indigenous companies such as Sahara Group, Ayuk stressed that “energy poverty cannot only be an ideology but action,” emphasizing the need to invest more in local communities, companies and projects.

The Chamber reinforced this position during the Namibia International Energy Conference in Windhoek last week, where discussions largely centered around local content, women in energy and advancing the country’s oil boom. During the event, the Chamber called for strong local content frameworks and inclusive leadership, highlighting that through strengthened participation and policies that advocate for gender diversity, the country could position oil and gas as an engine for growth. The behavior of organizations such as Frontier Energy Network and individuals such as Daniel Davidson threaten to undermine these efforts, posing a structural risk to Africa’s energy development.

“It will be incredibly dangerous to have the vision of Daniel Davidson and Frontier Energy Network guide how the continent deals with energy poverty, investments and the development of fields in Namibia, Mozambique and across Africa. Over the coming weeks we will intensify our campaign to boycott the summit. But the industry must do more: seismic companies that continue enabling these horrible policies will also be targeted. They are aiding and abetting anti-African policies. Multi-client data does not work with discrimination,” added Ayuk.

The AEC has made it clear that its position will not shift without tangible change. For the Chamber and its partners, the issue is not about exclusion in return, but about establishing a baseline of fairness, representation and mutual respect. Until that standard is met, the boycott will remain in place.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO

A new joint venture between PetroGuin and Tender Oil and Gas marks a step forward in unlocking Guinea-Bissau’s offshore potential, reinforcing broader momentum across West Africa’s deepwater frontier.

Signed during the Invest in African Energy Forum in Paris on Wednesday by Petroguin Director General Alfredo Malú and Tender Oil and Gas Chairman and CEO Teodor Ovidiu Tender, the agreement for Blocks 5C and 6C reflects increasing investor confidence in a basin long constrained by capital intensity and technical barriers.

“The discovery in Senegal and Chevron’s recent entry into the deepwater blocks in Guinea-Bissau have begun to have an impact, arousing interest in the deep offshore areas of Guinea-Bissau and the subregion,” said Malú.

At the core of the agreement is a comprehensive seismic campaign, including the acquisition and interpretation of 2D and 3D data, aimed at improving subsurface understanding and supporting future drilling.

“The Partnership Agreement between Tender Oil and Gas and PetroGuin-EP will accelerate exploration work in our deep offshore areas, which previously did not attract much interest due to the heavy investment and advanced technologies required,” said Malú.

Beyond its technical scope, the partnership signals a broader shift, as frontier markets like Guinea-Bissau increasingly attract agile, partnership-driven players capable of operating in complex environments.

“It will enable greater dynamism in the country’s oil sector, with the short- and medium-term goal of advancing exploration drilling,” Malú said.

With a focus on accelerating exploration timelines and stimulating sector activity, the JV underscores the role of strategic collaboration in advancing the next phase of Africa’s deepwater development.

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

Source: APO

Delays to new gas projects and continued underinvestment in upstream development are raising the prospect that global LNG markets will remain tighter for longer than previously expected, industry leaders said at the opening of the Invest in African Energy Forum in Paris on Wednesday.

The discussion was shaped by a shared concern: that shifting geopolitics, capital discipline and deferred final investment decisions (FIDs) are converging to slow new supply just as demand continues to evolve.

Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Secretary General Dr. Philip Mshelbila said the market had been widely expected to tip into oversupply by 2026, but that outlook is now being reassessed as volatility persists and investment timelines stretch.

“The current energy crisis touches every corner of the globe,” he said, pointing to sustained disruption driven by geopolitical tensions and supply uncertainty. If instability continues, he added, the market risks a more structural reordering rather than a near-term correction.

That uncertainty is already feeding through into investment decisions, with companies increasingly prioritizing risk management over expansion, leading to deferred FIDs across several gas developments.

For Africa, the implications are particularly acute. Despite holding significant gas reserves and export infrastructure – including LNG capacity and pipeline links to Europe via Libya and Algeria – much of the continent’s potential remains constrained by weak upstream development.

“There is a material gap between capacity and reserves, and actual production,” Mshelbila said, stressing that closing that gap will require sustained and large-scale upstream investment. He estimated global gas investment needs at $11–12 trillion over the coming decades, with the majority directed toward exploration and production.

That investment gap is also being felt further down the value chain. Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of the African Refiners and Distributors Association (ARDA), pointed to Africa’s continued dependence on imported refined products and limited strategic buffers, exposing structural fragility across the downstream sector.

“Africa remains heavily dependent on refined petroleum products,” he said, noting that some countries operate with as little as 20 days of strategic fuel reserves. “We’ve come to realize how fragile the global supply chain is.”

He argued that addressing these vulnerabilities will require a rethink of refinery development models, with future projects needing to be more flexible and integrated in order to attract long-term capital.

NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, framed the broader energy debate around rising demand rather than transition, arguing that Africa is entering a period of structural energy expansion driven by industrial growth and emerging technologies.

“We believe Africans deserve more, not less energy,” he said, describing the coming decade as “an African decade of energy additions, not energy transitions.”

Ayuk pushed back against what he described as disproportionate global climate narratives around Africa, noting that the continent contributes less than 3% of global emissions. “No other industry has matched our industry’s ability to produce more energy with fewer emissions,” he said.

Ayuk also highlighted accelerating demand from new sectors, including data infrastructure and artificial intelligence, which he said will require “historic amounts of new energy,” reinforcing the need to accelerate gas development and monetize existing discoveries.

Rounding out the discussion, Foday Mansaray, Director General of Sierra Leone’s Petroleum Directorate, emphasized that project delivery will depend increasingly on alignment between governments, investors and operators, particularly in frontier markets.

“The future of energy is being negotiated in rooms like this,” he said, underscoring the importance of partnership-driven development as Africa seeks to convert resources into production.

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

Source: APO

The 11 GW Inga 3 hydropower project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is now approaching parliamentary review. Speaking during the Ministerial Dialogue on “Unlocking Africa’s Gas Supply for Global Energy Security” during the Invest in African Energy Forum 2026, Aimé Sakombi Molendo, Minister of Hydraulic Resources & Electricity, Democratic Republic of Congo, confirmed that the government is moving ahead with financing and implementation preparations for the project.

“We have been moving forward at the government’s request, and we have secured $275 million from the World Bank. I believe we should accelerate implementation as much as possible. Given all the stated characteristics, we may not even need traditional investors as such, but rather transformation partners to move very quickly,” Minister Sakombi Molendo said.

Inga 3 forms part of the broader Grand Inga complex on the Congo River, one of the largest hydropower sites in the world with a planned capacity of 44 GW. It is expected to deliver between 4.8 GW in its initial phase, with long-term expansion potential reaching up to 11 GW depending on phased development and transmission buildout. The project is designed not only to increase domestic electricity supply but also to enable large-scale electricity exports across Southern and Central Africa through high-voltage transmission corridors.

“We are now aligning institutions, partners and financing instruments to move into execution. This project is no longer theoretical; it is entering implementation,” he added.

The discussion broadened to Africa’s wider energy landscape, including gas, electricity and regional integration efforts. Clotaire Kondja, Minister of Petroleum and Gas, Gabonese Republic, highlighted Gabon’s focus on leveraging natural gas.

“We are entering a phase where gas infrastructure is not only about exports but about domestic industrial transformation. The opportunity is to build integrated value chains that support long-term competitiveness,” Minister Kondja said.

From an institutional gas perspective, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), underscored Africa’s strategic role in global gas supply. “Natural gas is central to energy security and industrial development. Africa holds significant resources, but unlocking them requires stable frameworks, investment confidence, and regional cooperation,” Mshelbila stated.

“Africa’s energy future will depend on execution, not just resources. The question is whether we can build integrated systems that connect generation, gas supply, and industrial demand across borders,” Mshelbila concluded.

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

Source: APO – Report:

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As global energy governance shifts from negotiation tables to courtrooms, Africa is facing a new and urgent challenge: ensuring its voice is not only heard, but aligned. The recent intervention by the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) in a landmark climate advisory case before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights has brought this issue into sharp focus. Initiated by the Pan African Lawyers Union, the case seeks to define the legal obligations of African states in addressing climate change – decisions that could have far-reaching implications for energy development, industrialization and economic growth across the continent.

Yet engagement from African stakeholders has been uneven. This lack of coordination reflects a broader structural issue. Across the continent, energy policy is shaped by a fragmented ecosystem of governments, regulators, regional institutions, state-owned enterprises and advocacy groups. While each plays an important role, the absence of alignment often results in inconsistent messaging, particularly in global legal and policy forums where clarity and cohesion are critical.

The AEC’s decision to intervene as amicus curiae is, in itself, a response to this fragmentation. By stepping in, the Chamber aims to ensure that Africa’s energy realities – particularly the need to balance climate action with development – are properly represented. However, no single institution can speak for an entire continent. The case highlights a deeper need for coordinated engagement across African stakeholders.

Organizations such as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) have long served as platforms for aligning producer interests and shaping collective positions. OPEC’s coordinated production cuts following the 2020 oil price collapse, for example, helped stabilize global markets and restore price confidence. Meanwhile, APPO has advanced initiatives such as the Africa Energy Bank to mobilize financing for oil and gas projects amid tightening global capital flows. These examples demonstrate the power of coordination, but also underscore the need to expand this approach beyond market management into legal and policy arenas.

That need is becoming more urgent. Courts and legal bodies are increasingly shaping climate policy, shifting key decisions from political arenas into binding or quasi-binding interpretations. These rulings are influencing project financing, approvals and the long-term viability of hydrocarbons in emerging markets like Africa. This is already evident in Africa, where legal and climate-related pressure on projects such as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline has contributed to financing withdrawals, delays and heightened scrutiny, alongside challenges facing LNG developments in Mozambique.

Without a coordinated African position, there is a real risk that these frameworks will be shaped externally, without fully reflecting the continent’s priorities. This comes at a time when Africa must simultaneously navigate climate pressures and address a fundamental energy access gap – over 600 million people across the continent still lack access to electricity.

The contradiction is stark. Africa is being asked to accelerate decarbonization while still building the energy systems required to support economic growth and industrialization. A fragmented voice only deepens this challenge. Diverging national positions, inconsistent regulatory frameworks and uncoordinated advocacy weaken the continent’s ability to negotiate effectively, attract investment and defend its development pathway.

“Too often, Africa shows up to global energy debates divided – while others come organized and strategic,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. “If we don’t coordinate our policies, our messaging and our legal positions, decisions about Africa’s energy future will be made without Africa at the table. Unity is no longer optional; it’s how we protect our resources, attract investment and secure our development.”

Stronger institutional coordination offers a clear path forward. By aligning positions across governments, regional organizations and industry bodies, Africa can present a unified narrative – one that emphasizes its right to development, the continued role of hydrocarbons and the importance of a balanced, inclusive energy transition.

In this context, OPEC and APPO have a critical role to play – not only as conveners, but as engines of policy alignment. Through coordinated strategies, shared data and unified representation in global forums, these institutions can help transform Africa from a collection of individual voices into a cohesive negotiating bloc.

The AEC’s intervention in the climate case should be seen as a signal – not just of the importance of participation, but of the cost of fragmentation. As global energy governance continues to evolve, Africa cannot afford to be reactive, divided or underrepresented.

– on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO – Report:

African Corporates will have a unique opportunity to learn how to fully maximize the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) when the third edition of the AfCFTA Training Programme holds in Cairo, Egypt from 16^th June to 18^th June, 2026.

Developed and led by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in collaboration with the American University in Cairo (AUC) and the AfCFTA Secretariat, the programme is designed to equip participants with the skills, knowledge, and practical expertise required to navigate and succeed within Africa’s evolving intra-African trade landscape.

While the AfCFTA has significant potential to drive economic development across Africa, limited understanding of its technical provisions and practical applications continues to hinder the full realization of its benefits. The programme is designed to equip businesses with practical, actionable insights on identifying and capitalising on trade opportunities, managing export and import operations, and navigating trade finance, supply chains, and the broader international trade environment. It will also provide a clear understanding of how the AfCFTA framework addresses capacity constraints and expands market access for producers of goods and services across the continent.

By translating the AfCFTA’s legal and treaty provisions into business-ready strategies, the programme offers clarity on the regulatory, operational, and market requirements necessary for companies to fully leverage opportunities within the rapidly expanding AfCFTA market.

As the African Union’s key strategic partner in implementing the AfCFTA, Afreximbank has spearheaded multiple initiatives to advance both intra and extra-African trade and investment, with trainings playing a key role in capacity building.

Commenting on the programme, Dr. Yemi Kale, Group Chief Economist & Managing Director of Research at Afreximbank, described it as “a strategic platform for advancing the adoption and deepening the understanding of the AfCFTA among key stakeholders, particularly corporates within the broader private sector ecosystem.” He added that the initiative “reinforces the Bank’s commitment to equipping businesses with the insights and capabilities required to effectively leverage opportunities under the Agreement.”

Dr. Kale said: “I have full confidence that participants in this training will leave with a holistic understanding of the AfCFTA, its genesis and dimensions, enabling them to assess the outcomes of the ongoing negotiations, and to examine the challenges and opportunities that underlie the negotiations and the agreement at large. They will also be able to explore the prospects of the AfCFTA and to capitalize on the agreement while supporting its objectives to the benefit their corporations and the continent.”

Mohamed Ali, Director of Trade in Goods and Competition at the AfCFTA Secretariat, said: “This programme represents a critical step towards unlocking the full potential of intra-African trade through targeted capacity building and strategic partnerships. Our collaboration with Afreximbank reinforces a shared commitment to equip African businesses with the practical knowledge, tools, and institutional support required to effectively utilize the Agreement.”

Commenting on the programme, Mr. Stephen Tio Kauma, Managing Director, Human Resources at Afreximbank, stated: “Delivered through the Afreximbank Academy (AFRACAD), this programme reflects our commitment to equipping African businesses with the practical skills needed to fully leverage the opportunities under the AfCFTA. AFRACAD continues to serve as a leading trade knowledge hub, empowering participants to compete and thrive in Africa’s single market. Through our strong partnerships and innovative learning approach, we are empowering businesses across Global Africa to scale, innovate, and play a leading role in the continent’s economic transformation”.

For registration and further information, please visit: https://apo-opa.co/41O3CdY

– on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com

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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2025, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$48.5 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$8.4 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), GCR (A), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-), and. Moody’s (Baa2). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com