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Africa Resilience Forum 2025: Development leaders call for high-quality border infrastructure to facilitate free movement of goods and people

Source: APO


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The political will to build quality infrastructure at borders, including the construction of a single digitised checkpoint between two neighbouring countries, should facilitate the free movement of people and goods and help streamline cross-border trade in Africa, participants in the sixth edition of the Africa Resilience Forum (http://apo-opa.co/4mPrYfq), heard on Wednesday 1 October.

The discussion was the subject of a panel session “Regional Integration and Trade as Pathways to Peace”, held during the meeting which runs from 1 to 3 October 2025 in Abidjan.

“The ideal is to have a single border post between countries – if we were to have strong infrastructure like that, it would help facilitate trade,” said Mohammed Abdiker, Chief of Staff of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Abdiker pointed to political will as an essential condition for any potential achievements in this area. “We must all work together, advocating to our governments on the importance of the movement of goods and people for a more integrated management of our borders,” he urged. “Not only for customs duties, but also for science and technology.”

The International Organization for Migration had previously worked on a project for a single border post between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Abdiker said: “It worked for a while. Now we have started another similar project with the African Development Bank between the Central African Republic and Cameroon, which is improving cross-border trade.”

In January 2021, the African Union launched the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to increase intra-African trade and stimulate inclusive and sustainable development in industry, infrastructure, and agriculture. By January 2025, 49 countries had ratified the agreement, creating a potential market of 1.3 billion people.

The African Development Bank Group actively supports this initiative by financing projects to establish single border posts, which are trade facilitation centres designed to simplify and speed up customs clearance and border control procedures between countries on the continent. The One Stop Border Post project has notably led to the establishment of a single control post between Tanzania and Kenya (http://apo-opa.co/4o9jyk5). In addition, the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional lending window, has contributed to the establishment of a juxtaposed checkpoint between Benin and Togo (http://apo-opa.co/4o8qMVx).

“As well as having a single border post at each of our borders, we will need to digitise border services,” noted Magdalene Dagoseh, Liberia’s Minister of Commerce and Industry. She added: “This is a solution for controlling not only the movement of people, but also commercial goods. By digitising the various border points, we can fight corruption – we know how many people have left or entered, and this prevents other problems.”

Ziad Hamoui, President of Borderless Alliance, an initiative launched in 2012 by West African private sector actors, called for the involvement of civil society in the design of public policies in order to find solutions to improve the movement of people and goods across borders. “There is formal trade, but also informal trade, not to mention illicit trade and smuggling,” he said. “Today, the volume of trade in the informal sector is higher than in the formal sector. So if you don’t know what’s going on at the borders, you won’t know how to manage it.”

The Africa Resilience Forum, organised every two years by the African Development Bank Group, brings together policymakers and practitioners from the humanitarian-development-peace nexus to explore strategies for scaling up prevention efforts and stimulating peace-building investments across the continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

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Stay safe online

Source: Government of South Africa

Government has called on members of the public to remain vigilant, responsible, and digitally literate to ensure their safety in cyberspace. 

“Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, and by working together, we can protect citizens, especially vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, from the ever-growing threats in the digital space,” Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) said on Friday.

Government’s plea comes as South Africa joins the global community in observing Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October by educating the public and private sectors about the importance of online security and promoting practical steps to reduce cyber risks.

As part of these efforts, government, in partnership with stakeholders across law enforcement, civil society, and the private sector, hosted a webinar on Thursday on cybersecurity awareness and responsible use of online platforms.

During this session, Department of Communications and Digital Technologies Deputy Director for Cybersecurity Operations Noma-Efese Mnqeta, highlighted the role of the National Cybersecurity Hub, a Computer Security Incident Response Team hosted by the department. 

The Hub works closely with the South African Police Service on cybercrime investigations, the Internet Service Providers’ Association on fraudulent website takedowns, and the GCIS on public awareness. 

She warned about the growing prevalence of tender scams, investment scams and online shopping fraud, which continue to target unsuspecting citizens.

Brigadier Rapula Mosito, Section Head of Cybercrime Investigation at the HAWKS, indicated that cybercrime is enforceable under the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020, while cybersecurity matters are guided by the forthcoming Cybersecurity Bill. 

He identified phishing, ransomware, malware, identity theft, online child exploitation, and personal data theft as key threats.

Film and Publications Board (FPB) Acting CEO Hulisani Ramugadi expressed concern about the rise in harmful online content, including image-based abuse, cyberbullying, hate speech, and malicious AI-generated material. 

He emphasised that sharing intimate images without consent was a crime and highlighted the FPB’s partnerships with social media platforms to issue takedown notices for harmful material.

Head of Client Services at Digify Africa Omphile Kgwathe-Nkiwane encouraged South Africans to practice safe digital habits through platforms like Kitso on WhatsApp (076 593 7181), which provides parents, teachers, and learners with digital safety tips. 

She urged citizens to use strong passwords and avoid using personal information as passwords. 

In addition, Kgwathe-Nkiwane urged the public to never share one-time pins (OTPs) or banking details, avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions and to stay alert to suspicious links, unsolicited calls, and fraudulent emails. –SAnews.gov.za

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SA welcomes progress towards Gaza peace agreement

Source: Government of South Africa

Sunday, October 5, 2025

The South African government has noted the recent developments intended to achieve a ceasefire and peace for Gaza and the region.

In a statement on Saturday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said the developments towards peace have the potential to alleviate profound human suffering and build much-needed confidence.

“We welcome the decision by Hamas to release all Israeli hostages and its stated readiness for further engagement. This decision must be met with reciprocal action by the State of Israel. 

“Such reciprocal measures will be a confidence building measure for de-escalation and the restoration of trust. They represent a critical opportunity to uphold universal human dignity and build a foundation for a just and durable peace.

“We therefore emphasise that the release of Palestinian political prisoners, including children, and the abductees seized from the humanitarian flotilla must be urgently addressed,” DIRCO said.

South Africa has asserted that a lasting peace cannot be built upon the suppression of a people’s fundamental human rights. 

“We urge all parties to transcend this cycle of confrontation and address the root causes of the conflict. This necessitates an immediate and permanent ceasefire, alongside a definitive political process that realizes the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self- determination and statehood. This is in line with relevant United Nations resolutions.

“Guided by a commitment to a rules-based international order founded on international law, South Africa stands ready to support all genuine inclusive efforts aimed at achieving this definitive and peaceful resolution,” DIRCO said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Government reiterates commitment to provide access to water

Source: Government of South Africa

Sunday, October 5, 2025

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all South Africans have access to sustainable water and sanitation services.

Addressing the Commission on Policy Review and Legislative Reforms, the department’s Deputy Director-General Dr Risimati Mathye emphasised that water is not only a basic human right but the cornerstone of health, dignity and economic growth, which must therefore be managed and delivered with long-term sustainability in mind.

The two-day gathering brought together leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to reflect on the past 25 years of democratic local government and to chart an agenda for the next 25 years. 

“The department remains steadfast in its mission to close existing service gaps while preparing for the future. By working together with municipalities, business and communities, we can ensure that every drop counts and that no South African is left behind when it comes to access to water and sanitation,” Mathye said on Friday in Midrand.

He outlined the department’s plans which include the professionalisation of local government, legislative reforms to strengthen oversight, the establishment of an independent water sector regulator and the development of a national water action plan. 

These measures will be complemented by Phase 2 of Operation Vulindlela, which focuses on accelerating structural reforms to drive sustainable and inclusive growth. 

Operation Vulindlela was established in October 2020 as a joint initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury.

Within the water and sanitation sector, Phase 2 seeks to streamline regulatory processes, enhance infrastructure investment through public-private collaboration, and establish efficient institutions such as the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency (NWRIA) and Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs). 

These reforms are designed to improve efficiency, ensure better management of water resources and secure long-term water sustainability for all. – SAnews.gov.za

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World’s first known butt-drag fossil trace was left by a rock hyrax in South Africa 126,000 years ago

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Charles Helm, Research Associate, African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University

Rock hyraxes, known in southern Africa more often as “dassies”, are furry, thickset creatures with short legs and no discernible tails. They spend much of their time sunning themselves on rocky outcrops.

Another thing they sometimes do is drag their butts along the ground. Dog owners know that this behaviour can be a sign of parasitic infections; in hyraxes the reason seems to be less clear, but this action leaves distinctive traces in sandy areas.

A rock hyrax urinating beside a collection of droppings. Mathilde Stuart, Author provided (no reuse)

Traces and tracks – ancient, fossilised ones – are what we study at the African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience through the Cape south coast ichnology project. Over the past few decades, we have found almost 400 vertebrate tracksites on this coast, some as old as 400,000 years, in cemented dunes known as aeolianites from the Pleistocene epoch. This epoch lasted from about 2.58 million years ago to about 11,700 years ago.

We’re building up a picture of the environment during that period and how the animals and plants of that time lived.

Among our latest finds are two fossilised traces that appear to have been made by rock hyraxes long ago. One is a tracksite and the other is a butt-drag impression with what may be a fossilised dropping in it.

The probable tracksite was brought to our attention from a site near Walker Bay on the Cape south coast by an ardent tracker, Mike Fabricius. It is around 76,000 years old. We found the probable butt-drag impression east of Still Bay on the same coast, and it is most likely around 126,000 years old.

The butt-drag impression is the first fossil of its kind to be described from anywhere in the world. In addition, these are the only possible fossilised hyrax tracks ever to be identified. In the world of palaeontology, anything this unusual is important and we feel privileged to be able to interpret them.

Interpreting the drag mark

Dating on our sites has been done through a technique known as optically stimulated luminescence, which works by analysing when materials like sand were last exposed to light.

The butt-drag impression is 95cm long and 13cm wide. It contains five parallel striations. Its outer margins are slightly raised, and within it there is a 2cm-high raised feature, 10cm by 9cm. Clearly something was dragged across the surface when it consisted of loose sand.

3D photogrammetry model of the probable hyrax butt-drag trace; the feature to the right of centre is interpreted as a probable coprolite. Charles Helm, Author provided (no reuse)

We considered possible causes other than hyrax buttocks. These included a leopard or an ancestral human dragging prey, or perhaps an elephant dragging its trunk. Firstly, however, these would be expected to leave tracks, and secondly in such interpretations the raised feature could not be explained.

But if it was a hyrax, it would make sense, because the buttock trace would have come after the tracks and wiped them out. And the raised feature might be a coprolite: a fused fossilised mass of hyrax droppings.

Rock hyrax dragging its buttocks. Video courtesy Mathilde Stuart.

Old dung and urine

Rock hyraxes leave much more than just tracks and butt-drag traces. Because they prefer rocky areas, their tracks are not often found, but they polish rock surfaces to a shiny finish. This is similar to what buffalo on the North American prairie do, creating “buffalo rubbing stones”.

A hyrax positioned above a few droppings and an accumulation of urolite, formed from cemented urine. It can be regarded as a trace fossil. Mathilde Stuart, Author provided (no reuse)

Hyraxes also leave deposits of urine and dung. Urea and electrolytes are concentrated in their urine, and they excrete large amounts of calcium carbonate. This becomes cemented and forms extensive whitish deposits on rock surfaces. Due to their communal habits, hyraxes often urinate in the same preferred localities over multiple generations.

Their urine and dung often mix to form a substance known as hyraceum – a rock-like mass that can accumulate into extensive, dark, tarry deposits. Hyraceum has been used as a traditional medication to treat a variety of ailments, including epilepsy, and for gynaecological purposes.

A hyrax skull on top of an accumulation of hyraceum, formed from a fusion of hyrax urine and droppings. Lynne Quick, Author provided (no reuse)

Hyraceum may be tens of thousands of years old, and can be regarded as a threatened, non-renewable resource. The middens, being sensitive to environmental changes and containing fossil pollen and other evidence of ancient life, form valuable natural archives for interpreting past climates, vegetation and ecology.

Thinking of hyraceum as a trace fossil, something which apparently has not been done before, can help in the protection of this underappreciated resource.

Urolite from cemented hyrax urine, which can be regarded as a trace fossil, covers granite surfaces. Mathilde Stuart, Author provided (no reuse)

Although fossilised urine is globally uncommon, there is a word to describe it: “urolite”, to distinguish it from “coprolite” (fossilised poop). It seems that hyraxes contribute the lion’s share of the world’s urolite. At palaeontology conferences, students can be seen sporting T-shirts that brazenly state: “coprolite happens”. In southern Africa, a more appropriate term might be “urolite happens”.

Through appreciating the importance of butt-drag impressions, urolites, coprolites and hyraceum, and learning about the environment of rock hyraxes and other animals during the Pleistocene, we will never view these endearing creatures in the same light again.

Mathilde Stuart contributed to this research.

– World’s first known butt-drag fossil trace was left by a rock hyrax in South Africa 126,000 years ago
– https://theconversation.com/worlds-first-known-butt-drag-fossil-trace-was-left-by-a-rock-hyrax-in-south-africa-126-000-years-ago-264633

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Universities can turn AI from a threat to an opportunity by teaching critical thinking

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Anitia Lubbe, Associate Professor, North-West University

Across universities worldwide, a quiet revolution is underway. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot, DeepSeek and Gemini are being used to produce essays, summarise readings, and even conduct complex assignments.

Generative artificial intelligence is a kind of AI that can handle a variety of creative tasks in diverse domains, such as arts, music and education.

For many university teachers, this raises alarm bells about plagiarism and integrity. While some institutions have rushed to restrict or support AI use, others are still unsure how to respond.

But focusing only on policing misses a bigger issue: whether students are really learning. As an education researcher, I’m interested in the topic of how students learn. My colleagues and I recently explored the role AI could play in learning – if universities tried a new way of assessing students.

We found that many traditional forms of assessment in universities remain focused on memorisation and rote learning. These are exactly the tasks that AI performs best.

We argue that it’s time to reconsider what students should be learning. This should include the ability to evaluate and analyse AI-created text. That’s a skill which is essential for critical thinking.

If that ability is what universities teach and look for in a student, AI will be an opportunity and not a threat.

We’ve suggested some ways that universities can use AI to teach and assess what students really need to know.

Reviewing studies of AI

Universities are under pressure to prepare graduates who are more than just knowledgeable. They need to be self-directed, lifelong learners who are independent, critical thinkers and can solve complex problems. Employers and societies demand graduates who can evaluate information and make sound judgements in a rapidly changing world.

Yet assessment (testing what students know and can do) tends to focus on more basic thinking skills.

Our research took the form of a conceptual literature review, analysing peer-reviewed studies published since the release of the AI tool ChatGPT in late 2022. We examined how generative AI is already being used in higher education, its impact on assessment, and how these practices align (or fail to align) with Bloom’s taxonomy.

Bloom’s taxonomy is a framework widely used in education. It organises cognitive (thinking) skills into levels, from basic (remembering and understanding), to advanced (creating and evaluating).

Several key patterns emerged from our analysis:

Firstly, AI excels at lower-level tasks. Studies show that AI is strong in remembering and understanding. It can generate multiple-choice questions, definitions, or surface explanations quickly and often with high accuracy.

Secondly, AI struggles with higher-order thinking. At the levels of evaluating and creating, its effectiveness drops. For instance, while AI can draft a business plan or a healthcare policy outline, it often lacks contextual nuance, critical judgement and originality.

Thirdly, the role of university teachers is changing. Instead of spending hours designing and grading lower-level assessments, they can now focus on scaffolding tasks that AI cannot master alone, thus promoting analysis, creativity and self-directed learning skills. Self-directed learning is defined as “a process where individuals take initiative to diagnose their learning needs, set learning goals, find resources, choose and implement strategies, and evaluate their outcomes, with or without assistance from others.”

Lastly, the opportunities AI presents seem to outweigh the threats. While concerns about cheating remain real, many studies highlight AI’s potential to become a learning partner. Used well, it can help generate practice questions, provide feedback, and stimulate dialogue (if students are guided to critically engage with its outputs).

All these challenges prompt universities to move beyond “knowledge checks” and invest in assessments that not only measure deeper learning, but promote it as well.

How to promote critical thinking

So how can universities move forward? Our study points to several clear actions:

  • Redesign assessments for higher-order thinking skills: Instead of relying on tasks that AI can complete, university teachers should design authentic, context-rich assessments. For example, using case studies, portfolios, debates, and projects grounded in local realities.

  • Use AI as a partner, not a threat: Students can be asked to critique AI-generated responses, identify gaps, or adapt them for real-world use. This transforms AI into a tool for practising the ability to analyse and evaluate.

  • Build assessment literacy among university teachers: University teachers need support and training to create AI-integrated assessments.

  • Promote AI fluency and ethical use: Students must learn not just how to use AI, but how to question it. They must understand its limitations, biases and potential pitfalls. Students should be made aware that transparency in disclosing AI use can support academic integrity.

  • Encourage the development of self-directed learning skills: AI should not replace the student’s effort, but rather support their learning journey. Hence, designing assessment tasks that foster goal-setting, reflection and peer dialogue is crucial for developing lifelong learning habits.

By fostering critical thinking and embracing AI as a tool, universities can turn disruption into opportunity. The goal is not to produce graduates who compete with machines, but to cultivate independent thinkers who can do what machines cannot: reflect, judge, and create meaning. Assessment in the age of AI could become a powerful force for cultivating the kind of graduates our world needs.

– Universities can turn AI from a threat to an opportunity by teaching critical thinking
– https://theconversation.com/universities-can-turn-ai-from-a-threat-to-an-opportunity-by-teaching-critical-thinking-266187

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African Development Bank and JGC Corporation sign agreement to advance use of sustainable aviation fuel and Africa’s green aviation agenda

Source: APO – Report:

 The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and JGC Corporation, a leading Japanese engineering company, have signed an agreement to explore cooperation in the development of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)in Africa.

The two parties signed a Letter of Intent to this effect on the sidelines of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, which concluded last month. Sustainable aviation fuel is a term for any jet fuel made from renewable sources – like plant oils, waste materials, and even captured carbon – which are designed to reduce the environmental impact of air travel.

African Development Bank Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure & Industrialization, Solomon Quaynor, and Mr. Shoji Yamada, Representative Director and President, JGC Corporation signed the agreement in Yokohama on 21 August.

The Letter of Intent establishes a framework for cooperation between the two institutions to jointly promote development, information and knowledge sharing, and to explore co-financing opportunities for sustainable aviation fuel and other green aviation solutions in Africa.

The production and adoption of SAF in Africa is consistent with the Bank’s sustainable transport and mobility and energy transition strategy. The cooperation with JGC will include undertaking of demand and feasibility studies for production and adoption of Japanese technology to Africa in this regard. 

Under the agreement, the African Development Bank will facilitate coordination and dialogue with public sector aviation stakeholders, identify potential project pipelines, and explore possible financing options, including feasibility study support and promoting global partnership around the concept in Africa, as well as debt/equity financing.

JGC Corporation will conduct demand studies for SAF in African markets, perform technical feasibility assessments, evaluate deployment opportunities tailored to local resources and infrastructure, and harness and facilitate Japanese technology adoption to Africa in this regard.

Quaynor commented: “Adopting Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Africa is a crucial component of the journey to cutting the continent’s carbon dioxide emissions. Moreover, it should boost the competitiveness of the sector over time. This partnership with JGC will help unlock new opportunities for green aviation and position Africa as a pacesetter in the sector.”

Mr. Shoji Yamada, President, JGC Corporation noted: “We are proud to collaborate with the African Development Bank in advancing Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Africa. By leveraging our experience in plant engineering and sustainable energy, we aim to contribute to Africa’s decarbonization efforts while fostering local economic growth and innovation.”

– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

About JGC Corporation:
Founded in 1928 and headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, JGC Corporation is a leading global engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) company specializing in energy and infrastructure. JGC has expanded into new business fields including renewable energy, green innovation, and sustainable fuels, with a commitment to contributing to decarbonization worldwide.

Website: https://www.JGC.com

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African Development Bank Group and Niger sign $144.7 million agreement to boost energy access, economic competitiveness and resilience

Source: APO

African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) President Sidi Ould Tah and Niger’s Prime Minister, Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, have signed a $144.7 million financing agreement to improve energy access and private sector competitiveness.

The agreement, signed at the institution’s headquarters in Abidjan, provides budgetary support from the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional financing window. It enables the Nigerien government to implement Phase 1 of the transformative Energy Sector Governance and Competitiveness Support Programme (PAGSEC).

“It is with great pleasure that we have just formalised this agreement, which is very important for Niger,” said the Prime Minister. “The agreement is part of our strong cooperation with the African Development Bank Group.”

The support from the African Development Fund will increase national electricity access from 22.5% to 30% by 2026, while boosting the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP from 2.5% to 3.8%. A key component of the project focuses on developing renewable energy capacity, with plans for 240 MW of solar power by 2030, including 50 MW by December 2026.

Prime Minister Zeine, who is also Niger’s Minister of Economy and Finance and serves as Governor of the Bank Group for his country, added: “Our Bank’s support came at an important time, and the process has now led to the establishment of this programme, which aims to support Niger’s economic competitiveness and resilience to multiple shocks through, improved access to energy, promotion of the private sector, consolidation of the fiscal framework, and better consideration of vulnerable groups within public policies.”

Beyond the energy sector, the programme will strengthen public financial management systems while enhancing tax revenue mobilisation and control systems. It will further support the clearance of domestic arrears, enhance public-private partnerships dialogue, and promote the adoption of an industrial and trade policy to bolster Niger’s private sector.

“I can assure you that the African Development Bank Group will remain, as it has always been, a strong supporter of all our regional member states in their pursuit of harmonious development and shared prosperity,” said Dr Ould Tah. “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Bank’s teams for their hard work and also to thank the Board of Directors for its support for our efforts.”

Social inclusion

This high-impact programme prioritizes social inclusion, and specialized support for internally displaced persons, women, and young persons. With more than 507,000 internally displaced people

due to security challenges in the Sahel region, PAGSEC has outlined a social and economic inclusion programme to cushion vulnerable communities.

It will also establish high-level coordination mechanisms and update national energy policies to create a favourable environment for private-sector participation in mini-grid developments crucial for rural electrification.

With this programme, Niger is set to capitalise on its vast renewable energy potential while building governance systems that support inclusive and sustainable development.

The African Development Bank Group continues to support Niger’s transformation through strategic investments that promote economic competitiveness, energy security and good governance.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Additional Link: https://apo-opa.co/3KEcOfn

Media Contact:
Romaric Ollo Hien
Communications and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org

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TotalEnergies, Chevron Push for Faster Permits, Better Seismic Data in Africa

Source: APO

Africa’s oil and gas sector could be on the brink of a new exploration renaissance, driven by advances in seismic imaging, frontier data sets and faster permitting, industry leaders said at Africa Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025 in Cape Town on Wednesday.

According to Emmanuelle Garinet, VP of Exploration Africa at TotalEnergies, Africa’s frontier basins hold significant volumes. She pointed to Namibia as an example of how seismic and subsurface data can de-risk projects: “When we decided to drill the Venus well, it was frontier, but we had a probability of success of more than 50% because of the seismic data and direct hydrocarbon indicators.”

In the Republic of Congo, TotalEnergies’ exploration permitting process is moving at a markedly faster pace. “We got our permit in less than six months and are preparing for drilling by the end of the year,” Garinet said. By contrast, South Africa’s permitting system has faced delays due to legal challenges, a problem she described as “unacceptable” given limited budgets for global exploration.

Chevron’s CEO, Gavin Lewis, emphasized the critical role of comprehensive subsurface datasets in Africa. “Before you can do any AI-driven workflows, you need a dataset that illuminates what the subsurface looks like,” he said. “What Africa has lost is the ability to sponsor multi-client subsurface datasets. The only basin that allows for large, regional high-quality datasets is the Gulf of America, which has allowed that basin to reinvent itself multiple times.”

VP of Exploration for bp, Bryan Ritchie, highlighted survey work in Egypt’s Nile Delta, where the company completed the first deepwater ocean-bottom node seismic survey over the Atoll field and noted that the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company plans to expand multi-client data coverage across a larger area of the delta. ‘We’re seeing new opportunities for these images,” he said.

Beyond exploration, Woodside Energy’s VP of Exploration, Terry Gebhardt, said geoscience and subsurface data are also key to carbon capture and storage projects, as well as “maximizing efficacy and recovery” in existing fields.

The panel discussion, sponsored by EnerGeo Alliance, also underlined the broader scale of investment in Africa’s oil and gas sector. Nikki Martin, President and CEO of EnerGeo Alliance, said African oil and gas capital expenditure is expected to rise to $54 billion by 2030, following a $6 billion surge in exploration spending in 2024.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Algeria Targets Frontier, Unconventional Resources to Maximize Production

Source: APO

Algeria is sharpening its upstream strategy around frontier zones and unconventional resources, with officials from ALNAFT and Sonatrach highlighting shale gas, offshore exploration and new licensing opportunities as key growth drivers.

Speaking at African Energy Week 2025 on Thursday, Samir Bekhti, President of ALNAFT, said the regulator’s priority is “reaching the full potential” of Algeria’s reserves, noting that the country holds some of the largest oil and gas deposits in the region. “We’re focusing today on frontier zones to increase our reserves and production. We have huge unconventional reserves – over 700 trillion cubic feet of un-risked shale gas resources – and we also want to explore and develop our offshore,” he said.

Bekhti added that Algeria has signed eight hydrocarbon contracts so far in 2025, underlining the attractiveness of its legal and fiscal framework and confirmed that new blocks are being prepared for launch in early 2026. “We will propose new blocks in Q1 or Q2 of next year,” he noted.

Echoing the emphasis on unconventional plays, Sonatrach Executive Vice President for Business Development and Marketing, Ferhat Ounoughi, pointed to Algeria’s shale gas as a strategic asset. “Our best resource is shale gas – the third largest globally – with a large portion considered technically recoverable,” he said. “Success in unlocking these reserves depends on operational efficiency. Much of the required equipment is imported, and since costs are a key element, it’s essential that we manufacture locally.”

He also outlined opportunities in enhanced oil recovery techniques and green energy development, stressing that Algeria “cannot exist outside of the current geopolitical context” as it strengthens its position as a reliable gas supplier to Europe.

SLB’s Managing Director – North Africa, Khaled Saidi, highlighted Algeria’s “significant and strategic” offshore potential and stressed the role of automation and digital solutions in optimizing production, while Emerson Africa Vice President Cedric Soenens said his company was working with Sonatrach to “support production, optimize operation costs and ensure safety” across Algerian fields.

Regional players are also eyeing entry into Algeria. Massimiliano Mignacca, Managing Director of AMMAT Global Resources, described Algeria as a “strategic partner for Italy” and said the company is preparing a proposal to launch operations in-country.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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