MIL Africa Engine

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

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.

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.

Source: APO

Africa24 (www.Africa24TV.com), the official channel for Africa’s transformation, takes you behind the scenes of the election of the next Director-General of UNESCO. In an exclusive interview, Congolese national Firmin Édouard Matoko, Africa’s candidate, presents himself as the voice of a collective and inclusive vision for universal education.

Broadcast schedule of the exclusive interview (GMT):

• Saturday, October 4, 2025: 18:15 // 23:15
• Sunday, October 5, 2025: 01:15 // 08:15 // 14:15
• Monday, October 6, 2025: 09:15

With 30 years of experience at UNESCO, where he currently serves as Assistant Director-General for External Relations, Firmin Édouard Matoko will represent the African continent during the October 6, 2025 vote before the Executive Board, a decisive step ahead of the official appointment of the new Director-General on November 6, 2025 in Samarkand (Uzbekistan).

Through Firmin Édouard Matoko’s candidacy, Africa asserts itself with the ambition to promote an inclusive international governance founded on education, cultural diversity, and global solidarity.

An exclusive interview on Africa24

In this unprecedented conversation, Firmin Édouard Matoko reflects on his career, outlines his vision for the future of UNESCO, and shares his ambition to make the organization a true platform at the service of people and future generations.

Also available on:

• AFRICA24 in French (Channel 249)
• myafrica24, the first HD streaming platform dedicated to Africa
• www.Africa24TV.com, offering full access to all programs
   

With the Africa24 Group: Together, let’s transform Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AFRICA24 Group.

Contact:
Communications Department – Africa24 Group
Gaëlle Stella Oyono
Email: onana@africa24tv.com
Tel.: +237 694 90 99 88

Follow Africa24:
@ africa24tv 

ABOUT AFRICA24 GROUP:
As the continent’s leading audiovisual brand, the Africa24 Group operates four full HD television channels, each a leader in its field:

• AFRICA24 TV: The leading African news channel in French, published by AMedia
   
• AFRICA24 English: The leading African news channel exclusively in English
   
• AFRICA24 Infinity: The creative talents channel dedicated to music, arts, and culture
   
• AFRICA24 Sport: The first channel dedicated to African sports news and competitions
   

The Africa24 Group also operates myafrica24 (available on Google Play Store and App Store), the world’s first HD streaming platform on Africa, accessible on all screens (television, tablet, smartphone, computer).

www.Africa24TV.com

Source: APO – Report:

Birame Souleye Diop, Minister of Energy and Mines of Senegal, has announced the country will review its oil and gas codes ahead of the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference and exhibition – taking place in Dakar from December 9-10.

The announcement was made during a press briefing at the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference in Cape Town on Thursday.

“Senegal is currently reviewing all of its codes, as well as developments in the electricity sector, in order to create a framework for industrialization,” Minister Diop stated.

According to the Minister, the revisions will emphasize transparency, local content and ensuring that revenues more directly benefit Senegalese citizens.

Meanwhile, Lamin Camara, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy of The Gambia, announced that the country is in advanced stages of negotiations for well licenses.

“By the time we get to the MSGBC conference, we will announce that we have signed licenses for our oil wells,” Camara stated, adding, “We are in the advanced stages of negotiation, which we expect to complete before this conference.”

– on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO – Report:

U.S. political momentum and African regulatory reforms are converging to create what leaders at African Energy Week 2025 described as a strategic opening for U.S. investment in Africa’s energy sector.

“This administration is unleashing opportunities,” said Mark Menezes, President & CEO of the U.S. Energy Association, pointing to the lifting of restrictions on the Export-Import Bank and other U.S. financing agencies. “Africa is resource-rich, and we see long-term partnerships not just for oil and gas but also for critical minerals.”

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, highlighted the Petroleum Industry Act and recent Executive Orders as landmark reforms designed to streamline Nigeria’s regulation, making the market more attractive to U.S. capital. “We are reducing bottlenecks and contracting timelines, as well as improving fiscal terms,” he said. Ekpo also pointed to the creation of the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, established to boost investment in gas infrastructure by de-risking projects and drawing in private investors.

“Difficult issues around foreign exchange, repatriation of profits, regulatory uncertainty – those are being addressed,” said Jude Kearney, Managing Partner of Asafo & Co., commenting on the evolution of investor confidence in Africa. “African governments have also increased their capacity to do PPPs.”

As stakes rise, panelists cautioned that good policy itself does not guarantee results. Andrew Inglis, CEO of Kosmos Energy, contrasted Ghana’s Jubilee project, which went from license award to production in six years, with today’s average of 20 years. “It takes more than just regulatory clarity – it takes drive from the top to get things done,” he said. “As U.S. companies, we bring finance, technology and deepwater expertise. It’s great to be supported now by an administration that believes in our industry.”

“We’re seeing a new era not only of energy dominance, but of African energy opportunity,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “But we need to back it with finance and remove the bottlenecks. There’s so much more Americans can do. We have a moment right now – seize it.”

Ayuk added that African governments also have a role to play in reinforcing investor confidence. “We need to see free markets, limited government and personal responsibility. Money flows where it’s welcome. Our job in 2026 is to make Africa the most attractive destination for oil and gas investment. It also takes African ministers speaking up – when they do, it strengthens companies seeking capital to invest and expand across the continent.”

Kola Karim, Group CEO of Shoreline Energy, argued that the real value U.S. companies bring is in solving infrastructure challenges. “The oil is there,” he said. “The problem is facilities, and that means financing. That’s where U.S. companies, with technology and support from DFC and EXIM, can add real value. If you can manufacture onshore in America, you can export into our markets and help us deliver faster, better projects.”

From the U.S. government side, Andrew Rapp, Senior Adviser at the U.S. Department of Energy, affirmed that Washington sees Africa’s energy future as integral to global prosperity. “Energy addition is a priority for the DOE, and nowhere can it be more impactful than here in Africa.  This is our goal as an agency and it has support from the highest levels of the administration.”

– on behalf of African Energy Chamber.