African Ministers to Tackle Energy Investment Gap at Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025
Set against a backdrop of evolving global energy dynamics and intensifying pressure to meet net-zero targets, the session – 'Africa on the Global Energy Stage: Financing the Next Generation of Energy Projects' – will explore how African nations are navigating complex investment landscapes to drive sustainable hydrocarbon development. Moderated by NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, the discussion will feature Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) of Nigeria; Malam Sambu, Minister of Energy of Guinea-Bissau; Wivine Moleka, Deputy Minister of Hydrocarbons of the DRC; and July Moyo, Minister of Energy&Power Development of Zimbabwe.
IAE 2025 (apo-opa.co/4iXGe3C) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 13-14, 2025 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.
Nigeria, which holds the largest natural gas reserves in Africa, is advancing its 'Decade of Gas' agenda under a reform-oriented administration working to reposition the country as a global gas hub. The government is prioritizing infrastructure development, market liberalization and targeted policy incentives to draw large-scale investment into the sector, which has already led to major capital commitments from international players including Shell, Chevron and TotalEnergies, and the rollout of new LNG, FLNG and mini-LNG projects.
In Guinea-Bissau, the energy sector is entering a new phase of exploration and frontier investment. As one of the continent's least developed hydrocarbon markets, the country is laying the institutional and regulatory foundations for future growth, with an emphasis on public-private collaboration and regional integration. Last September, Guinea-Bissau spudded a deep offshore exploration well near the neighboring Sangomar discovery in Senegal, marking a significant step toward unlocking its offshore potential.
The DRC, meanwhile, is pushing to unlock the potential of its underexplored hydrocarbon basins. With a renewed focus on exploration and development, the DRC is pursuing strategic licensing efforts and engaging international partners to accelerate activity, while also seeking to balance environmental considerations with its economic development goals.
Zimbabwe continues to prioritize energy diversification and regional power security. In recent years, the country has undertaken efforts to expand its generation capacity and foster investment through independent power producers and infrastructure partnerships. As southern Africa faces persistent energy shortfalls, Zimbabwe is positioning itself as a critical part of the regional solution. Together, Africa's leading energy ministers will engage in a forward-looking dialogue on innovative partnership models, policy frameworks and the capital flows needed to ensure Africa's energy projects not only get off the ground, but also deliver long-term value for both investors and local economies.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The National
12 minutes ago
- The National
UAE pilots new waste scheme to reduce amount of phones and laptops in landfills
Mobile phone and laptop owners in the UAE will soon be able to get money when they hand their devices in for recycling rather than throwing them away. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has launched a pilot project with Tadweer Group that will see manufacturers and producers of electronic devices having to pay an additional fee to make them more accountable for how a phone is disposed of. It is expected this fee will be passed on to consumers. The good news for them, however, is the cost will be refunded if they hand in their device for recycling at one of the designated centres taking part in the scheme launched today. Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Amna Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, described the agreement as a step towards 'sustainable environmental solutions' that will ensure "the safe, long-term disposal of waste, and protects the right of future generations to live in a clean, pollution-free environment." The initiative is part of the UAE's Integrated Waste Management Agenda 2023–2026 and targets specific waste streams, including electrical and electronic equipment, batteries and packaging. If successful, the scheme could lay the groundwork for a nationwide transition to a circular economy – one in which products are reused, repaired, and recycled instead of discarded. Sara Jackson, secretary general of the Circular Packaging Association, said that if implemented successfully this could be a leading model for the Middle East. "We know from a study that was done in 2021 that around 15 per cent of UAE households actually practice recycling," explained Ms Jackson. "So there is a significant opportunity in terms of consumer awareness and education." "We'll start small, but it will gather momentum in order to reach the kinds of targets that we see in Europe, where 90 per cent of some materials are actually diverted from landfill and reused in the circular economy." Global waste is projected to reach 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050, growing more than twice as fast as the global population. Recycling rates and infrastructure gaps Much of the waste generated across the UAE currently ends up in landfill but authorities in Abu Dhabi have been increasing efforts to tackle waste over the past few years. Abu Dhabi-based waste management and recycling services company Tadweer previously said it was aiming to divert 80 per cent of waste from landfills by 2030. Thursday's signing of an agreement on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) between MOCCAE and Tadweer – the Abu Dhabi-based waste management giant – commits both parties to temporarily operate the pilot in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Its central aim is to test the viability of a system where producers are obliged to take some responsibility for what happens to their products when a consumer is finished with it. Ali Al Dhaheri, chief executive of the Tadweer Group, said the pilot marks a shift away from linear waste models in which responsibility ends at the point of sale. 'By piloting an EPR model, we are laying the foundation for a more accountable and resource-efficient waste management system," he said. 'We will explore invaluable learning that will inform future strategies focused on EPR, ensuring a seamless transition to a model that benefits the environment, businesses, and our community.' EPR is widely considered an essential component of sustainable waste management. Under the model, companies are required to finance the collection, recycling, or safe disposal of the waste generated by their products. Countries such as the UK, Germany, and South Korea have implemented EPR for various product categories, resulting in improved recycling rates and reduced environmental harm. While the fee on products will be finalised at the end of the six-month pilot, Mr Al Dhaheri told The National it will be similar to others implemented globally.

Zawya
27 minutes ago
- Zawya
Major Upstream Players Join Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2025 Amid Accelerated Investment Drive
With a planned $60 billion investment pipeline for the oil and gas industry, Angola is experiencing a surge in upstream activity, from frontier exploration to seismic acquisition to drilling and incremental production. Angola's major upstream operators have joined the Angola Oil&Gas (AOG) conference – taking place September 3-4 in Luanda – to discuss Angola's project pipeline. This year's conference celebrates 50 years of independence in Angola, with speakers set to share insight into how the past five decades of oil and gas development have laid the foundation for future growth. With over three decades of operational history in Angola, energy major ExxonMobil is driving an ambitious exploration and production agenda, focusing on maximizing output at active assets while pursuing frontier opportunities. Recently, the company signed an agreement alongside TotalEnergies for the study and evaluation of the Free Areas of Blocks 17/06 and 32/21. The company is also eyeing a $15 billion investment in the Namibe basin, pending the results of ongoing exploration activities. These efforts are expected to unlock new resources in Angola. Katrina Fisher, Managing Director of ExxonMobil Angola, will share further insights into ExxonMobil's investment plans at AOG 2025. With a long history in Angola, energy majors bp and Eni have played an instrumental part in unlocking resources and generating economic opportunities for the country. The merger of the companies' Angolan operations in 2022 saw the rise of Azule Energy – Angola's largest independent equity producer of oil and gas – and the subsequent integration of bp and Eni's project portfolio and expertise. On the back of this, Azule Energy has spearheaded various large-scale operations in Angola, with new targets to increase production to 250,000 bpd. Major upcoming developments include the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development (2025) and Angola's first non-associated gas project (2026). During AOG 2025, Guido Brusco, COO: Global Natural Resources at Eni, and Gordon Birrell, Executive Vice President of Production&Operations at bp, will provide insight into Angola's exploration and production landscape, from oil exploration to natural gas to global partnerships and future investment prospects. Nigerian independent exploration and production company First Exploration&Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P) has a strong portfolio of producing assets in Nigeria and is currently pursuing regional growth opportunities. With operations spanning both shallow waters and onshore blocks in the Niger Delta, FIRST E&P has established experience in exploration and production activities. While not directly active in Angola as of yet, FIRST E&P stands to play a notable role in unlocking greater value from Angola's oil and gas resources. During AOG 2025, Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, CEO&Managing Director of FIRST E&P, is expected to share insight into how the company's experience in Nigeria can support future oil and gas projects in Angola. Angolan oil and gas company Alfort Petroleum is pursuing onshore exploration in Angola, following its qualification as an operator under the country's 2020 bid round. During the round, Alfort Petroleum won operatorship of Block KON 8, attaining a 50% stake in the asset. To date, the company has completed the seismic acquisition phase for the block and is currently in the final stages of interpreting the data. Alfort Petroleum aims to start drilling activities in Q4, 2025 or Q1, 2026. At AOG 2025, Gianni Gaspar-Martins, General Manager of Alfort Petroleum, is expected to provide an update on Block KON 8. Meanwhile, Angolan private energy company Etu Energias seeks to increase oil and gas production to 80,000 bpd by 2030 through the optimization of producing assets and the accelerated development of newly-acquired blocks. The company expanded its portfolio of operated and non-operated blocks from 6 to 15 in 2024, while its reserves grew 2.6 times to reach 106 million barrels. In 2025, the company continues to drive a 3D seismic campaign at Block FS/FTST, will spud the Chimacuanga exploration well and will complete feasibility studies at the newly-acquired Blocks CON 1 and CON 4. Etu Energias CEO Edson dos Santos is speaking at AOG 2025, where he is expected to share insight into the company's exploration and production strategy. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
President Benedict Oramah takes a bow at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM2025) after a decade of servant leadership
Professor Benedict Okechukwu Oramah, CON, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) ( has taken a bow from serving at the helm of the institution for the last decade; a period that has been touted as transformational and exceptional. While giving his closing speech during the AAM2025, Professor Oramah took the audience down memory lane, from June 2015 when shareholders gave him a leadership mandate in Lusaka, Zambia, saying that; 'In my acceptance speech, I made a solemn promise to the shareholders, to deliver a solid bank that will be a leader among its peers in all measures of financial performance to quickly grow the capital of the Bank in absolute terms, to improve capitalisation through innovative capital management initiatives to ensure first-class risk management, and achieve adequate returns to shareholders.' Professor Oramah highlighted the achievements of the Bank during his tenure, some under very extreme situations, citing the financial rise thus 'we have collectively, over the past decade, built a solid financial institution that is good for Global Africa. Total assets and guarantees grew more than eight-fold between September 2015 and April 2025, to reach 43.5 billion US dollars. Total Revenues also rose seven-fold, reaching 3.24 billion US dollars, from 408 million US dollars in 2025. Net income amounted to about 1 billion US dollars last year, about 700% increase, from its level of 125 million US dollars in 2015. Internal capital generation and very strong support of shareholders through significant additional equity investments, saw shareholders' funds rise from about 1 billion US dollars in September 2015 to 7.5 billion US dollars in April 2025, with callable capital reaching 4.5 billion US dollars from 450 million US dollars in September 2015. Liquidity remained strong, with sources of funding much more diversified in 2024 than in 2015, due to activities of the Africa Resource Mobilisation Unit, which saw the share of African sources of funding rise from 11.7 percent in 2015 to 36.6 percent in May 2025.' Going forward, Prof Oramah said that the Bank would like to give priority to the financing and promoting of high-value exports that have the capability of stabilising export revenues and creating jobs thereby raising and stabilising trade and economy in Africa. H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who spoke at the official opening ceremony, appreciated the contribution of Afreximbank to the growth and stability of the economy of Nigeria and by extension Africa at large, saying 'Nigeria's collaboration with Afreximbank is expanding in both scope and breadth through various avenues including but not limited to the oil industry, and food production through fertilizer manufacturer through financing and Nigeria appreciates Afreximbank as a strategic partner in co creation which positively impacts the lives of Africans and helps transform the Continent.' In recognition of the outstanding work done my Professor Oramah over the last 10 years and in the last 3 decades at Afreximbank, President Tinubu on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, awarded Prof. Oramah one of Nigeria's highest state commendations: The G rand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank. Follow us on: X: Facebook: LinkedIn: Instagram: 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 2024, Afreximbank's total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody's (Baa1), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). 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.