Sponsored by PGS, the NOC Summit will feature strategic discussions among Africa’s state-owned energy firms under the common goal of making energy poverty history through win-win cooperation.
African National Oil Companies (NOC) play a central role in engaging with foreign players, collaborating on projects while ensuring the development of energy resources translates into tangible opportunities for the local population. In the age of the energy transition, these companies play an even greater role in promoting sustainable hydrocarbon development under an objective to make energy poverty history while industrializing and strengthening economies.
During the African Energy Week (AEW) conference and exhibition – taking place October 16-20 this year in Cape Town – a dedicated NOC Summit will bring tougher leaders of African NOCs to share experiences about the challenges and opportunities they face in the pursuit of a sustainable and energy secure future. Sponsored by Petroleum Geo-Services (PGs), the Summit features high-level discussions and strategic collaboration between NOCs, with key topics including regulatory frameworks and investment climates; balancing upstream and downstream capital expenditure; leveraging partnership and tech to optimize low-carbon production, and many more.
Across the entire continent, energy developments are kicking off, with progress largely being spearheaded by African NOCs. Working in close collaboration with international energy companies, capital providers and technology firms, NOCs are making great strides towards alleviating energy poverty on the back of mutually-beneficial investments.
In Southern Africa, for example, a wave of industry milestones has made clear the substantial potential for frontier E&P success. In two short years, Namibia witnessed five commercial oil discoveries made by TotalEnergies, Shell and Qatar Energy in collaboration with NOC NAMCOR. Neighboring South Africa is looking at mirroring this success, targeting offshore exploration in promising basins. The country made two sizeable gas discoveries – Brulpadda and Luiperd – in 2019 and 2020, while onshore exploration is set to open up a new gas play in the Karoo Basin. Mozambique exported its first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) cargo in 2022 while other Rovuma Basin LNG projects are gradually progressing.
Onshore, Zimbabwe is likely to hold up to 20 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of reserves while Botswana represents an untapped hydrocarbon play. As an established market, Angola is rapidly expanding its energy industry while exerting its influence in regional markets. During the NOC Summit, representatives from each of these countries will provide insight into ongoing exploration efforts and the role cross-border collaboration plays in driving successful developments and alleviating energy poverty.
Similarly, East African NOCs will detail the challenges faced within their respective energy journeys. The region also represents a promising investment opportunity, with untapped reserves enticing large-scale developments. South Sudan, the only commercial producer in the region, plans to reawaken onshore exploration while collaborating with regional neighbors to promote further investment in energy and downstream infrastructure. Uganda is making progress with the development of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline and related oilfield projects while Djibouti is making headway with green hydrogen and regional interconnection projects. Kenya is planning to open a 63-block licensing round while Chad targets heightened E&P investment to monetize resources. Insights from these country NOCs will be key for current and potential investors.
Meanwhile, West African countries are fast-tracking energy exploration, production and the development of large-scale energy facilities. Congo inked a deal for the Marine XII project; Senegal and Mauritania are on track for first LNG production from Greater Tortue Ahmeyim and oil production from Sangomar in 2024; while Equatorial Guinea is strengthening domestic processing capacity through the Gas Mega Hub initiative. At the same time, The Gambia, Guinea-Conakry, Sao Tomé and Principe, Liberia and Ghana are inviting foreign partners to invest, promoting fronter exploration and regional integration. The respective NOCs of these countries will lead discussions at the Summit this October, promoting the strengthening and diversification of NOC activities.
Industry heavyweights include Algeria and the African Petroleum Producers Organization will also participate, providing insight into strategic collaboration opportunities and the role of pan-African organizations, respectively. As such, the NOC represents the foremost platform to engage on critical topics such as energy security, sustainable progress and the energy transition, all while strategizing towards driving continent-wide economic growth.
“The NOC Summit has become a central feature of the AEW conference, uniting Africa’s state-owned energy companies and establishing strategies to make energy poverty history by 2030. Over the years, the summit has provided NOCs with the opportunity to discuss challenges to development, formulate tangible solutions while establishing long-term partnerships and collaborations. This year will be no different and we look forward to the fruitful outcomes of this year’s summit,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.
The NOC Summit takes place during the conference week on October 18 and features the participation of a strong slate of African NOCs. The half-day, summit comprises two sessions – a closed-door meeting for NOC Heads of Delegations and a PGS-chaired open session. The sessions are themed, Maximizing Value from Oil and Gas Assets and Accelerating Global Investment and Partnership in African Upstream, respectively, and will tackle the most pressing challenges and emerging opportunities across the African energy industry.
AEW is the AEC’s annual conference, exhibition and networking event. AEW 2023 will unite African energy policymakers and stakeholders with global investors to discuss and maximize opportunities within the continent’s entire energy industry. For more information about AEW 2023, visit https://aecweek.com.
