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ADNOC Signs on for AEW 2025, Spotlighting UAE’s Strategic Gas Investments in Africa
African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies 2025 will host Mohamed Saif Al Aryani, President of International Gas, XRG, as a key speaker at the inaugural NOC-IOC Forum on October 1.
Al Aryani’s participation underscores ADNOC and the UAE’s deepening investment footprint in Africa’s energy sector. ADNOC’s international arm, XRG, has made significant inroads into the African gas landscape, most notably through its recent acquisition of a 10% stake in Mozambique’s offshore Rovuma Basin Area 4 concession. The concession includes stakes in the operational Coral South FLNG, the planned Coral North FLNG and the Rovuma LNG projects, collectively among the world’s most impactful gas developments, with production capacity exceeding 25 million tons per annum.
Further advancing its African expansion, ADNOC has partnered with bp to launch Arcius Energy, a new natural gas platform in Egypt aimed at unlocking the country’s upstream potential. The joint venture forms part of ADNOC’s broader strategy to develop a globally integrated gas and chemicals portfolio, leveraging Africa’s abundant reserves to drive long-term energy security and economic diversification. In addition, ADNOC is set to open its first flagship service station in Egypt later this year – a move that signals confidence in Egypt’s positioning as a regional energy and export-oriented manufacturing hub.
ADNOC is also among the entities reportedly considering the acquisition of Shell’s downstream business in South Africa, which includes a network of 600 service stations and trading operations valued at nearly $1 billion. The move aligns with Shell’s ongoing strategy to optimize its global portfolio by divesting from less profitable regions and focusing on high-margin markets. For ADNOC, the potential acquisition would mark a major entry into South Africa’s downstream market, expanding its retail footprint and strengthening its position in one of Africa’s most industrialized and energy-intensive economies.
The UAE has rapidly emerged as Africa’s largest foreign investor, channeling more than $110 billion into the continent between 2019 and 2023 across sectors such as energy, logistics and infrastructure. Al Aryani’s participation at AEW 2025 is anticipated to emphasize the critical role of cross-border energy investments and the need for stronger Gulf-African collaboration to accelerate development and value creation.
“Having Mohamed Saif Al Aryani join the lineup of distinguished speakers at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 is a testament to the UAE’s expanding influence in Africa’s energy space. ADNOC’s international growth strategy aligns closely with Africa’s energy ambitions, and we look forward to hearing his insights on strengthening investment partnerships between the Gulf and the continent,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.
With ADNOC actively scaling its African operations and Gulf institutions becoming increasingly prominent players in the region’s energy financing, Al Aryani’s presence reinforces AEW’s role as the premier platform for forging investment-led energy solutions that drive sustainable growth across Africa.
AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.aecweek.com for more information about this exciting event.