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A Saudi-Arabia-Africa Energy Investment Forum at African Energy Week 2023 will explore how partnerships with the private sector can fuel energy growth in Africa.

As Africa continues to expand its energy sector, partnerships with foreign companies and governments will prove fundamental in strengthening policies, projects and progress. Countries including Saudi Arabia, the second biggest oil producer globally, are looking at expanding their influence in Africa and can play a strategic role in facilitating development across the continent.

With the aim of fostering dialogue and deals between Saudi Arabia and African countries, this year’s edition of the African Energy Week (AEW) conference taking place on October 16-20, will feature a roundtable discussion under the theme Partnering with Africa’s Private Sector to Drive Energy Growth. Centered on partnerships between Saudi companies and Africa’s private sector, the discussion is underscored by a commitment by the country and the continent to collaboratively expand energy opportunities. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Energy of Saudi Arabia, the discussion features a strong lineup of industry experts from both the Saudi and African sectors and aims to connect stakeholders while fostering new deals.

The roundtable will feature representatives from all these countries, with speakers sharing insights into investment opportunities, challenges to development and how Saudi-relations will help grow the respective markets. Speakers include Meshack Tshekedi, Chief Executive Officer, Botswana Oil Limited; Hon. Amb. Ombeni Sefue, Chairman, Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation; Estêvão Tomás Rafael Pale, Chairman, ENH; Godfrey Moagi, CEO, Strategic Fuel Fund; Sandisiwe Ncemane, Acting CEO, PetroSA; and Gideon Leparan Ole Morintat, CEO & Managing Director, National Oil Corporation of Kenya. Additionally, African Export-Import Bank Global Head: Client Relations Rene Awambeng will participate.

For decades, Saudi-African relations have opened up a wave of economic opportunities for various countries. From energy to infrastructure to trade and finance, Saudi Arabia has supported economic growth in Africa, and since assuming power in 2015, Saudi Arabi’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has prioritized African relations with dozens of African Heads of State visiting the Kingdom under efforts to strengthen diplomatic ties. Relations continue to strengthen as African countries lean on foreign expertise to strengthen their respective energy markets.

In this scenario, Saudi-based companies stand to play an instrumental part in strengthening trade, driving investment and accelerating multi-sector development across the continent. The AEW 2023 roundtable discussion will further this agenda while providing Saudi-based firms the opportunity to establish ties and forge deals with a slate of African partners. From Saudi Arabia speakers include Yasser Mufti, Executive Vice President Products & Customers, Saudi Aramco; Sidi Ould Tah, President, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa; Ayad M. Alamri, Chief Strategy Officer, DataVolt, and Vice Chairman of the Saudi-South African Business Council; Ibrahim Al-Buainain, CEO, Aramco Trading; and Mohammad Al Tayyar, Program Director, Oil Sustainability Program. Additionally, both Saudi EXIM Bank and ACWA Power will be represented.

For Africa, the roundtable offers a strategic opportunity for companies and countries to develop strong bilateral ties and accelerate market growth. Taking place at AEW 2023 in Cape Town, the roundtable enables firms to connect and partnerships forged, all while consolidating South Africa’s position as a strategic gateway. For emerging oil and gas markets such as Mozambique and Tanzania, both of which have a strong pipeline of large-scale Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) projects underway, the roundtable is of crucial value. Meanwhile, untapped markets such as Kenya, Botswana and South Africa, all of which offer high potential for sizeable discoveries, stand to gain a lot from Saudi experience and technology.

“Saudi Arabia will be of crucial importance for Africa as the continent accelerates monetization and development efforts. An oil and gas heavyweight, the country offers expertise, capital and technology that will serve to advance the African agenda. Bi- and multi-lateral cooperation will pave the way for improved trade, investment and progress as Africa moves to make energy poverty history by 2030,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

The roundtable discussion is underpinned by the current and future role Saudi Arabia plays in Africa’s energy sector. Discussions will explore the potential for advanced economic ties and how increased trade, particularly within the realms of petroleum products, as well as collaboration across the entire energy value chain can contributed to alleviating energy poverty in Africa. Join the AEW 2023 conference and take part in this highly-strategic roundtable discussion.

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.