SOEs and Gulf Investors Advance Africa's Downstream Transformation at AEW 2026

Africa's downstream energy sector is entering a new phase as producer states invest in domestic refining and international players expand across the continent's fuel distribution networks.

African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, taking place in Cape Town from October 12-16, will bring together the state-owned enterprises and global energy companies leading this shift to examine how downstream investment can strengthen energy security, support industrialization and unlock new market opportunities.

Senegal is advancing one of Africa's most ambitious downstream agendas. State oil company Petrosen oversees the country's interests in the Sangomar oil field and the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG project, while also pursuing a $100 million onshore exploration program and the development of the Yakaar-Teranga gas resource. At AEW 2026, CEO Thierno Seydou Ly is expected to outline Petrosen's strategy for integrating upstream production with downstream processing as Senegal scales its hydrocarbon sector.

Anchoring that downstream vision is the Société Africaine de Raffinage (SAR), West Africa's oldest refinery. In 2025, SAR processed domestically produced Sangomar crude for the first time and is now advancing the SAR 2.0 project, a second refinery that would bring national throughput above 5.5 million tons per year. CEO Mamadou Abib Diop will join AEW 2026 as the company advances financing discussions and targets construction start this year.

ADNOC Distribution, the UAE's largest fuel and convenience retailer, is rapidly building a downstream footprint in Africa. Following its 2023 entry into Egypt, the company signed a $1 billion agreement in July 2026 to acquire Shell Downstream South Africa, adding 580 fuel stations to a network that now spans four countries. CEO Bader Al Lamki is expected to detail ADNOC Distribution's growth strategy and its vision for African fuel retail at AEW 2026.

Overseeing ADNOC's integrated downstream portfolio is Nasser Al Muhairi, Acting CEO of ADNOC Downstream Industry, Marketing and Trading. His mandate covers refining, petrochemicals, gas processing, trading and distribution across the ADNOC group. Al Muhairi will join AEW 2026 to discuss how integrated downstream models and Gulf investment can support Africa's energy infrastructure development.

“The downstream sector is where African countries actually start to feel the benefit of their resources,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “The combination of renewed refining interest from our state-owned enterprises and investment from experienced Gulf operators is exactly how you develop it.”

AEW 2026 will provide a platform for these discussions as African producers and international investors work to close the gap between the continent's upstream growth and its downstream capacity.