News

This year’s Africa Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference will kick off on Monday, September 29 with a full day of technical workshops designed to inform, challenge and empower delegates ahead of the main conference program. Hosted by industry-leading organizations, these expert-led sessions provide a dynamic environment for training, open dialogue and problem-solving across every segment of the energy value chain.

Hosted by EnerGeo Alliance, the Upstream Permitting Equals Downstream Development workshop will explore how permitting frameworks and stakeholder engagement directly influence long-term investment and project outcomes. Drawing on EnerGeo’s EIA Handbook, Stakeholder Consultation Guidance and model legislative frameworks, the workshop will walk attendees through permitting best practices, environmental impact assessments and the regulatory foundations needed to accelerate energy development.

Meanwhile, Wood Mackenzie will host an engaging, Oxford-style debate on Maximizing Africa’s Energy Empowerment. The session will challenge participants to weigh the value of prioritizing oil and gas against the case for renewable energy expansion. Debaters will tackle difficult questions: Are hydrocarbons still Africa’s best bet for meeting urgent energy needs? Should domestic demand outweigh export ambitions? And how should the continent approach decarbonization given its low global emissions share? Audience votes before and after the debate will reveal how the conversation shifts in real time.

Forvis Mazars, a global leader in audit and advisory services, will also lead a session, while S&P Global Commodity Insights will host two workshops, including one focused on The Dangote Refinery and its Impact on the African Refining Balance. On the gas front, the Gas Exporting Countries Forum will lead a Gas Masterclass, unpacking market trends, project viability and the evolving role of gas in Africa’s energy mix.

Local content will also take center stage with a Master Class and Panel Discussion hosted by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). The session – Nigeria’s Model for Sustainable Local Content Growth – will feature insights from top NCDMB executives and explore capacity building, SME financing and innovation-driven approaches to deepening local participation across the oil and gas value chain. A complementary session, Positioning for the Next Frontiers of Local Content Development, will outline how African economies can align content strategies with emerging market dynamics and industrial growth.

Workshops will also feature sessions hosted by pan-African legal and advisory firm CLG and the South African National Energy Development Institute, both addressing key themes in energy policy, data and innovation.

"These workshops aren’t just academic – they are strategic tools for unlocking Africa’s energy potential. By creating space for deep technical learning, open debate and regional collaboration, we’re ensuring that AEW remains grounded in substance and solutions. The conversations that begin on Monday will shape deals, policies and partnerships all week long,” says Ore Onagbesan, Program Director at AEW: Invest in African Energies.

The workshops are structured to blend practical learning with strategic insight, offering deep dives into topics ranging from upstream permitting and gas markets to local content, refining and energy transition debates. Each session is curated to equip participants with tools to navigate the complexities of the African energy sector, while fostering cross-sector collaboration in an intimate, pre-conference setting.

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.