Cape Town

Australian gas explorer Kinetiko Energy will be making a significant contribution to the upcoming African Energy Week (AEW) 2023 as its CEO, Nick de Blocq, takes the stage as a distinguished speaker. Recognized as Africa's premier event for the oil and gas industry, AEW 2023, taking place in Cape Town from October 16-20, will provide a platform for de Blocq to share Kinetiko's innovative approaches to natural gas exploration and production in South Africa. Attendees can anticipate invaluable insights into the company's strategies that are revolutionizing the energy sector in the region.

With an impressive career spanning more than 27 years in the oil and gas industry, de Blocq brings a wealth of experience from various countries. As the CEO of Kinetiko, he has been instrumental in highlighting the company's ongoing pursuit of impactful and innovative work in the energy sector. His dedication to the industry, willingness to embrace challenging roles, and commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices underscore his passion for driving positive change.

The presence of de Blocq and Kinetiko Energy at AEW will be highly valuable. Kinetiko Energy, an Australian company focused on developing conventional gas reserves in southern Africa, particularly in the Amersfoort-to-Volksrust region of the Mpumalanga province, holds vast opportunities for the energy sector. With the region's estimated gas deposits of 4.9 trillion cubic feet, Kinetiko has achieved impressive results in recent drilling programs. The strategic positioning of the company's wells, such as Block ER271 near the Majuba TPP and Block ER270 along the critical Lily Pipeline, showcases the potential to supply gas to industries and power generation facilities.

Establishing a joint development agreement with the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa – a subsidiary of the South African government responsible for driving economic growth and industrial development in the country – the company's subsidiary, Afro Energy aims to develop approximately 20 gas fields in the country with the primary objective to extract gas for power generation. This partnership and development of gas is expected to contribute to the country's energy needs.

The Amersfoort Project, which employs state-of-the-art technology and pioneering techniques to extract gas from coal seams, aims to cater to various applications, including domestic and industrial use, as well as electricity generation. Through its pilot generator set to be installed at the Amersfoort Project, Kinetiko is positioning itself as a significant contributor to South Africa's long-term energy security and supports the country's transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.

The company's dedication to innovation in sandstone gas and coal bed methane exploration distinguishes it as a leading enterprise in South Africa's energy-challenged sector. De Blocq's participation at AEW 2023 will enable him to provide insightful discussions on Kinetiko Energy's dynamic operations within the energy sector. Additionally, de Blocq's experience in promoting local content and sustainable business practices aligns with AEW's focus on sustainable and responsible development of the African energy sector, making his insights particularly relevant.

“The Chamber is pleased to have de Blocq participate at AEW. With his experience in the sector and a remarkable ability to navigate complex situations, his expertise and insights will be highly valuable to the conference. We look forward to hearing de Blocq's thoughts on the African energy industry, as well as his unique perspectives on Kinetiko Energy's pioneering strategies for natural gas exploration and production in South Africa. We have no doubt that his contributions to the discussions on sustainable and responsible energy development in Africa will be highly impactful,” states NJ Ayuk, the Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

By participating in AEW, de Blocq and Kinetiko Energy aim to share innovative technologies, cutting-edge techniques, and insights into natural gas exploration and production, potentially fostering collaborations and partnerships. Their presence at the conference will also raise awareness about the potential of natural gas as a viable energy source in Africa and contribute to the regions energy security.

African Energy Week (AEW) is the African Energy Chamber's (AEC) interactive exhibition and networking event, established in 2021, that seeks to unite African energy stakeholders, drive industry growth and development, and promote Africa as the destination for African-focused events.

For further information on the African Energy Week 2023 conference, click the link below: https://www.AECWeek.com/AEW-23/

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

African Energy Week (AEW) 2023 – organized in Cape Town from October 16-20 – takes place under the theme ‘The African Energy Renaissance: Prioritizing Energy Poverty, People, the Planet, Industrialization and Free Markets,' underpinned by the recognition that in order to make energy poverty history by 2030. To achieve this, Africa needs to ramp up exploration and production across the oil and gas sector. Stepping into this picture, Keith Hill, President and CEO of Canadian-based independent oil and gas company, Africa Oil Corp, will lead discussions on frontier exploration, the need to accelerate drilling campaigns and why Africa represents the biggest E&P play worldwide.

Under the leadership of Hill – who possesses over 35 years' experience in the oil industry, 20 years of which covered international new venture management and senior exploration positions – Africa Oil Corp has established itself as one of Africa's most competitive independent explorers, with a series of campaigns in Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa and the Senegal Guinea Bissau Joint Development Zone. With interests through direct ownership in concessions, as well as through shareholdings in investee companies, Africa Oil Corp is leading the way towards resource maximization in Africa.

While global energy majors have commenced with divestment strategies in light of the energy transition, Africa Oil Corp continues to deliver on its promise to develop African hydrocarbons, representing a strong partner for host countries and governments. Recognizing Africa as the ‘greatest frontier,' Hill is committed to turning exploration hotspots into long-term and sustainable developments in Africa, with a number of key prospects well on their way to become impactful projects.

In Kenya, Africa Oil Corp is working towards the development of the South Lokichar development, located in Blocks 10BB/13T, as well as the associated pipeline. Alongside partners Tullow Oil and TotalEnergies, the company has a defined resource base as well as a Field Development Plan. In Nigeria, the company operates three of the top five oil producing fields in the country: Egina, Ekpo and Agbami. Combined, the fields produce approximately 450,000 barrels of oil per day. However, it is the company's exploration prospects that make it such a big contender in the upstream space.

In Namibia, Africa Oil Corp announced a sizable discovery offshore Block 2913B alongside partners TotalEnergies and Impact Oil & Gas. The discovery has positioned the country as an exploration hotspot. In 2023, Africa Oil Corp commenced its multi-well appraisal and exploration drilling program, targeting four wells to appraise the Venus discovery. Meanwhile, Africa Oil Corp has additionally secured two production sharing contracts for offshore Blocks EG-18 and EG-31 in Equatorial Guinea, marking the company's entry into the promising hydrocarbon market. 

From Namibia to Equatorial Guinea to Nigeria to Kenya, Africa Oil Corp is gradually positioning itself at the head of Africa's oil and gas sector, representing a strong partner, players and competitor. As the continent accelerated exploration and production even further, all in pursuit of making energy poverty history by 2030, companies such as Africa Oil Corp will continue to play a key role in expanding the sector. During AEW 2023, Hill will discuss this very theme while sharing insight into Africa's E&P landscape, partnership opportunities and upcoming drilling campaigns.

“Africa Oil Corp is doing exactly what needs to be done in Africa: driving widespread exploration and production in the name of resource maximization. The independent has already been hugely successful in markets such as Nigeria and now with ambitious upstream campaigns underway in other promising markets, a new era of hydrocarbon growth is in sight,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, adding that, “We are looking forward to engaging with Hill and other high-level E&P players in Cape Town. AEW 2023 represents the best platform for regional and global energy stakeholders to discuss the future of African energy, and Hill represents a critical part of those discussions.”

For more information about AEW 2023, please visit the event website at www.AECWeek.com and secure your spot at the biggest gathering of energy stakeholders on the continent. Join AEW 2023 and be part of the African energy renaissance.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.