Cape Town

The African Energy Chamber (AEC), the voice of the African energy sector, is proud to announce that Emmanuelle Garinet, Vice President for Exploration Africa at global energy major TotalEnergies, will speak at the African Energy Week (AEW) (https://AECWeek.com/) 2023 conference and exhibition, Africa's premier energy event, taking place from October 16-20 in Cape Town.

During AEW 2023, Garinet will represent the company – long considered one of the world's supermajors – an indication of the event's prestigious merit as TotalEnergies proves to be one of the most active players in oil and gas E&P space in Africa. The major has been active on the continent for over 90 years and is currently active in 43 countries with over 13,000 employees. With this background, TotalEnergies is looking at expanding its presence further, with Garinet expected to showcase some of the company's biggest achievements, its current projects and the role oil and gas exploration plays in Africa's energy future.

For years, TotalEnergies has played an instrumental part in expanding Africa's upstream market, leading a number of ambitious exploration campaigns that have not only positioned the continent as a highly attractive play but the company at the partner of choice for many resource-rich countries. The major's most significant projects include those in Southern Africa, whereby TotalEnergies made a sizeable oil and gas find in Namibia's Orange Basin in 2022. Shortly thereafter, the major commenced a multi-well drilling appraisal and exploration campaign hoping to unlock further upstream success. Further south, the major is making headway with regards to its exploration campaign on the South African side of the Orange Basin while it remains focused on developing the Brulpadda and Luiperd finds made offshore South Africa in 2019. 

In East Africa, TotalEnergies is driving developments in the Lake Albert Basin, including the Tilenga and Kingfisher oilfields – set to begin production in 2025 – as well as the East African Crude Oil Pipeline – considered one of the most important oil and gas projects on the continent. TotalEnergies will transport crude from the Tilenga and Kingfisher fields to global markets via the pipeline, triggering energy security and economic growth across the region. In Mozambique, the company is driving the Mozambique Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project, also considered one of the Africa's most important hydrocarbon developments. While work was delayed due to security challenges, the company remains committed to bringing the 12.8 million ton per annum project off the ground.  

Meanwhile, the company also operates in Angola (with exploration underway in several blocks in the Lower Congo and Kwanza Basin); Nigeria (with interests in 30 licenses, five of which as operator); as well as in Gabon, Ivory Coast and the Republic of Congo. In the MSGBC region, the company operates two deep offshore blocks in Mauritania and the Rufisque and UDO deep offshore blocks in Senegal. All of these exploration campaigns promise new opportunities for energy security in Africa on the back of oil and gas investment and development.

Against this backdrop, Garinet will not only provide insight into these developments, providing updates and detailing upcoming investment opportunities, but will outline the major's African exploration agenda in 2023 and beyond. These insights will not only cement the company's position as a competitive African frontier explorer but will make a strong case for the role exploration plays in Africa.

“TotalEnergies has been responsible for much of Africa's upstream success, working closely with various national oil companies and partners to unlock the true potential of African oil and gas. From projects in East Africa to exploration campaigns in Southern Africa, the energy major represents an important partner for African oil and gas producers. During AEW 2023, we look forward to hearing the insights provided by Garinet and hope to see a suite of new deals signed by the major that will unlock a new era of exploration and production in Africa,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

Garinet joins a strong slate of high-level panellists at the AEW 2023 conference, driving discussions on the crucial role oil and gas plays in Africa's energy sector and how investments in exploration and production can unlock new discoveries, foster impactful developments and contribute to making energy poverty history by 2030.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Week (AEW).

About African Energy Week 2023:
AEW 2023 is the AEC's annual conference, exhibition and networking event. AEW 2023 unites African energy stakeholders with investors and international partners to drive industry growth and development and promote Africa as the destination for energy investments. For more information about AEW 2023, visit https://AECWeek.com/

Energy data and consultancy firm Rystad Energy presented its analysis of Africa's energy landscape on Thursday at the Invest in African Energy Paris Forum, hosted by the African Energy Chamber (http://www.EnergyChamber.org).

Noting that Africa remains vastly under-electrified compared to other regions, Senior Partner Per Magnus Nysveen pointed out in his opening presentation that Africa has 40% of global solar energy reserves, and that Africa has the opportunity to eradicate power poverty just as Asia has done in the past two decades. In 2000 Asia was the most power deprived region globally, with around 700 million people without power.

South Africa's power deficit, he noted, had led to ‘load shedding' (scheduled power cuts) every day so far in 2023, and that the power supply gap had tripled in five years. The country now has a large number of viable projects that need capital and would offer good returns to investors.

Bimbola Kolawole, Vice President and Head of Business Development for Africa, detailed the findings of the ‘The State of African Energy 2023' report that is produced by the African Energy Chamber with data and analysis from Rystad Energy.

Kolawole noted that following the Ukraine invasion, Europe's reliance on LNG imports has grown and African LNG producers, led by Nigeria, Egypt, and Algeria stand to benefit. Although Asian financial institutions currently fund most fossil fuel projects in Africa, European lenders will play a bigger role due to the continent's demand for African gas.

 “Last year was a bumper year for the continent's exploration sector, with the Venus, Graff and La Rona discoveries all made offshore Namibia. These mega finds, along with South Africa's large offshore gas discoveries, have driven increased operator interest in Southern Africa.” Kolawole also highlighted the large number of frontier acreages in the MSGBC region and West Africa, as well as the East African coast, that could yield further discoveries.

Over $33 billion in upstream investment was expected for 2022 and estimated growth in upstream expenditure in Africa between 2023 and 2025 is around $15 billion.

“It is particularly noteworthy that, while majors are looking to decrease their oil and gas exposure in West Africa, independents are picking up the portfolios being divested.”

Rystad expects that solar, hydrogen and onshore wind will be the driving forces in renewables investment in Africa in the 2030s and that between 2023 and 2035, Africa will contribute a fifth of global hydrogen generation. Injection of new power supply from renewables investment will be key to tackling the high number of people without access to electricity. Egypt, Morocco and Mauritania are expected to lead in the field of renewables.

Rystad Energy is a partner of the African Energy Chamber for its annual African Energy Week conference, to be held in Cape Town on 16-20 October 2023. Africa's leading energy event is dedicated to eradicating energy poverty by 2030.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.