Cape Town

OPEC and the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org/) will host the OPEC-Africa Roundtable at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies in Cape Town, bringing together leading ministers, policymakers and industry leaders for a pivotal dialogue on Africa's oil and gas future. With Africa holding 7.8% of global proven oil reserves and producing 8% of daily output, the continent is not only central to OPEC's strategy but also to the future of global energy security. This high-level engagement aims to chart a collaborative path forward, emphasizing Africa's role in shaping a balanced, inclusive and sustainable energy future.

The roundtable will convene OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais alongside ministers from Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and South Africa, with AEC Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk serving as moderator. Against a backdrop of rising global demand, these discussions will focus on how Africa's abundant resources – estimated at over 120 billion barrels of oil and 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas – can be harnessed to attract investment, stimulate industrial growth and support energy access across the continent.

Key to the dialogue will be the alignment of policy frameworks with OPEC's 2025 vision, which prioritizes energy security, innovation and long-term stability. African producers face common challenges in financing upstream projects, modernizing infrastructure and navigating the energy transition, making regional collaboration essential. By advancing coordinated strategies, the roundtable will spotlight opportunities to strengthen intra-African partnerships, expand refining and petrochemical capacity and integrate natural gas into power generation and industrial use.

For Africa, the stakes are high. According to OPEC's 2025 World Oil Outlook, crude use in Africa is expected to rise from 1.8 million bpd in 2024 to 4.5 million bpd by 2050, driven by population growth, urbanization and industrialization. Meanwhile, investments in African oil and gas projects could reach $1.4 trillion cumulatively over the same period if the right conditions are in place. The roundtable provides a platform to accelerate this trajectory, ensuring that Africa secures both the capital and the technology necessary to develop its energy resources responsibly and profitably.

“The OPEC-Africa Roundtable is about ensuring Africa's voice and priorities are fully represented in global energy conversations,” states Ayuk. “OPEC's partnership with African producers is vital for building stability, encouraging investment and creating a future where energy drives prosperity for Africans. This dialogue is not just about numbers – it is about jobs, industrial growth and ensuring that Africa's resources work for Africa's people.”

AEW: Invest in African Energies continues to serve as the continent's premier platform for deals, partnerships and high-level dialogue. The OPEC-Africa Roundtable reflects a shared vision of advancing Africa's energy future while contributing to global supply security and economic resilience.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

About African Energy Week:
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.

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The African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org/) – the voice of the African energy sector – will launch its latest outlook, offering strategic insight into the trends, opportunities and challenges of the African energy sector, at African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies on 30 September. Written in collaboration with data and analytics firm S&P Global Commodity Insights, the State of African Energy 2026 Outlook report offers a comprehensive view of various segments of the African energy value chain, from upstream market trends to mid- and downstream to gas and LNG to power, renewables and energy transition. At a time when African energy demand is expected to rise fourfold and energy investments will reach $54 billion by 2030, the outlook serves as a guide for financiers and project developers.

A key highlight of the 2026 outlook is a focus on Africa's Upstream Outlook, with insights shared into exploration and production (E&P) trends, upcoming drilling campaigns and the emergence of new petroleum provinces in Africa. The outlook shows that Africa's oil and gas production is expected to reach 11.4 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2026, with Nigeria at the forefront in terms of remaining recoverable resources. Global E&P capital expenditure is set to reach $504 billion by 2026, with Africa contributing around $41 billion, driven largely by expenditure in offshore prospects in Mozambique, Angola and Nigeria. As explorers look to make needle moving discoveries, the report shows that Africa's abundance of immature and frontier basins are increasingly attracting exploration drilling with potentially game-changing high impact wells planned in countries such as South Africa, Namibia and Ivory Coast.

In the mid- and downstream sectors, Africa's population and economy are expected to grow at a fast pace, driving demand for refined products. Africa's refined product demand is projected to rise from ~4 million bpd in 2024 to over 6 million bpd by 2050, representing a 50% increase. Significant oil trading activity now takes place around Africa, mostly to sell crude oil and purchase/import refined products. However, the report shows that there is considerable opportunity to improve the efficiency of this and increase the value to Africa. More than $20 billion in investment is required in downstream infrastructure by 2050 to support the increasing need for refined product imports and distribution.

A section on Africa's gas and LNG outlook provides an in-depth analysis of the market. According to the report, Africa's gas potential is significant, buoyed by a raft of exploration successes in existing production hubs and frontiers with Africa producing more than 300 billion cubic meters of natural gas and accounting for 8.5% of global LNG supply (34.7 million tons) in 2024. The report outlines new LNG projects, including those in Angola, Senegal and Mauritania, while potential roadblocks to gas monetization and industrialization. Insights also cover domestic demand, the rise in FLNG solutions and gas flaring, thereby supporting decision-making by potential investors. 

Beyond oil and gas, the report offers insights into Africa's power and renewables sectors, showing that in 2025, the continent's power demand is projected to increase from an estimated 1,028 TWh to 2,291 TWh by 2050. The report shows that the continent is witnessing a significant shift towards renewable energy sources, with ~25 GW of capacity procured by governments as of 2024. Additionally, ~11 GW has been secured through private offtake agreements. Africa's commitment to renewable energy sources presents significant opportunities for investment and innovation. Over 2020-2025, the continent invested $34 billion in clean power technologies, with 52% allocated to solar energy and 25% to onshore wind. Natural gas is projected to account for 45% of total power generation by 2050.

Meanwhile, insights into Africa's energy transition shows emerging implications for the continent. By 2060, Africa's population is projected to rise to 28% of the global total, yet its share of energy-related emissions is expected to remain modest at just 9%, reflecting both the continent's low per capita energy use and the opportunity to pursue a low-carbon development pathway. As such, the report shows the impact of emissions regulations, opportunities in carbon trade and the value of an integrated approach to energy development in Africa. Through these insights, the AEC's State of African Energy 2026 Outlook represents a vital tool for investors.

“2025 has been a year of unprecedented challenges, and the trials and tribulations have made the AEC's work more important now than ever. We are committed to helping Africa's energy stakeholders navigate a complex and ever-changing global energy landscape. We will continue our mission to support the dynamic private sector and unlock the continent's remarkable energy potential,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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As Africa's mineral-rich nations revamp policies to attract investment, African Mining Week (AMW) 2025 will spotlight the role of legal expertise in navigating these changes. Held under the theme From Extraction to Beneficiation: Unlocking Africa's Mineral Wealth, AMW will feature representatives from law firms – including Sidley Austin, Rosebridge LLP, Clifford Chance, Anjana Turner Law and NSDV Law – in high-level panel discussions, technical workshops and exclusive networking sessions. 

The event will provide an in-depth look at recent and upcoming policy changes – such as raw mineral export bans, Ghana's Gold Board Act of March 2025, Mali's revised Mining Code and others – offering legal experts a platform to demonstrate how mining companies can adapt to reforms while unlocking high-return investment opportunities across Africa's value chain. 

David Roney, CEO of Sidley Austin, an associate sponsor of AMW, will participate in the Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnerships: Building Resilience in a Consolidating Industry panel. The discussion will explore the rising role of mergers and acquisitions in driving investment, best practices for structuring deals and strategies for managing contractual complexities. Roney will also lead a dedicated Sidley Austin workshop alongside Dr. Michail Dekastros, Senior Managing Associate, and Dr. Abayomi Okubote, Partner at Rosebridge LLP, providing practical insights for navigating legal and regulatory challenges in African mining. 

Meanwhile, Anjana Turner, Principal of Anjana Turner Law, and Lili Nupen, Co-Founder and Director of NSDV Law, will join the Women Pioneering Leadership in Africa's Mining Industry panel. This session will explore local content regulations, female empowerment policies and the vital role female leaders play in advancing Africa's mineral beneficiation agenda. 

Ope Osinubi, Senior Associate at Clifford Chance, will moderate the Resilient Energy Mix: Balancing Renewables and Traditional Resources for Sustainable Mining panel. Executives from leading energy firms – including JUWI South Africa, SOLINK and Terra Firma – will discuss how renewable energy integration is shaping the future of reliable, sustainable energy supply for Africa's mining sector. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

About African Mining Week:
African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.

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As South Africa prepares to celebrate Heritage Day on 24 September, the Western Cape Government is calling on residents to rediscover the rich cultural and natural heritage of our province through local travel and tourism.

Under the theme #SpringIntoAction and #ForTheLoveOfTourism, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism Dr Ivan Meyer invites residents and visitors to explore the province's diverse destinations, support community-based tourism businesses, and celebrate the stories that shape our shared identity.

“Every trip within the Western Cape creates an opportunity for growth, for our communities, small businesses, and for the families who depend on tourism for their livelihoods. By travelling locally, residents can help protect what makes our province bloom, ensuring our children and grandchildren will one day find peace and joy in nature and culture,” said Minister Meyer.

Tourism is more than leisure; it is a powerful economic driver. In 2023, tourism contributed R28.6 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the Western Cape economy and supported over 257,000 jobs across numerous sectors, including hospitality, guiding, agriculture, transport, culture, and the creative industries.

Heritage tourism plays a vital role in this ecosystem, offering immersive experiences that connect visitors to the province's history, traditions, and landscapes.

This Heritage Day, residents are encouraged to:

• Celebrate Spring by attending cultural festivals, visiting “dorpies”, townships and villages, and supporting local tourism entrepreneurs.
• Explore Nature by visiting CapeNature reserves and SANParks facilities, travelling responsibly, and respecting biodiversity.
• Spring Into Heritage by visiting iconic sites such as Robben Island, the Cape Floral Kingdom, the District Six Museum, the Iziko Slave Lodge, and experiencing living history in the Bo-Kaap, Stellenbosch, Tulbagh, Matjiesfontein, and Cederberg rock art sites.

For under R50, Cape Town offers a range of accessible heritage experiences:

• Explore the V&A Waterfront's free historical walking route, which highlights the area's maritime and cultural legacy.
• Visit the Green Point Urban Park, a biodiversity showcase and family-friendly space.
• Enjoy a scenic walk along the Sea Point Promenade, a beloved public space with views of the Atlantic Ocean.
• Join free guided walking tours to learn about the city's layered history, architecture, and communities.

Events such as the !Khwa ttu Heritage Festival and other cultural showcases offer opportunities to celebrate the province's diverse traditions, languages, and architecture.

Every local journey makes a difference:

• Every visit supports local entrepreneurs, guides and artists.
• Every ticket purchased helps grow our economy.
• Every responsible action protects our fragile biodiversity and cultural legacy.

“Tourism is a shared journey. When residents travel with impact, the entire province prospers,” concluded Minister Meyer.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.

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Africa's premier gathering for mining stakeholders, African Mining Week (AMW), will feature a distinguished lineup of regional and global energy leaders at its 2025 edition, taking place on October 1–3 in Cape Town. Confirmed speakers include Francesco La Camera, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); Oliver Johnston, CEO of SOLINK; Richard Doyle, Managing Director of JUWI South Africa; Grant Berndsen, CEO of Terra Firma; and Dr. Vincent Amu, Managing Director and CEO of Oildynamix.

AMW 2025 will provide a platform for dialogue on best practices and innovative solutions to ensure a resilient energy supply for Africa's mining sector. The event will feature high-level panel discussions, deal signings, project showcases and exclusive networking sessions aimed at strengthening collaboration at the energy–mining nexus.

IRENA's La Camera will participate in the Critical Minerals & Value Creation: Africa's Step Beyond Extraction panel. This discussion will highlight Africa's pivotal role in the global energy transition, given its 30% share of the world's critical minerals – including cobalt, lithium and copper – essential for renewable energy technologies. Mineral-rich countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, the world's largest supplier of cobalt, and South Africa, the top producer of platinum group metals, will play a central role as global demand for critical resources is projected to quadruple by 2030.

SOLINK, JUWI South Africa and Terra Firma will be represented on the Resilient Energy Mix: Balancing Renewables and Traditional Resources for Sustainable Mining panel. This session will explore strategies for integrating renewable energy into mining operations to enhance energy security, reduce costs and meet ESG commitments.

Meanwhile, Oildynamix will host a workshop showcasing innovative technologies and services designed to improve efficiency in drilling, exploration and production across the mining and extractive industries.

Held under the theme From Extraction to Beneficiation: Unlocking Africa's Mineral Wealth, AMW 2025 will bring together African energy and mining stakeholders with global investors and partners to drive collaboration, strengthen value chains and advance the continent's sustainable development agenda.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

About African Mining Week:
African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.

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African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies is putting a spotlight on the transformative potential of energy projects beyond resource extraction, emphasizing local content, workforce development and sustainable community impact. A central feature of the conference – the Local Content Roundtable on Day 2, sponsored by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) – will explore how energy companies and governments can work together to build African capacity, strengthen local supply chains and create meaningful employment. 

Moderated by Hamlet Morule, Executive Head of Communications & External Affairs at bp South Africa, the roundtable will convene industry leaders and policy experts from across the continent. Speakers include Abdulmalik Halilu, Director of Corporate Services at NCDMB; Alexander Merson, SVP of Asset Operations at Petrofac; Tony Paul, Key Associate for In-Country Value Addition at Future Energy Partners; Bradford Donohue, CEO of IHRDC; Jorge de Morais, General Manager at KAESO Energy Services; Mor Bakhoum, Technical Secretary at ST-CNSL Senegal; and a senior representative from AGL. 

The session will examine practical challenges in local content implementation across Angola, Nigeria and South Africa – including limited technical skills, underdeveloped SME ecosystems and inconsistent policy enforcement – as well as showcase how specific projects are delivering tangible economic benefits. 

In Nigeria, for example, the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Project in Bayelsa State is a $3.5 billion initiative that not only produces petrochemical and gas-based products for export but also generates over 5,000 direct and 35,000 indirect jobs. It reduces routine gas flaring, supplies local industries and power plants and cuts fertilizer imports by nearly 30%, saving the country an estimated $200 million annually. This project exemplifies how energy development can stimulate local supply chains, boost industrial capacity and create lasting employment opportunities. 

In Angola, the Begonia and CLOV Phase 3 offshore projects, which began production in July 2025, are adding 60,000 barrels per day to the country's output. Begonia is the first project between blocks in Angola with a “significant” component of local content – according to national concessionaire ANPG – demonstrating the country's commitment to integrating local labor and suppliers into offshore operations. 

“Local content is more than just a compliance requirement. It's about creating sustainable jobs, developing local supply chains and empowering communities. Every energy project should leave a tangible legacy for the people and economies where it operates,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.  

AEW 2025's programming underlines that energy development in Africa is shifting from short-term extraction to long-term economic transformation. By embedding workforce development and supplier capacity into core strategies, governments and companies are transferring skills, supporting SMEs and enabling communities to benefit directly from Africa's energy growth. 

The Local Content Roundtable reinforces that achieving these outcomes requires collaboration, innovation and consistent policy enforcement. Across the continent, from Nigeria's petrochemical plants to Angola's deepwater FPSOs, energy initiatives are now creating enduring value for local economies, expanding skills and building resilient supply chains.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

About AEW:
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.