Cape Town

The nominees for the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies Awards have officially been announced, celebrating excellence in oil, gas and broader energy solutions. With eight categories covering the entire African energy sector and its value chain, the awards recognize companies and projects that are transforming Africa's energy future. The award winners will be announced during the AEW: Invest in African Energies Gala Dinner & Award Ceremony – held on Tuesday 30 September and uniting leaders from across the private and public sector in honor of innovation, impact and leadership.

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.

ESG Leader of the Year

• SLB – for its commitment to redefining sustainability through bold action on climate and community impact.
• TotalEnergies – for its expanded low-carbon portfolio and efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
• bp – for its transformation into an integrated energy company, embedding ESG principles across all operations in Africa.
• Eni – for its integrated approach to decarbonized solutions and community-driven development.
• ExxonMobil – for its commitment to sustainable development through the expansion of its STEM Africa Initiative.

Service Provider of the Year

• Egbin Power – for its role in driving industrial and economic growth across Nigeria.
• NOV – for its commitment to delivering advanced technologies and services that support oil, gas and renewable developments.
• Technip Energies – for its drive to transform African energy through cutting-edge project execution and engineering excellence.
• AGL – for its role as the backbone of energy logistics in Africa.
• Northern Ocean – for its services in high-spec offshore drilling, bringing ultra-deepwater expertise and world-class assets to African waters.
• Odfjell Drilling – for its push to expand offshore drilling and well services and role in several high-impact wells in West and Southern Africa.

Local Content Champion

• Levene Energy Holdings – for setting a new benchmark for African-led energy development through its deep commitment to local content and empowerment.
• Colibri Business Development – for its role as a vital link between global investors and African local content opportunities.
• Technip Energies – for embedding local value into every stage of its African projects.
• Perenco – for its commitment to local talent development remaining a cornerstone of its operating philosophy.
• EGLNG – for its contributions as one of the country's strongest champions of local capacity.
• Woodside – for its collaborations and commitment to embedding skills development at every stage of the project lifecycle.
• Greater Tortue Ahmeyim – for setting the standard for regional collaboration and local content development.

Reformer of the Year

• Petroleum Commission of Ghana – for its active pursuit of upstream investment through a series of targeted regulatory reforms and incentives.
• SANEDI – for driving South Africa's clean energy transition through innovative programs that promote efficiency.
• Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigeria – for advancing one of the country's most ambitious energy sector reform programs in decades.
• Ministry of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, Angola – for reshaping Angola's oil and gas sector through bold reforms and forward-looking policy.
• Ministry of Oil and Gas, Libya – for its rollout of targeted policy improvements that continue to revitalize investment across the energy sector.

Exploration & Production Leader of the Year

• Eni – for achieving significant exploration and production breakthroughs in Ghana, Ivory Coast, Namibia and the Republic of Congo in 2025.
• Azule Energy – for delivering several milestones, including an offshore gas discovery and the start of the Agogo FPSO, in 2025.
• bp – for its exploration efforts in Egypt's West Nile Delta.
• Nigeria National Petroleum Company – for successful exploration endeavors that yielded major discoveries.
• Rhino Resources – for its offshore success in Namibia, including light oil discoveries in Block 2914A.

Deal of the Year

• African Export-Import Bank – for its $1.35 billion working capital facility for the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Complex.
• Gabon Oil Company – for the $307 million acquisition of Tullow Oil's entire Gabonese portfolio.
• bp – for the launch of Arcius Energy, enhancing Egypt's role as a strategic regional energy supplier.
• Vitol – for its acquisition of a 30% interest in the Baleine oil and gas project in Ivory Coast and 25% stake in the Congo LNG project.

CSR Project of the Year

• ConocoPhillips – for emerging as a driving force behind the Bioko Island Malaria Elimination Project in Equatorial Guinea.
• Chevron – for making a lasting impact in Africa through community-driven development programs.
• Oando Energy Resources – for its deepened community engagement through programs focused on youth empowerment, education and environmental protection.
• Seplat Energy – for delivering transformative CSR programs in education, health and environmental sustainability.

Gas Monetization Strategy

• DIXSTONE & Perenco Gabon – for the launch of Gabon's first offshore gas monetization project using an FLNG solution.
• EGLNG – for successfully advancing from phase one to new phases at the Gas Mega Hub.
• NLNG – for the Train 7 expansion at the Nigeria LNG plant reaching 80% completion in 2025.  
• Greater Tortue Ahmeyim – for the start of production at phase one, signaling a step towards creating a regional LNG hub.
• Otakikpo Joint Venture (Green Energy International & Lekoil) – for the inauguration of a 12 million cubic feet extraction facility and 20 MW gas-to-power plant in Nigeria.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM) Investment Director and Head of Investment Strategy, Ed Stumpf, will participate in the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) – the continent's leading platform for mining and investment dialogue – taking place from October 1–3, 2025, at the Cape Town International Conference Center. 

Stumpf will join a high-level panel discussion on “The Investor Perspective – Financing Africa's Mineral Industrialization,” unpacking trends and strategies that enable the transition from raw mineral extraction to value-added processing across the continent. His participation reflects AIIM's ongoing commitment to infrastructure development as a catalyst for long-term, sustainable mining growth in Africa. 

AMW 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.

With over two decades of experience deploying capital into essential infrastructure, AIIM has played a pivotal role in enabling mining and industrial operations through investments in energy, logistics and transport. In February 2025, AIIM launched the African Transition Acceleration Fund (https://apo-opa.co/41DlgB8), a strategic vehicle aimed at closing the continent's energy transition financing gap. The fund targets private sector investment across clean power, sustainable transport and related sectors that either support mining or rely on critical raw materials from it. 

Among AIIM's current projects (https://apo-opa.co/4mfIbei), the 140 MW Umsinde Emoyeni Wind Farm in South Africa's Western Cape will supply renewable energy to mining firm Sibanye-Stillwater under a 20-year power purchase agreement, with completion expected by late 2026. AIIM is also developing the 144 MW Khangela Wind Facility, which will provide power to Richards Bay Minerals, reducing its carbon emissions by approximately 470,000 tons annually and covering 26% of its energy demand. In Ghana, through its subsidiary Cenpower Generation, AIIM is advancing the Kpone Independent Power Plant, strengthening energy security in one of Africa's largest gold producers. 

AIIM is also expanding its logistics capabilities to support mining operations through partnerships and acquisitions. Collaborations with RATP Group and Alstom aim to modernize South Africa's passenger and freight rail networks (https://apo-opa.co/4mBaB1U), enhancing the transportation of bulk minerals such as platinum group metals. Additionally, AIIM has acquired a minority interest in Incorp (https://apo-opa.co/4fCwUSO), an integrated logistics company managing critical port and storage assets in Kenya and Uganda. 

As African nations push for sustainable mining growth supported by robust infrastructure, AMW provides a vital platform for AIIM and other investors to connect with key stakeholders and accelerate the continent's mineral industrialization journey. The conference runs alongside African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025, offering a comprehensive view of Africa's energy and mining sectors. 

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

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South Africa's Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe will speak at this year's edition of the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference – taking place September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town. His participation comes as the country advances developments in oil, gas and infrastructure, seeking to address key economic challenges by monetizing untapped energy resources.   

Minister Mantashe's return to the event reflects a strong commitment to engaging global investors and advancing the development of South Africa's energy resources. Rich in a variety of resources – most of which are largely untapped – the country has been revising its policies in recent months under efforts to secure foreign capital and drive projects forward. Key developments include the launch of the South African National Petroleum Company – a dedicated state-owned oil corporation – and the implementation of the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Act. During AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025, Minister Mantashe is expected to share insights into the role policy plays in realizing the country's petroleum goals.  

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. 

South Africa is advancing offshore oil and gas exploration under efforts to unlock similar commercial finds to those made in neighboring Namibia. The country's Orange Basin holds significant promise and ongoing exploration campaigns seek to open new frontiers offshore. Energy major Shell has recently received the greenlight to drill in the Northern Cape Ultra Deep block. The company plans to drill at least five deepwater exploration and appraisal wells in the Orange Basin, the results of which could lead to play-opening discoveries. Additionally, energy major TotalEnergies is targeting a two-well wildcat campaign in the South African side of the Orange Basin. Drilling is expected to commence in 2026.  

Recent Merger & Acquisition activity in South Africa reflect a strong international drive to unlock the country's potential oil and gas resources. Notably, Eco Atlantic – through its subsidiary Azinam South Africa – acquired a 75% working interest in Block 1 in June 2024. The company serves as the operator and will carry out a work program. Energy majors TotalEnergies and QatarEnergy acquired participating interests in Block 3B/4B in March 2024, while Africa Energy Corp become operator of Block 11B/12B – situated in the Outeniqua Basin. Ongoing exploration projects stand to reposition the country as an oil and gas producing market.  

On the gas front, South Africa is making strides to enhance fuel security through domestic gas monetization projects. Energy company Renergen – currently the country's sole onshore gas producer – operates the Virginia Gas Project in the Free State province. Producing LNG and liquid helium, the project is expected to support economic growth across the province. Minister Mantashe visited the project site in June 2025, reflecting strong governmental support for onshore gas development. With the country's gas industry still in its infancy stage, the government is working to establish strong regulations to entice investment and development across the gas value chain. These include the Gas Master Plan (GMP) – currently under review – which provides a roadmap for critical infrastructure. The GMP is poised to spur the development of LNG terminals, pipelines and strategic production and storage infrastructure.  

Minister Mantashe's participation at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 builds on these regulatory efforts to unlock new opportunities for international participation across the South African oil and gas market. His insights are expected to support new deals as the country accelerates exploration, production and development projects.  

“Through targeted regulation, South Africa is significantly improving the business climate for international companies. Policies such as the GMP and Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Act will drive investment across the value chain, unlocking new opportunities for broader economic growth and energy security. By investing in strategic basins such as the Orange Basin and advancing onshore gas production, South Africa is well-positioned to achieve its energy goals,” stated Tomás Gerbasio, VP of Commercial and Strategic Engagement, African Energy Chamber. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.