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  • Oil &Gas: Africa’s Top 40 Movers and Shakers to Watch in 2025

    Oil &Gas: Africa’s Top 40 Movers and Shakers to Watch in 2025

    …the Top 40 Movers and Shakers spotlights key leaders driving transformative change in Africa’s energy sector, with a focus on sustainable development, investment mobilization and energy sovereignty

    The African Energy Chamber (AEC) is proud to announce its highly anticipated list of Africa’s Top 40 Movers and Shakers to Watch in 2025. This year’s lineup features a dynamic mix of leaders, policymakers, innovators and corporate executives driving transformative change across the continent’s oil, gas and energy industries.

    The list, an annual benchmark of influence and innovation, celebrates those at the forefront of advancing Africa’s energy potential. These individuals are reshaping narratives, overcoming challenges and championing investment and sustainability in their respective domains.

    Leading this year’s list is U.S. President Donald Trump, whose influence on U.S. foreign policy is poised to impact Africa’s energy sector. His stance on fossil fuels and support for American companies could reshape the relationship between the U.S. and Africa, fostering strategic opportunities for energy investment and challenging global policies on financing oil and gas projects. Other heads of state on the list include Daniel Francisco Chapo, President of Mozambique, who is tasked with advancing the country’s LNG projects, including Coral Norte FLNG, Mozambique LNG and Rovuma LNG, while ensuring Mozambican companies benefit from the energy boom, and John Mahama, President of Ghana, who will work to reshape perceptions, attract investment and position the country for sustainable energy growth through reform and innovation as new oil blocks are opened.

    South Sudan’s Minister of Petroleum, Puot Kang Chol, faces a critical test in revitalizing the country’s oil production, navigating sanctions and attracting international investment to restore output and drive economic recovery. In Uganda, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu is tasked with steering the $6 billion Tilenga and Kingfisher projects to first oil by 2025 while managing challenges surrounding the East African Crude Oil Pipeline and balancing international scrutiny. Meanwhile, Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, continues to position the country as a leading oil and gas market through reforms, licensing initiatives, and low-carbon strategies, with his success in managing mature asset declines and executing transformative plans in 2025 under close watch.

    North Africa’s energy landscape also takes center stage on the list. Dr. Khalifa Abdulsadek, Libya’s Minister of Oil & Gas, is leading efforts to reinvigorate the country’s oil sector through a new licensing round and ambitious $17-$18 billion project pipeline aimed at boosting production to 2 million barrels per day. Similarly, Rachid Hachichi, CEO of Algeria’s Sonatrach, is expanding gas production through a partnership with TotalEnergies, renewing exploration agreements with Libya’s National Oil Corporation and strengthening energy ties with Europe and Turkey. Together, these efforts underscore North Africa’s strategic importance in meeting global energy demands and advancing the region’s energy security and market influence.

    Championing the private sector, Claudio Descalzi, CEO of Eni, is leading efforts to advance the Baleine field offshore Ivory Coast, Congo LNG project in the Republic of Congo and Structures A&E development in Libya, among others, setting a benchmark for low-carbon oil and gas projects. Katrina Fisher, Managing Director of ExxonMobil in Angola, is recognized for driving new exploration, yielding high-profile discoveries and balancing production growth with local empowerment in a competitive sector. Jean-Michel Jacoulot, CEO of Trident Energy, is spearheading key offshore acquisitions in the Republic of Congo, aiming to revitalize mature fields and maximize production. Meg O’Neill, CEO of Woodside Energy, has played a pivotal role in bringing Senegal’s Sangomar oil field to its first production phase, with her strategic decisions set to shape Senegal and West Africa’s energy future.

    Other private sector leaders highlighted include Ahonsi Unuigbe of Petralon Energy, who is driving the company’s expansion across Africa through strategic acquisitions, including stakes in Nigeria’s OML 127 and OML 130. Meanwhile, Nosa Omorodion leads SLB Nigeria’s push to leverage its new regional office in Lagos to drive decarbonization and innovation across West Africa, navigating Nigeria’s vast energy potential to redefine its role in the continent’s energy transition. In Angola, Edson dos Santos of Etu Energias is steering the company toward its 2030 production goals and a pivotal 2026 IPO, which could set a new standard for Angola’s private energy firms. At the same time, Philippe Labonne’s Africa Global Logistics is enhancing Africa’s logistics infrastructure, with key projects in Namibia, Nigeria and Angola.

    In the financing arena, Benedict Oramah, President of the African Export-Import Bank, is leading the establishment of the Africa Energy Bank, in partnership with APPO, to bridge Africa’s energy investment gap and deliver sustainable energy project financing led by African member states. Rene Awambeng, Founder and Managing Partner of Premier Invest, aims to redefine Africa’s energy financing landscape in 2025 by structuring high-impact deal rooms and mobilizing transformative investments across energy, infrastructure, and commodities.

    The AEC’s annual list not only highlights leadership, but also reflects the sector’s evolving priorities, from fostering local content and addressing financing gaps to balancing environmental and industrial objectives. As Africa’s energy market grows more complex, the featured individuals serve as beacons of progress, inspiring confidence among investors, stakeholders and communities alike.

    “This list represents Africa’s brightest minds and boldest leaders. From driving infrastructure projects to creating enabling policies, these figures embody the resilience and innovation required to propel Africa’s energy transformation,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC. “The accomplishments and strategies of the 40 Movers and Shakers will be critical to addressing industry challenges and harnessing opportunities for the continent’s growth. This is not an award. This duty call is more relevant than ever for everyday Africans looking at these leaders. They have numerous responsibilities and obligations we must encourage them to deliver on their various initiatives that will create jobs, develop Africa, ensure our energy security and Make Energy Poverty History”

    Africa’s energy landscape is at a crossroads, with increasing demand for sustainable development, investment mobilization, and energy sovereignty. As the continent navigates these challenges, platforms like African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies, taking place in Cape Town from September 29 to October 3, provide a critical forum for dialogue, deal-making, and collaboration. The conference will bring together many of the 40 Movers and Shakers recognized on this year’s list, offering delegates the chance to engage directly with the visionaries shaping Africa’s energy future.

  • Africa has Always been Able to Host Large-Scale Energy Events, and African Energy Week (AEW) Proved it

    Africa has Always been Able to Host Large-Scale Energy Events, and African Energy Week (AEW) Proved it

    …Despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, African Energy Week (AEW) showcased that the continent was always capable of hosting large-scale energy events

    In 2021, Africa Oil Week (AOW) made the decision to take its conference to Dubai, citing the fact that Africa was not equipped to host a large-scale conference in a safe manner due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to take the conference out of Africa, despite representing a platform centered on African energy, resulted in the discussions about Africa being taken out of continent and led by international stakeholders. AOW claims that the event is focused on supporting Africa’s needs, and yet the decision to leave Cape Town for Dubai contradicted this very ambition.

    Then, in 2022, AOW made the decision to return to Africa, claiming a commitment to driving investment in African energy. Yet, when Africa most needed investment, the conference organizer was quick to take it to Dubai.

    What African Energy Week sought to prove and was successful in doing so, is that Africa always has been capable of hosting large-scale events. Under strict COVID-19 safety measures, the event proudly hosted delegations from both the African and global energy sector, with billions in investment secured from the first edition of the conference alone. In 2022, the conference attracted thousands of delegates, with a series of industry-focused deals signed by companies and investors. When Africa most needed investment, AEW was quick to respond, providing a platform where stakeholders could meet and deals be made.

    Now, in 2023, the conference promises an even bigger and better event than before, with expanded panel discussions, networking functions and engagement opportunities laying the foundation for widespread and sustainable growth in Africa.

    This year’s edition of AEW takes place under the theme, ‘The African Energy Renaissance: Prioritizing Energy Poverty, People, the Planet, Industrialization and Free Markets,’ and represents the platform where decisions on Africa’s energy future will be made. Since the event’s inception, AEW has represented a platform where every segment of the African energy sector is explored, with focus placed on how Africa can grow, capitalize on its natural resources while mitigating climate change in the age of the energy transition.

    This discussion could not come at a better time for the continent. In 2023, South Africa is faced with one of its worst energy crises it has ever faced, with rolling blackouts reaching up to ten hours a day. Despite having significant quantities of oil and gas reserves revealed with the Brulpadda and Luiperd discoveries, the country continues to struggle with inconsistent supply and high energy prices. Meanwhile, its neighbor, Namibia, has made three major oil and gas discoveries since 2022 – the Venus, Graff and Jonker-1X – and is making significant strides to develop these major finds.

    Another neighbor, Mozambique, is gradually making progress with its three major gas projects – the Mozambique Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG); Rovuma LNG and Coral South projects – opening new opportunities for regional trade, if the right infrastructure is put in place. As such, while AOW continues to worry about being divisive and internationally-focused, AEW has placed the South African energy crisis as top of the agenda because AEW understands what people are going through and what solutions need to be put in place to address South Africa’s energy crisis.

    However, AEW’s focus transcends South Africa, with the event recognizing and supporting the development of various oil and gas projects across the continent. In Senegal and Mauritania, first production is expected for the Sangomar and Greater Tortue Ahmeyim projects, showcasing the potential for offshore E&P investment. In Congo-Brazzaville, marginal projects are making headway as the Government prioritizes gas investment and development while Libya has recently announced that production has reached 1.2 million barrels per day – a significant achievement.

    Whereas in Uganda, progress continues to be made on the development of the Lake Albert Development, a multi-faceted project that promises new opportunities for energy security and industrialization in East Africa. All of these projects and many more will be showcased at AEW, with investment opportunities made clear to existing and potential investors.

    This year, even more focus will be placed on African energy security and sustainability, with discussions centered on how the continent can industrialize, electrify and economically thrive while at the same time decarbonizing through the development of a strong green energy base on the back of oil and gas revenue. From addressing regulatory and fiscal matters to exploring green energy and low-carbon solutions to making a case for natural gas monetization and regional infrastructure developments, AEW 2023 is where energy deals are signed and developments kicked off. 

    “While they may create low energy advisory committees to showcase their focus on Africa, AEW will maintain its commitment to the continent by providing a comprehensive platform where energy stakeholders can meet and deals be signed. We are fully committed to driving investment across the entire African energy value chain and will continue to drive our narrative about making energy poverty history this year and beyond,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, adding that, “We urge their committee members to advise them against misrepresenting the Ministers and speakers who will attend AOW. Attracting investment into Africa is our main focus. We have the position that African countries have the right to develop their oil and gas projects. Projects such as Uganda’s East African Crude Oil Pipeline are key for making energy poverty history and we want to partner with various governments for AEW to talk about an oil and gas strategy for Africa. We are not stage builders: we are a movement. We look forward to welcoming the regional and African energy community to Cape Town from 16-20 October for AEW.”