By Ndubuisi Micheal Obineme
The 2025 Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) spotlighted the energy growth prospects and project opportunities across the Sub-Saharan Africa oil and gas industry, featuring more than 30 national oil companies and regulators from Africa to showcase in-country opportunities.
SAIPEC, organized by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, PETAN. in partnership with the industry regulators and players showcased multi-billion-dollar project opportunities across the Sub-Saharan Africa oil and gas value chain while highlighting key business development for service companies and opportunities for regional collaboration on local content development.
According to published reports, Africa will account for the majority of new oil and gas discoveries in the next 30 years and will become the last frontier for discoveries by 2060. While 85% of growth within the oil and gas sector will emerge outside developed economies, with Africa holding a large share.
Africa is also prioritizing a just energy transition to fully utilize its abundant oil and gas resources to address issues around energy poverty as well as the growing energy demand in the region.
At the SAIPEC 2025 Conference, Nigeria, Gambia, Morroco, Mozambique, Uganda, and Côte d’Ivoire, coupled with other African countries showcased in-country opportunities that exist in the downstream, midstream, and upstream sub-sectors of the oil and gas industry in their respective countries.
The theme of the SAIPEC conference is, “Building Africa’s Future: Advancing Local Content and Sustainable Development in the Oil and Gas Industry.”
Africa’s Growth Opportunities in Oil and Gas Industry
Highlighting Nigeria’s evolving energy landscape, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and robust investment growth in the oil and gas sector.
Represented at the conference by the Executive Commissioner for Development and Production, Engr. Enorense Amadasu, Komolafe lauded the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) for hosting the event. He emphasized the pivotal role the exhibition plays in fostering regional cooperation, driving technological progress, and facilitating knowledge-sharing among industry stakeholders.
Komolafe pointed to strategic reforms – notably the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) – as a transformative force. The PIA has enhanced governance, transparency, and efficiency in the sector, positioning Nigeria as an attractive destination for energy investments. He noted that advancements in oil recovery techniques, comprehensive field development programs, and resource optimization strategies further underscore the country’s dedication to innovation and global energy leadership.
Speaking further, Komolafe underscored critical initiatives such as the Nigeria Gas Flare Commercialization Program (NGFCP), which aims to eliminate gas flaring by 2030. He also highlighted Nigeria’s ambitious target to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060. These measures, combined with NUPRC’s rigorous regulatory oversight, are creating a more favorable climate for investment in Nigeria’s energy sector.
With proven reserves of 37.5 billion barrels of oil, 209.26 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and abundant potential in renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and biomass, Nigeria is well-positioned to remain a top contender in Africa’s dynamic energy market.
In his opening remarks, PETAN Chairman, Engr. Wole Ogunsanya highlighted several major investment decisions that have bolstered Africa’s energy sector. He pointed to Shell’s $5.5 billion Bonga North deepwater project in Nigeria, the award of a construction license to UTM FLNG, and the issuance of ten new gas distribution licenses by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Beyond Nigeria, he referenced key projects including Senegal’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG project, the Republic of Congo’s LNG exports to Italy, and the continued expansion of renewable energy projects in South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco.
“As technical and professional service providers that have just marked three decades of excellence in the oil and gas industry, PETAN is excited about several final investment decisions that have been successfully closed, including Shell’s $5.5 billion Bonga North deepwater project as well as, back home, the recent award of a construction license to Nigeria’s UTM FLNG and the issuance of ten licenses for gas distribution across clusters by the NMDPRA. We also acknowledge notable developments in natural gas exploration and LNG exports with Senegal’s Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG reaching its first gas production, and the Republic of Congo’s first LNG exports to Italy from the Congo LNG project,” he mentioned.
Speaking under the conference theme “Building Africa’s Future: Advancing Local Content and Sustainable Development in the Oil and Gas Industry,” PETAN Chairman stressed that robust partnerships, innovation, and strategic investment are key to navigating the evolving energy landscape and securing the continent’s economic future.
Ogunsanya further applauded renewable energy initiatives led by South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco, emphasizing that Africa possesses both the human capacity and abundant natural resources needed to tap into its vast energy potential. He also highlighted the strategic partnerships being forged on the continent, citing the recent production-sharing contracts signed by Panoro Energy in Equatorial Guinea and BW Energy in Gabon as evidence of international collaborations accelerating energy development and creating new exploration and production opportunities.
Speaking in a one-on-one interview with members of the African Association of Energy Journalists and Publishers, AJERAP, the ‘Official Media Association Partner’ of SAIPEC 2025, Ogunsanya advocated for stronger regional collaboration between African countries including companies to build capacity as well as develop projects across the continent.
He said, “Africa should prioritize regional collaboration, and form alliances to develop projects within
the continent.
“With regional collaboration between African countries, you can learn faster and avoid making mistakes,” Ogunsanya said in the interview with AJERAP members, emphasizing the need for African countries and companies to form alliances in developing projects across the continent.
He explained, “If there is a project in Angola and there is an African company that already has the know-how compared to a company coming from abroad, the Angolan regulator should prioritize that African alliance to ensure that we’re able to retain value in the continent. This speaks volumes.”
He said PETAN sees a lot of growth opportunities in the African oil and gas industry in 2025 with a positive economic outlook.
“Uganda is very busy. The wells are being drilled. Uganda is one of the Sub-Saharan African countries we are very close to. The regulators in Uganda, the Uganda Petroleum Commission are very close to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Board, NUPRC. They are essentially learning from us. They are attending the SAIPEC event.
“There are also lots of efforts going on in Mozambique to enhance investment.
“Deepwater operations will continue to grow in Africa.
“In Nigeria, we are working to increase our production.
“A lot of activities are also ongoing in Libya. Libya produces 1.4 million barrels of oil per day. They’re sure that this year, they will produce 1.6 million bpd, which is the peak production. Libya is asking us to bring equipment to come and support them.
“PETAN sees a robust 2025 and 2026. This means that we have the opportunity to provide services with increased collaboration,” he added.
Speaking further, PETAN Chairman confirmed that its member companies have built capacity over time in the oil and gas industry ahead of many African countries, noting that PETAN is ready to transfer knowledge as well as support other African countries to retain value within the continent on project development.
“The same technology you find in North Sea, Aberdeen, Norway, Saudi Arabia, and Houston, is exactly what you will find in Nigeria.
“For us in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, we must match the requirements. We must match the know-how to ensure that we produce that barrel at the same rates. What we have added in PETAN is developing local know-how and local technology. We call it, home advantage,” PETAN Chairman noted.
Across Africa, he said PETAN member companies are active with a consistent track record of providing exceptional services in African countries where they operate.
“With this cumulative experience that we have, we are seeing it in the industry in our service delivery. There is evidence that we’ve developed our capacities just as in other parts of the world.
“We are spreading capacities across the African continent. Some PETAN companies have experience more than the other members. We are now impacting the experiences that we have within the organization to make sure that most of our companies are as good as any other company in the world. They can deliver that service in Nigeria and any other place,” he explained.
Furthermore, he acknowledged the of Africa’s technological innovation, stating that the last five years has been productive for Africa on local content development and in specific areas where technologies are outsourced from within the African continent.
He also acknowledged that PETAN is already collaborating with some African companies, especially on project development and technology transfer.
“PETAN is collaborating with Ghana, Mozambique, and Equatorial Guinea companies to advance regional collaboration for local content development,” he disclosed.
However, he called for stronger regional collaborations among stakeholders to drive Africa’s energy development.
SAIPEC 2025 Buyer Programme
This year’s SAIPEC event also featured a ‘Buyer Programme’ as part of its deliverables to enhance business development in the Sub-Saharan Africa oil and gas industry.
According to PETAN Chairman, “The “Buyer Programme” is open to everyone, both African and international companies. Due to its growing popularity, this year’s SAIPEC exhibition is the largest we have ever hosted. We sold out all available booths and requested for additional exhibition space to accommodate more participants.
“The Buyer Programme is designed to facilitate collaborations between buyers and sellers, particularly those seeking specific technologies and services.
“Many international companies, including Chinese firms, are participating, bringing in equipment and technology that can be applied in multiple African countries, such as Angola, Mozambique, Uganda, and Nigeria.
“This is in line with global trade practices, where collaboration helps generate higher value for the host country.”
As part of its commitment to support the regional growth in Africa’s oil and gas industry, he said
PETAN is also exploring financial models where banks and other institutions can support asset owners in scaling up production.
The 19th edition of SAIPEC held from 11-13 February 2025 in Lagos brought together prominent industry leaders, stakeholders, experts, and companies including government representatives to explore the Sub-Saharan Africa hydrocarbon resources as well as identify key challenges hindering the continent to harness its oil and gas resources for economic prosperity.
SAIPEC 2025 Conference also explored the role of local content and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in creating a seamless business environment for regional trade for goods and services, with strategic recommendations from industry stakeholders to boost trade and investment within the region.
With over 6,000 attendees from 50 countries, SAIPEC 2025 offers exceptional networking opportunities with key stakeholders and decision-makers across Sub-Saharan Africa’s energy value chains.
The conference featured a diverse agenda that included a strategic conference, technical sessions, an international exhibition, and the prestigious SAIPEC Awards.