African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy 2024 – scheduled for November 4-8 in Cape Town – will seek to advance local content development within the continent’s burgeoning energy sector. The summit will host key panel discussions aimed at fostering sustainable economic growth and maximizing value for African nations through the development and implementation of effective local content policies (LCPs).

As Africa’s energy sector expands, the need for productive LCPs has become critical for local job creation and value retention. At AEW: Invest in African Energy, a panel on Building Value and Promoting Investment through Local Content will explore strategies for empowering African companies, enhancing global competitiveness and establishing local and regional integrated value chains. African and global energy industry stakeholders will discuss integrating LCPs into business models to make the investment case for utilizing local goods and services and hiring, training and promoting the local workforce. Meanwhile, a panel on Pan-African Local Content will focus on the intersection between climate justice, local content, sustainability and digital transformation within a new era of energy sector development.

AEW: Invest in African Energy 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.

Maximizing the socioeconomic benefits of oil and gas activities remains fundamental to the continent’s progress. Following Namibia’s series of commercial oil and gas discoveries, the government is working on embedding favorable local content policies into its national development plan, learning from the experiences of established producers to ensure that the sector’s benefits are extended to local communities. To this end, Namibia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy has published a draft National Upstream Local Content Policy and hopes to have the policy completed and ready to present to the legislature by February 2025.

https://apo-opa.co/4bC25dh

https://apo-opa.co/4bz02H3

Mature petroleum producers like Nigeria have seen an increase in local participation within the oil and gas industry on the back of functional local content initiatives. The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act mandates the prioritization of Nigerian products, services and employment. Central to this effort is the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), which oversees the Act and fosters partnerships with industry and educational institutions, aiming to achieve a 70% local content target by 2027.

Senegal has also enacted reforms to prioritize local participation ahead of first oil production – which was achieved earlier this year – including a dedicated Local Content Development Fund and National Local Content Monitoring Committee (CNSCL). The CNSCL’s recent collaboration with Nigeria’s NCDMB aims to strengthen industry cooperation and capacity building across both countries, with a view to achieving 50% local content in Senegal by 2030.

In Angola, local content is centered around the country’s Angolanization policy, which prioritizes the hiring and training of Angolan nationals and was amended in October 2020 to expand the requirements for the provision of local goods and services. The updated framework promotes fair competition among Angolan service companies and reduces the dominance of international players across various sectors, and is not exclusive to the upstream oil and gas industry.

https://apo-opa.co/3WfIrzn

Ghana’s energy sector is also benefiting from robust local content initiatives driven by the country’s Petroleum Commission. Key measures include the Local Content and Local Participation Regulations, which mandate a minimum 10% equity for Ghanaian companies in all projects and establish employment targets for nationals. The Local Content Fund provides crucial financial support to enhance the competitiveness of local firms, while the Enterprise Development Center offers essential training, advisory services and market linkages to Ghanaian SMEs in the sector.

“Local content is not just about job creation or training targets – it’s about ensuring that Africans are the primary beneficiaries of our continent’s vast energy resources. By developing local content policies and establishing pathways to implementation and compliance, we can empower African companies, enhance Africa’s competitiveness on a global scale and build a self-reliant energy sector,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

Against this backdrop, AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 will serve as a critical platform for refining local content strategies and ensuring sustainable and inclusive growth across Africa’s energy landscape. The outcomes from this event will shape the future of local content development and the trajectory of economic empowerment for African nations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

As frontier exploration continues to drive upstream investment in Africa, Liberia offers extensive offshore territory to interested investors and established exploration and production (E&P) companies, with the aim of developing its emerging oil and gas industry. Poised to provide insight into the country’s frontier energy opportunities, the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) and Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) will participate at the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy 2024 conference – taking place in Cape Town from November 4-8 – as Technical Presentation and Networking Cocktail co-sponsors.

Committed to exploring the untapped potential of Liberia’s offshore resources, NOCAL recently partnered with surveying services firm TGS to reprocess multi-client seismic data offshore Liberia. The project, which was announced earlier this month, aims to update existing 2D and 3D seismic data in the Liberia and Harper basins, integrating legacy data sets into a unified velocity model using advanced imaging algorithms. TGS recently completed the first phase of the initiative, reprocessing approximately 12,097 km of 2D legacy seismic data, which is now available for industry licensing. In the second phase, the firm will reprocess a further 12,675 km in the Liberia and Harper basins and approximately 15,616 km2 of 3D seismic data in the Liberia basin.

AEW: Invest in African Energy 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.

Liberia’s prospective energy resources, coupled with the proactive efforts of the LPRA and NOCAL, is attracting the interest of major explorers. American multinational ExxonMobil has expressed interest in four exploration blocks – LB-15, LB-16, LB-22 and LB-24 – strategically positioned in the Liberia basin. Liberia’s ongoing direct negotiation process has further strengthened its appeal to interested companies, with 33 blocks opened for direct negotiation with the government. The negotiations were opened in June 2021 and are still available for all reputable international oil and gas companies to participate in the country’s Liberia Basin, which features blocks LB-01 to LB-24, and Harper Basin, which hosts blocks LB-24 to LB-33. As NOCAL forges ahead with its E&P agenda, the parastatal remains at the forefront of driving responsible and sustainable petroleum exploration in Liberia.

https://apo-opa.co/3xQkLZ4

Through initiatives like the Liberia Energy Access Practitioner (LEAP) network, the country and its parastatal oil company have also focused on fostering the participation of local companies, workforces and industries in the energy sector. The program targets the transfer and diffusion of technologies in the energy sector, while enhancing the role of consumers, architects, technicians, rural developers, financial institutions, suppliers and community leaders. As Liberia seeks to increase power access from 30% to 70% by 2030, promoting local content has become central to the country’s efforts to foster sustainable and inclusive growth. NOCAL’s approach to driving electrification and resource monetization through initiatives such as LEAP not only serves to stimulate job creation and skills development, but also empower local businesses to engage in the supply chain and contribute to Liberia’s broader economic growth.

“Liberia holds tremendous untapped potential, underscored by ambitious targets to increase electricity access and develop its local workforce. Through continued exploration of Liberia’s hydrocarbon resources, NOCAL and LPRA have the potential to unlock new energy frontiers and stimulate economic growth for the nation and wider West African region,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber – the voice of the African energy sector.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has urged widows in Bunkpurugu in the North East Region to vote for him in large numbers in the forthcoming election.

This appeal came after he hosted an event for the widows on Wednesday, July 10, which was attended by hundreds of widows and NPP supporters in high spirits.

During his address, Dr. Bawumia emphasized the importance of their support, assuring them that, if elected President, he would implement policies and actions aimed at improving their lives.

He highlighted his commitment to addressing their needs and enhancing their well-being.

Dr. Bawumia also announced that the event marked the beginning of his constituency-to-constituency campaign, which he chose to start in his home region.

He also expressed his readiness to promote his vision for the nation’s progress and development.

The event not only showcased Dr. Bawumia’s dedication to grassroots engagement but also reinforced his campaign’s focus on inclusive development and support for all citizens.

The Vice President also emphasised his intent to connect directly with voters and understand their concerns.

“I am very touched and grateful to be with you this evening as the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party for the 2024 presidential elections. Today is the first of my campaign at every constituency, and I decided to start the campaign at home, and that is why I am with you today.”

“I am your son and your husband, and therefore, I am asking for your support, so I can help you when I become the president of Ghana in 2025,” he said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), held an event for widows in Bunkpurugu in the North East Region on Wednesday, July 10.

The ceremony was attended by hundreds of widows and NPP supporters, all in high spirits.

During the event, Dr. Bawumia announced that it marked the first day of his constituency-to-constituency campaign, and he chose to start in his home region.

The Vice President expressed his readiness to promote his views and vision for the nation’s progress.

Dr. Bawumia emphasised his commitment to championing initiatives that would benefit the country as a whole.

He shared his aspirations for development and improvement across various sectors.

In his address, Dr. Bawumia urged the widows to support him in the upcoming election by voting for him in large numbers.

He assured them that, if elected President, he would focus on policies and actions that would help improve their lives.

“I am very touched and grateful to be with you this evening as the Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party for the 2024 presidential elections. Today is the first of my campaign at every constituency, and I decided to start the campaign at home, and that is why I am with you today.”

“I am your son and your husband, and therefore I am asking for your support, so I can help you when I become the president of Ghana in 2025,” he said.

The event highlighted Dr. Bawumia’s dedication to grassroots engagement and his intent to connect with voters directly, reinforcing his campaign’s focus on inclusive development and support for all citizens.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.