The Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) newly-appointed Minister of Hydrocarbons Aimé Sakombi Molendo has joined the Angola Oil&Gas (AOG) conference – taking place October 2-3 in Luanda – to discuss opportunities for regional collaboration in the oil and gas sector. Minister Molendo has expressed his intention to implement bold reforms to enhance transparency, efficiency and the overall attractiveness of the industry in the DRC, with the aim of supporting new investments and commercial finds. Collaboration with Angola – sub-Saharan Africa’s second largest oil producer – will further support this objective.  

With up to 5 billion barrels of estimated oil reserves, the DRC is inviting investors to seize opportunities in the country’s largely undeveloped upstream sector, and recent exploration milestones are expected to entice new investors. Specifically, independent hydrocarbon producer Perenco – through its offshore DRC subsidiary Muanda International Oil Company – made an oil discovery at the Moke-East well in the DRC coastal basin in 2024. Part of a broader campaign to unlock further hydrocarbon resources in the country, the well represents the first discovery made in the DRC in three decades.  

To maintain upstream success, the country is currently seeking applications for its 2022 Bid Round, offering 24 blocks for exploration. Bidding will close in Q3, 2024, with 6 contracts already awarded. Additionally, licenses for three Lake Kivu gas blocks were awarded to North American energy companies Symbion Power, Winds Energy&Production and Alfakiri in January 2023, paving the way for the development of a $300 million, 60 MW gas-to-power project. To further support upstream investments, the DRC launched an upstream market expansion initiative in 2022, aimed at unlocking oil reserves valued at up to $650 billion.  

Beyond upstream investments, the country is strengthening its collaboration with regional neighbors to stimulate development and resource monetization. The DRC signed an agreement with Angola in July 2023 for the joint development of the Chevron-operated Block 14 – situated on the maritime border of the two countries. Formalizing nearly two-decades of negotiations, the agreement defines the terms and general principles of exploration activity as well as production sharing and ownership. In addition to block development, the agreement is poised to encourage further investment from Chevron as well as other investors seeking offshore opportunities. The respective national oil companies of the DRC and Angola also signed an oil by-products agreement in December 2023, supporting cross-border petroleum trade.  

Minister Molendo’s participation at AOG 2024 serves to further strengthen collaboration between the DRC and Angola. With over 75% of Angola’s crude production derived offshore, the country offers significant insights for an emerging player such as the DRC. During the AOG 2024 conference, Minister Molendo will deliver a keynote and is also joining a panel discussion on Bridging Borders: Leveraging the Oil&Gas Sector to Advance Regional Trade. This participation reflects the DRC’s commitment to harnessing the full potential of its oil and gas to support economic growth across the sub-Saharan African region.  

AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute; national oil company Sonangol; and the African Energy Chamber; the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.  

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

The African Development Bank-supported (www.AfDB.org) AfriCircular Innovators Programme has selected 30 small and medium enterprises to receive financing and technical assistance to scale up circular economy (https://apo-opa.co/3SZxikc) initiatives. This inaugural cohort, drawn from Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Rwanda, participated in an online onboarding event on August 9, 2024.

The AfriCircular Innovators Programme, funded by the African Development Bank’s Africa Circular Economy Facility (ACEF) and being implemented in partnership with the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA), aims to support innovative circular economy solutions that foster sustainable and inclusive growth. MSMEs represent 80 percent of Africa’s businesses, while the circular economy in Africa has the potential to generate 11 million jobs.

The 30 selected enterprises will receive support to scale their circular initiatives within the five “big bets”, the sectors identified by ACEA for their high potential in job creation and economic growth: packaging, food systems, built environment, electronics, fashion and textile.

Among the beneficiaries are enterprises developing smart energy metering, reimagining the construction industry using coconut husks, transforming plastic waste into durable construction blocks, and digitalizing the collection and processing of e-waste.

Ndintambwe Feeds Limited, a Rwandan company that produces affordable animal feeds using insects and maggots as an environmentally-friendly alternative to soybean and fishmeal, is one of the selected businesses. Speaking at the event, the founder, Jean Bosco Nshutiyimana said, “As an SME, we face numerous challenges. The biggest ones include limited financial capacity to fully implement our project, and the lack of required skills to sustain a profitable recycling business without harming the environment.”

Koumbem Fatou Emilienne, representative of Siboré Luxury Hair, another beneficiary, said, “Joining AfriCircular’s Innovators Program offers a valuable opportunity for Siboré Luxury Hair, aligned with our commitment to sustainability. Through this program, we will benefit from the expertise and resources needed to optimize our production processes, and reduce waste and improve energy efficiency. Financial support and access to cutting-edge technologies will strengthen our production capacity and positive environmental impact.”  

The AfriCircular Innovators Programme aligns with the African Development Bank’s Jobs for Youth in Africa (JfYA) Strategy. With Africa’s youth population set to double to over 830 million by 2050, harnessing this demographic dividend is vital for economic growth, against a backdrop of persisting high unemployment and underemployment.

ACEF, as the sole Multi-Donor Trust Fund dedicated to mainstreaming the circular economy in Africa, strategically finances initiatives that drive inclusive and green growth, optimize resource efficiency, foster innovation, and create sustainable job opportunities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media contact:
Communication and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org

Angola will finalize the partial privatization of its national oil company (NOC) Sonangol by 2026 with an initial public offering (IPO) expected to draw in investors. The government is divesting a 30% stake in the NOC in line with efforts to support Sonangol’s ambition to become a competitive operator, thereby transforming its role from a functioning arm of the government into a more proactive upstream player.

As Sonangol gradually transforms into a vertically integrated oil and gas company, the company has joined Africa’s largest energy event – the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy conference – as a diamond sponsor. This sponsorship not only reflects Sonangol’s commitment to developing the Angolan oil and gas industry even further but showcases an intention to engage with global investors and regional partners alike to usher in a new era of energy security in Africa.

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.

The government is privatizing Sonangol by offering 11 of its processes to the public through public tenders, limited tenders and IPOs. The company’s privatization is part of the country’s broader Propriv initiative, which aims to drive economic reform by promoting free markets, increased competition between companies and the reduction of barriers to entry. For Sonangol, privatization is expected to affirm the company’s role as an internationally-recognized oil and gas operator by mobilizing private sector financing and enabling the company to focus on its role as an operator. In turn, this will enhance investor confidence in the market while positioning Sonangol as a catalyst for production growth in Angola.

As the NOC, Sonangol already combines its expertise with international oil companies to accelerate exploration and drive oil projects forward in Angola. In 2024, Sonangol and its project partners TotalEnergies and Petronas achieved FID for the Kaminho deepwater development in Block 20/11. Comprising the Cameia and Golfinho fields, the $6 billion development represents the first large deepwater project in the Kwanza basin and will produce 70,000 barrels per day (bpd) once operational by 2028. The company also expects the Agogo Integrated West Hub Development – situated in Block 15/06 and featuring the development of 36 new wells – to start operations by late-2025. Developed in partnership with international energy company Azule Energy, the project will utilize an FPSO with a capacity of 120,000 bpd. In Block 17, Sonangol and TotalEnergies are working towards first production at the CLOV Phase 3 project. Comprising a five-well expansion, the project aims to increase production by 30,000 bpd

In the natural gas sector, Sonangol inaugurated the Falcão Phase 2 gas project in December 2023. The project delivers gas from the Angola LNG facility to the Soyo I combined cycle power plant. With a capacity of 125 million cubic feet, the project generates power to support industry and petrochemical plants in Angola. Meanwhile, development is progressing at the Quiluma and Maboqueiro fields – Angola’s first non-associated gas project. Achieving FID in 2022, the project comprises two onshore platforms, an onshore gas processing plant and a connection to the Angola LNG facility. First gas is planned for 2026 with an expected production of 330 million cubic feet per day.

Beyond oil and gas, Sonangol is advancing low-carbon solutions in Angola. The company signed a deal with Azule Energy in 2024 to develop a biorefinery at the Luanda refining facility. The deal follows an agreement signed between the companies in 2023 for collaboration in the fields of decarbonization. Additionally, in December 2023, Sonangol and TotalEnergies inked a cooperation agreement to support the detection and reduction of methane emissions in Angola’s oil and gas industry. The agreement enables Sonangol to utilize TotalEnergies’ Airborne Ultralight Spectrometer for Environmental Applications technology.  

“Committed to steering production growth in Angola, Sonangol sets a strong example for other NOCs in Africa. The company’s transformation stands to not only strengthen Angola’s project portfolio but creates newfound opportunities for collaboration with other project developers in Africa. Sonangol recognizes the value in investing in oil and gas while accelerating the uptake of low-carbon solutions. This should be replicated in other markets across the region as countries move to make energy poverty history by 2030,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

During AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024, Sonangol will draw insight into the company’s project portfolio and how privatization has strengthened its capacity as an operator. Participating in panel discussions and engaging with regional counterparts, Sonangol’s presence at the event will serve to promote collaboration in African oil and gas. Sonangol’s CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins is also speaking at the event this November.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Global media outlet CNBC Africa has once again partnered with African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy 2024 as its official media partner. Taking place in Cape Town from November 4-8, this year’s conference will see a number of major announcements, deal-signings and industry updates. CNBC Africa will provide real-time coverage of the event, bringing the latest news and insights to a global audience. 

CNBC Africa represents one of the world’s largest business news outlets, boasting a global audience of over 355 million people a month across various platforms. The media house offers a comprehensive portfolio with a suite of digital products and disseminates news and information to the global economy. As such, CNBC Africa’s partnership with AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 is poised to enhance the global reach of the event, which unites African governments and policymakers with global financiers and technology providers and represents the official deal-signing platform for the African energy sector. 

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. 

Taking place under the theme, Energy Growth through an Enabling Environment, AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 covers every segment of Africa’s energy value chain, including upstream exploration and production, midstream transportation and storage, downstream refining and processing, and much more. Experts from across every level of the energy industry will lead discussions and deals, including in oil and gas, coal and mining, renewables and green hydrogen and more. Meanwhile though-leaders and innovators from the mining, power, finance, policy, technology, climate and infrastructure sectors will also spearhead discussions at this year’s expanded event. 

As a media partner, CNBC Africa is well-positioned to ensure Africa’s energy message reaches a global audience. CNBC Africa’s live coverage of the event will not only showcase numerous deals and agreements set to be inked this November but will promote future engagement and investment during Africa’s biggest energy event. At AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024, the media outlet will cover panel discussions, ministerial forums, presentations, networking events and investors summits. All major deals and announcements will be shared via CNBC Africa’s digital products. 

“As a global business news outlet, CNBC Africa is a valuable partner for AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 in Cape Town. The event aims to provide a platform for African voices to both engage in and lead global energy dialogue. The partnership will only further this objective. By distributing news and information about the event, CNBC Africa will provide global stakeholders with critical information on AEW’s objectives and value for Africa and the world’s energy future. The African Energy Chamber is committed to making AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 a world-class event, and this partnership with CNBC Africa will only serve to enhance this trend,” states African Energy Chamber Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk. 

During AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024, CNBC Africa will be at the forefront of all discussions, capturing exciting news and developments that will be announced during the continent’s premier energy event. With a focus on networking and deals, this year’s edition will represent the biggest opportunity for securing newsworthy information about Africa’s energy future. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.