Exploration

Energy Jeel Initiative to empower Libyan youth in oil and gas

The programme aims to upskill participants in the energy sector.

With an aim to advance the Energy Jeel Initiative, the African Energy Chamber has entered a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Oil and Gas of Libya

The programme aims to upskill participants in the energy sector, keeping in mind a just and inclusive energy future that is currently driving Africa. Areas of focus will include skills development, innovation, entrepreneurship and gender inclusion in the energy workforce, with an approach designed to integrate Libya into the nation’s energy community. The AEC will work closely with the Ministry to facilitate on-the-job training and internships; host joint ventures, workshops and youth summits; provide visibility and endorsement through AEC platforms and publications; and enable access to Africa’s vast energy networks.

By investing in youth-led growth, the Energy Jeel Initiative will help address critical challenges in Africa’s energy future – including energy poverty, workforce gaps and the need for greater regional collaboration. With over 600 million Africans lacking access to electricity and 900 million still reliant on traditional biomass for cooking, Africa’s oil, gas and renewable energy resources pose a strong opportunity to drive industrialisation. Building a skilled and inclusive workforce is key to cultivating this sustainable development.

Libya’s energy sector offers vast potential for both fossil fuel and renewable energy development. With significant oil and gas reserves, alongside world-class solar and wind resources, the country is uniquely positioned to play a major role in Africa’s energy security and transition. Through the Energy Jeel Initiative, the Ministry of Oil and Gas aims to ensure that this development benefits all segments of society, particularly young people and women.

The Energy Jeel Initiative also stands to benefit from Libya’s renewed upstream momentum, with recent developments such as ExxonMobil’s MoU with the country’s National Oil Corporation signaling fresh investment and exploration activity. As global players re-engage with Libya’s oil and gas sector, the Initiative will equip young professionals with the technical skills and industry knowledge they need to participate in and lead future projects. This alignment ensures Libya’s youth are directly connected to the country’s expanding role in Africa’s energy landscape.

UEG enters strategic partnership with Egypt

A MoU was signed between the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and UEG. (Image source: Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources)

While paying an official visit to the United Arab Emirates, Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, held a meeting with Song Yu, chairman and executive director, Kamel El-Sawi, the company's Regional President for Africa, and the accompanying delegation

UEG's investment expansion interests in Egypt and its strategic partnership with the Egyptian petroleum sector in Iraq were acknowledged during the meeting.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources and UEG to establish a strategic framework for cooperation in exploring investment opportunities in the oil and gas sectors inside and outside Egypt, while exploring the possibility of expanding renewable energy projects and energy trading activities.

Following the signing, Song Yu appreciated the fruitful cooperation with the Egypt's petroleum sector, highlighting that the successes achieved on the ground reinforce the company's desire to continue expanding the partnership, especially in light of the strategic pillars and efforts by the Ministry of Petroleum, under the leadership of the Minister of Petroleum, to attract investment and develop the sector.

NOC Libya, ExxonMobil sign MoU on four offshore blocks

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ExxonMobil will conduct a detailed technical study offshore Libya. (Image source: NOC Libya)

Libya's National Oil Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the American international oil company ExxonMobil

The MoU will enable the oil major to conduct a detailed technical study to identify hydrocarbon presence on four offshore blocks located near the northwest coast and the Sirte Basin.

The collaboration reinforces resumption of the partnership between NOC and ExxonMobil, which aims to restart its activities in Libya after a decade-long hiatus.

In a speech at the signing ceremony, the chairman of the NOC Board of Directors, Engineer Masoud Suleman, emphasised the corporation’s commitment to expanding partnerships with major American energy companies, particularly ExxonMobil. He expressed confidence in the potential for positive outcomes based on the history of their collaboration. He also noted that the contract terms are now more favorable than in the past, reflecting global changes in the energy sector, and that the conditions are ideal for achieving success.

He praised the value of Libyan expertise and technical personnel in exploration, development, and drilling by highlighting their ability to conduct essential preliminary studies that provide the data companies need to initiate exploration activities.

It is worth noting that ExxonMobil was one of the companies that expressed interest in participating in the public bidding round initiated by the NOC for exploration in Libya, which includes 22 offshore and onshore blocks available for investment.

Akrake spuds first well in Seme field offshore Benin

The drilling is part of a 100-day three-well work-programme to redevelop the Sèmè Field.

Rex International Holding Limited-subsidiary, Akrake Petroleum Benin SA, has spudded the first well in the Sèmè Field in Block 1, Benin, using the Borr Gerd jack-up drilling rig

The drilling is part of a 100-day three-well work-programme to redevelop the Sèmè Field. The drilling campaign includes two horizontal production wells in the H6 formation (previously developed), as well as a deeper vertical appraisal well to gather data from the H7 and H8 reservoirs, to facilitate the potential advancement to Phase 2 of the development.

Steve Moore, deputy chief operating officer of Rex and general manager of Akrake Petroleum, said, “We are excited to bring oil production back to the Sèmè Field and to Benin after such a long time, and we would like to express our deep appreciation to the Benin authorities and our local partner Octogone E&P S.A. for their strong support and cooperation in all aspects of this drilling operation, allowing us to achieve first oil in as short a time as possible.”

Lars B. Hübert, chief executive officer of Lime Petroleum Holding AS, said, “2025 will be a pivotal year for our three wholly-owned subsidiaries: Akrake Petroleum in Benin, Lime Petroleum AS in Norway and Lime Resources Germany GmbH in Germany. This work-programme in Benin is just one of several high-impact operations happening within our multinational portfolio of assets in 2025. We are leveraging on the collective experience and expertise of LPH’s teams across geographies, as well as from the wider Rex Group, for geological & geophysical work, seismic analysis, procurement, operations, asset development and fundraising, among others; and are on track to quickly add reserves and establish production in the countries in which we operate.”

Europa associate to farm out interest offshore Equatorial Guinea

Both partners have entered into detailed commercial discussions.

Europa Oil & Gas' associated company, Antler Global Limited, will be farming out an interest in the EG08 production sharing contract (PSC) offshore Equatorial Guinea by a non-binding Heads of Terms with a major energy company

Both partners have entered into detailed commercial discussions to advance the farm out agreement, which will become official once approved by the Minister for Energy of Equatorial Guinea.

Europa has a 42.9% equity interest in Antler which in turn holds an 80% working interest in the EG-08 PSC, with the remaining 20% held by GEPetrol (Guinea Equatorial de Petroleos), the national oil company of Equatorial Guinea, representing the State’s interest.

The EG-08 block contains 2.116 TCF (Pmean), with the primary prospect being Barracuda which is estimated to be 798 BCF (Pmean).

William Holland, chief executive officer of Europa, said, “The signing of these heads of terms is a very positive step forward and comes after an extensive period of negotiations with what we believe is an excellent partner. Although there are no guarantees, I am confident that we will progress to signing a farm out agreement in the coming months and will then move to drilling the Barracuda well as soon as possible thereafter. I look forward to updating the market of our progress in due course.”

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