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NNPC Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Algerian National Oil Company, Sonatrach, to advance partnership opportunities in research, development and innovation

The MoU with Sonatrach will be led by NNPC's Research Technology and Innovation (RTI) Division, in collaboration with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF). The agreement framework was signed by NNPC's executive vice president - business services, Sophia Mbakwe, and Sonatrach's managing director, Khodjah Mohamed, during the latest African Petroleum Producers' Organisation (APPO) Forum for R&D Directors at the PTDF Tower in Abuja, Nigeria. 

While speaking of the significant players in advancing Africa's hydrocarbons sector, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri explained that the forum originated as a platform for navigating the global energy transition by leveraging funding, technology, and markets, and said, "The R&D forum tackles technology and expertise needs, the African Energy Bank addresses funding constraints, and the Central African Pipeline System supports regional oil and gas market integration."

"Collaboration in research and development is of strategic importance. The cost of innovation might be high, but the cost of obsolescence would be greater," said NNPC's chief financial officer, Adedapo Segun.

The Group chief executive officer of NNPC, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, fosters a vision for a unified strategic framework through which resources could be pooled, data integrated and risks shared across member countries. He also stressed on the rapid adoption of digital technologies, artificial intelligence and advanced engineering to improve upstream, midstream and downstream operations.

The APPO secretary general, Farid Ghezali, urged African petroleum producing countries to ensure research in the oil and gas sector produced solutions that are practical and directly relevant to the continent. "We must ensure that our research delivers solutions that are practical and of direct use to Africa," he said.

Following exploration successes from the Zafiro, Asen/Aleng and Ceiba/Okume fields in Equatorial Guinea, the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Mining Development has now initiated a comprehensive reprocessing campaign in Rio Muni basin, which is anticipated to possess excellent geological promise

A survey over 9,600 sq km of the largely underexplored basin has been launched by Geoex MCG, in partnership with Perceptum and DUG Technology and the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Mining Development.

Once the results of the reprocessing are out around Q4 2026, interpreters can enjoy the fruits of modern data and full waveform inversion (FWI) workflows, gaining influential insights from enhanced quality images. 

To target areas potentially eligible for exploration development, key down-dip plays within the Miocene and Upper Cretaceous–Paleogene intervals will be put to reprocessing. The L-1 and L-2 wells will be tied for attaining velocity and depth control. 

Equatorial Guinea, including offshore Sao Tome and Principe as per the Jaca well, is known to be rich in reservoir and source sequences, and the reprocessing team will be hunting for the entry points to especially access potential source rock presence in these regions. An in-depth understanding of the tectonic history will help delineate the largely coveted distal petroleum systems which holds the promise of vast volumes. The reprocessing will generate advanced images of high-resolution delineation of aged intervals in the region.

Sulzer has announced a joint venture with Jawaby Services & Investments Ltd (JSIL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC), to provide in‑country rotating equipment services in Libya

The company has launched an entity named Jawaby Sulzer Services whose in-country service facility will operate locally in Libya while meeting global industry standards in oil & gas, power generation and industrial operations. With the signing of this agreement, Sulzer brings in internationally recognized maintenance and repair expertise in Libya. Its operational headquarters will be build in the Misrata Free Zone, near Tripoli. Through the JV, Sulzer and JSIL will establish full-scope, OEM-grade rotating equipment services within Libya for the first time, combining Sulzer’s global technical expertise with JSIL’s strong local presence and market connectivity.

Until now, operators have been required to send critical assets (including pumps, gas and steam turbines, compressors, motors and generators) abroad for overhaul and major repairs, resulting in extended lead times and increased operational risk. Jawaby Sulzer Services addresses this market gap by delivering maintenance, re-engineering and rehabilitation services locally with Sulzer’s global excellence standards.

Alex Myers, regional president of India, Middle East & CIS (INMEC) at Sulzer Services, said, “Establishing Jawaby Sulzer Services marks an important step in strengthening our presence in the region in support of our customers. Amidst the acceleration of upstream investment, operators need dependable, locally delivered expertise to keep complex rotating equipment running safely and efficiently. This joint venture ensures that international standards and technical depth are now embedded within Libya’s energy sector, supporting stable operations and long-term industrial growth.”

Ahmed Ibrahim ElBadri, executive manager of JSIL, added, “Our partnership brings together JSIL’s strong local presence and Sulzer’s global expertise to deliver reliable, high-quality turbomachinery services inside Libya. For us, localization means building lasting capability at home – creating meaningful skilled employment, supporting Libyan suppliers and ensuring that the expertise needed to power the energy sector is developed and retained within the country.”

A new gas discovery offshore western Libya has been confirmed by the National Oil Corporation (NOC) and Eni North Africa, following the drilling of the exploration well J1-4/16

After reaching a final depth of 10,458 ft, flow rates across two tests from the Metlawi reservoir stood at 14 million cubic feet per day through a 32/64-inch choke in the first test, and 24 MMcf/d through a 62/64-inch choke in the second.

Lying approximately 95 kilometers from the coast, the well forms part of Contract 4/16, where Eni is the operator, and also remains the final well in fulfilling nine contractual obligations for offshore Contract Block D, as stipulated in the agreement signed in June 2008. 

This discovery can potentially add to Libya's production count, which saw an impressive rise last year. According to a table of the average daily crude oil production and total (cumulative) production figures for the past 10 years that was recently released by NOC Libya, 2025 had recorded the highest average production rate in comparison to the last decade, at 1.374 million barrels per day. Total crude oil production for the year reached 501 million barrels, marking a posititve shift in the NOC’s strategy to boost crude oil production rates. 

Eni is set to launch three exploration plays in Libya – shallow, deepwater and ultra-deep offshore, and is also deeply invested in the region's gas with the US$10bn Greenstream pipeline and a CO2 capture and storage plant in Mellitah.

Africa’s refining landscape is entering one of its most consequential periods in decades

Across the continent, governments and investors are pursuing sharply different paths. While some are building new mega refineries, others are rehabilitating ageing assets, and several have shut down or abandoned refining altogether. The result is a fragmented energy security map in which a handful of states are moving toward product independence while others are becoming more vulnerable to global supply shocks.

This divergence raises a central question for Africa’s energy future: how will these refinery outcomes reshape regional product flows, commercial stability and long-term energy security?

Refinery revival model in Nigeria

No country illustrates the scale of Africa’s refining ambitions more clearly than Nigeria. After decades of dependence on imported refined products, the country is now positioned to become a regional product hub.

The Dangote effect

The Dangote Refinery -- Africa’s largest -- marks a structural shift in West Africa’s energy landscape. Designed to process hundreds of thousands of barrels per day, it has the potential to:

∙ Significantly reduce Nigeria’s import bill

∙ Stabilise domestic fuel supply

∙ Create export opportunities to Ghana, Togo, Benin, Cameroon and beyond

∙ Ease pressure on foreign exchange markets

Even partial operationalisation has already altered expectations across the region.

Port Harcourt rehabilitation

Alongside Dangote, the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery signals a renewed commitment to restoring legacy capacity. While timelines have shifted, the project remains symbolically and strategically important. If successful, it will complement Dangote by providing additional domestic supply and reducing reliance on imported products.

Strategic impact

Nigeria is moving from a position of chronic import dependence toward potential net exporter status. This shift could reshape West African product flows and strengthen regional energy security -- provided operational stability is achieved.

Incremental expansion and rehabilitation in Angola

Angola represents a quieter but equally important refinery story. As one of Africa’s major crude producers, its reliance on imported refined products has long been a structural contradiction.

Upgrading existing capacity

Angola has invested in upgrading its existing refining infrastructure to improve efficiency and expand output. These efforts aim to reduce import dependence and stabilise domestic supply.

New projects in development

The government has also advanced plans for new refining capacity, seeking to diversify its downstream sector and capture more value domestically.

Strategic impact

Angola’s incremental approach is gradually strengthening its energy security. While not transformative on the scale of Nigeria, it represents a steady move toward greater self sufficiency and reduced exposure to global price volatility.

Refineries closing in South Africa

South Africa offers a stark contrast. Once home to several major refineries, the country has seen its domestic refining capacity collapse.

Import dependency

By 2022–2023, all major crude refineries -- including Sapref, Enref and PetroSA’s Mossel Bay plant -- were shut or mothballed. The result is a country of South Africa’s economic size relying almost entirely on imported refined products.

Economic and infrastructure consequences

The impact has been significant:

∙ Aviation fuel shortages

∙ Bitumen shortages affecting construction

∙ Price volatility across petrol and diesel markets

∙ Heightened vulnerability to global shipping disruptions, including Red Sea tensions

Strategic impact

South Africa’s experience underscores the risks of losing domestic refining capacity. It highlights why refinery revival efforts elsewhere in Africa carry strategic weight.

Uganda's refinery story

Uganda provides a different kind of refinery story -- one shaped by geopolitics, financing pressures and environmental concerns.

The abandoned Lake Albert refinery

Uganda initially planned a refinery in the Lake Albert region to process its crude domestically. Despite years of negotiation, the project stalled due to:

∙ Financing challenges

∙ Investor withdrawal

- Geopolitical pressures

- Shifting commercial priorities

Pivot to the EACOP pipeline

Instead of a refinery, Uganda pivoted to the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) through Tanzania. The pipeline is:

∙ More costly financially

- More environmentally sensitive

- Socially disruptive with displacement and resettlement challenges

- Still leaving Uganda dependent on imported refined products

Strategic impact

Uganda’s case shows how refinery failure can lead to long-term energy insecurity. It also illustrates how geopolitical and financial dynamics shape infrastructure outcomes across Africa.

Regional energy security

The combined effect of these refinery trajectories is a reshaped continental energy landscape.

West Africa

Nigeria’s refinery revival could stabilise regional product supply and reduce reliance on European imports. If successful, it may become the anchor of West Africa’s product market.

Southern Africa

South Africa’s refinery collapse has created regional vulnerability, with neighbouring states exposed to supply disruptions and price swings.

East Africa

Uganda’s pipeline strategy increases crude export potential but does not address product security. Kenya’s earlier refinery closure adds to regional import dependence.

North Africa

Countries like Egypt, Algeria and Morocco continue to upgrade and expand refining capacity, maintaining a more stable downstream environment.

Commercial, geopolitical and social implications

Commercial

∙ Domestic refining reduces import bills

∙ FX pressures ease when product imports decline

- Pricing reforms become more politically manageable

- Investment flows shift toward downstream infrastructure

Geopolitical

- International investors from the West, Middle East and China shape project outcomes

- Regional competition for product markets intensifies

- Maritime security risks influence supply chains

Social and environmental

- Refinery projects create employment and industrial development

- Pipeline projects raise displacement and environmental concerns

- Communities experience both benefits and burdens of energy infrastructure

Africa’s refining future

Africa’s refining landscape is diverging, not converging. Some states are building resilience through new or rehabilitated refineries, while others are becoming more dependent on imported products. The next decade will determine whether the continent emerges as a regional refining hub or remains vulnerable to external supply shocks.

What is clear is that refinery decisions made today will shape Africa’s energy sovereignty for decades to come.

The article has been written by Elijah Paul RukidiMpuuga, FCIArb (UK), founder and principal, Equitas Dispute Resolution Group, LLC

At international Energy Week in London, Tony Attah, CEO of Renaissance Africa Energy Company, gave an impassioned presentation calling for Africa’s energy transition to be on African terms, urging global support and hailing the divestment of energy resources from international ownership into African hands

Attah began by acknowledging the role of the energy transition to protect the planet and ensure sustainability, but emphasised the need for a just and equitable transition, respecting Africa’s current realities.
“We need to talk about Africa’s energy transition on African terms. We are not challenging the timelines that have been set by Europe and the rest of the world; we are only insisting that these goals be achieved in the way of Africa’s current realities,” he said.

Attah noted the dual changes in Africa: the energy transition itself and the new phase of African ownership and participation in energy systems. Discussing the global energy context, he noted the rising energy demand and fragility of global energy systems, as evidenced by the Russia Ukraine war. Energy demand is still rising, with consumption of all energy sources, both renewables and fossil fuels, hitting record levels. And while global CO2 emissions have reached record levels for a fourth consecutive year, Africa is contributing just 4% of those emissions, but is still paying the price.

The world, including Africa will need more energy due to population growth and the rise of living standards, with global energy demand projected to grow by around 50% between 2018 and 2050. Africa’s population forecast to rise by 67% between 2018 and 2050, from 1.5bn to 2.5bn with Nigeria’s forecast to double from 200 to 400mn in the same time frame, raising the stark possibility of an energy deficit.

Energy paradox

Attah highlighted Africa’s energy paradox, noting its rich energy resources but widespread energy poverty. “We have world class solar energy resources, 40% of the global solar resource base, strong wind, major hydro and geothermal prospects, critical minerals and substantial hydrocarbons, yet we face an energy paradox where millions of Africans remain energy poor and by implication socially and economically very poor. Over 500 million Africans, nearly 43% of the population, lack direct access to electricity, and over 850 million people lacking access to clean cooking solutions, relying on traditional biomass like wood and charcoal, with a negative impact on health.

800,000 people die annually in Africa due to lack of clean energy including 100,000 in Nigeria, he noted, where 80 million Nigerians lack access to electricity. The country loses over US$29bn a year due to unreliable power supply, and 60% of manufacturing costs are attributed to lack of energy.

Africa needs to define its energy transition based on its current realities, he said.

“You cannot decarbonise the system that you have not yet built, and you cannot transition from the energy you do not have. That is the reality. This is the narrative that we as Renaissance are seeking to help reshape and change in the interests of Africa.”

Turning to the foundation of Renaissance Africa Energy Co, which will celebrate its first anniversary this March, he explained that IOC divestment had enables its shareholders to acquire Shell Nigeria’s onshore shallow water assets, marking a transition from international to African operatorship. These assets have now been successfully operated over the last 11 months. He acknowledged the Nigerian government’s speedy approval of the divestments and the major reforms that have energised the industry, as well as the support of NNPC.

“As our name connotes, it’s a new beginning and perhaps the greatest opportunity for Nigeria and indeed Africa that this energy renaissance is African owned and Africa led,” he noted, adding that the company has a bold vision to be Africa’s leading energy company enabling energy security and industrialisation in a sustainable manner. “This mission will be underpinned by our core values of collaboration, respect, integrity, safety and performance.”

The company has increased oil production by 100,000 in 100 days and contributes 2bn scf of gas to the global gas market, and is working to set the company on a growth path aligned with Nigeria’s ambition to produce 2mn BOPD by 2027 and 3mn bopd by 2030.

“African companies are not just replacing international companies. We are redefining the objectives of the assets linking production to power, to industry, to jobs, domestic value and by implication, economic and social political stability of Africa.”

Need for global support

Attah underlined the need for global support to enable Africa’s energy transition, including finance, technology and reliable infrastructure, to enable Africa to convert potential into progress, highlighting that Africa is rich in resources, talent and ambition and noting its young population.

“Africa should be enabled to lead its energy future on its own terms,” he stressed. “If the world wants Africa to replace diesel and biomass as the main energy source, then gas to power, grids and domestic systems must be financed and supported to power industries with lower emissions. Africa needs proven technologies deployed at scale, designed for reliability and real operating conditions. Gas, renewables, storage, grids must work together as systems. Africa’s transition will endure only if we invest in people, governance and operating discipline so Africa-led companies deliver competitively and responsibly for decades to come,” he said. “This is why the current shift in ownership matters.”

Attah highlighted the need for Africa governments to create certainty, stability and an enabling environment for investors to thrive, and urged global business to partner with Africa for mutual benefit, to integrate global energy systems and global financial institutions and release funds to unleash growth.

“If we get this right, we will build globally, more robust energy systems that will power industries strengthen societies, deliver dignity and reduce emissions in a manner that will enable climate change goals to be achieved sustainability, at least looking through the Africa lens,” he concluded. “Africa’s energy transition will not slow the global transition, it will strengthen it, because when Africa powers its people, builds its industries and grows responsibly the world does not lose; if anything its wins, and the vagaries associated with Africa’s underdevelopment will be a thing of the past.

He ended with the rallying cry, “Let the Africa energy renaissance begin!”