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Mozambique will see heightened bilateral cooperation in oil and gas driven by equality, reciprocity and mutual benefits, as the state-owned entity, Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos, E.P. (ENH), signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SONATRACH

The MoU was signed by the chairman and CEO of SONATRACH, Rachid Hachichi and Ludovina Bernardo, chairwoman of the Board of Directors of ENH, during a ceremony organised at the Ministry of Mines and Energy of the Republic of Mozambique, in the presence of Mourad Adjal, Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies.

The MoU binds the two organisations to extend cooperation within the framework of hydrocarbons exploration and production projects that will also include transportation and downstream activities, while covering the whole value chain.

The partners are also considering a feasibility study on establishing a national gas distribution network for domestic consumption. SONATRACH is willing to provide training courses at ENH through knowledge-sharing in oil geology, engineering and operations.

Energy data and intelligence provider, TGS, has been awarded a streamer acquisition contract in Africa 

The acquisition is scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of this year and the contract has a duration of approximately 50 days.

Kristian Johansen, CEO of TGS, said, "We are very pleased to secure this work programme and look forward to supporting our client's exploration efforts in the region with our proven technology and expertise. By leveraging the Ramform acquisition platform, coupled with our proprietary GeoStreamer technology we are well equipped to deliver the highest data quality to our client." 

TGS has previously worked in regions such as Benin, Tanzania and Liberia. For its Benin MegaSurvey it expanded its 3D seismic coverage, while in Tanzania it has acquired license for more than 132,000 sq kms of seismic data, both 2D and 3D.

In Liberia, the company is working to rejuvenate the existing legacy 2D and 3D datasets in the Liberia and Harper Basins, aspiring to reach high subsurface clarity. 

The company's first subsea project in Angola, McDermott has delivered engineering, procurement, construction, installation, pre-commissioning and commissioning activities for TotalEnergies' Begonia field development

The Begonia field is located in Block 17/06, approximately 150 kilometers off the coast of Angola.

Awarded in 2022, the project followed the company's integrated execution model, drawing on its global engineering and procurement expertise, growing onshore fabrication capabilities in Luanda and offshore installation supported by its versatile marine fleet. McDermott's Amazon vessel alone installed more than 40 kilometers of rigid pipelines, while its North Ocean 102 vessel completed the project's subsea umbilical scope.

"This milestone reflects the strength of our integrated subsea capabilities, executed seamlessly from engineering through offshore installation," said Mahesh Swaminathan, McDermott's senior vice president - subsea and floating facilities. "It reinforces the strategic value the Amazon brings to our operations, especially in markets where deepwater infrastructure plays a vital role in advancing energy security. This outcome also speaks to the strength of our partnership with TotalEnergies, the commitment of our local teams and partners in Angola, as well as the strategic importance of West Africa in our portfolio."

The Begonia development consists of five subsea wells tied back to the existing Pazflor floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel in Block 17. First oil was achieved in July of this year, with the new infrastructure expected to add approximately 30,000 barrels of oil per day to Pazflor's existing production capacity.

The HI gas development offshore Nigeria will push ahead as Shell-subsidiary, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited, and Sunlink Energies and Resources Limited, have taken a final investment decision (FID) on the project 

The partners target 350 mn standard cu/ft (approximately 60 thousand barrels of oil equivalent) of gas per day at peak production, which will be supplied to Nigeria LNG (NLNG; Shell interest 25.6%) -- a primary producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to global markets. Production is expected to begin before the end of this decade.

“Following recent investment decisions related to the Bonga deep-water development, today’s announcement demonstrates our continued commitment to Nigeria’s energy sector, with a focus on Deepwater and Integrated Gas,” said Peter Costello, Shell’s Upstream President. “This Upstream project will help Shell grow our leading Integrated Gas portfolio, while supporting Nigeria’s plans to become a more significant player in the global LNG market.”

The increase in feedstock to NLNG, via the Train 7 project that aims to expand the Bonny Island terminal’s production capacity, is in line with Shell’s plans to grow its global LNG volumes by an average of 4-5% per year until 2030. It will also bolster NLNG’s contribution to Nigeria's national economic development goals, including jobs in construction and operations.

The HI field was discovered in 1985 and lies in 100m of water depth around 50km from the shore. The current estimated recoverable resource volumes of the HI project are approximately 285 mmboe (million barrels of oil equivalent). 

Major refining projects  are set to transform Africa’s energy landscape and boost self-suffciency

Africa is set to add 1.2mn barrels per day (bpd) of new refining capacity by 2030, representing one of the fastest downstream expansions globally, according to the newly released 2025 OPEC World Oil Outlook.

At the forefront of Africa’s refining expansion is Nigeria’s 650,000-bpd Dangote Refinery, which began operations in 2024 and is already reshaping regional fuel trade dynamics. Further developments include the 200,000-bpd Akwa Ibom Refinery, also in Nigeria, and Angola’s state-driven push to bring online the 200,000-bpd Lobito Refinery and 100,000-bpd Soyo Refinery by 2030.

Uganda’s refining ambitions are taking shape with a 60,000-bpd facility in Hoima, part of the country’s broader Lake Albert basin development plan, while modular refinery projects in Ghana, Guinea-Conakry, the Republic of Congo and additional sites in Nigeria are buiding capacity in markets where infrastructure and financing hurdles persist. In North Africa, Algeria (Hassi Messaoud), Libya (Ubari) and Egypt (Soukhna) are all advancing refinery projects aimed at capturing higher margins, improving domestic supply security and reducing dependency on imports of refined petroleum products.

According to OPEC, Africa will need over US$40bn in refining investments by 2030 to meet its mid-decade objectives, and beyond that, an additional US$60+ billion for refinery construction, modernisation and secondary processing capacity upgrades. This opens a US$100 billion investment opportunity for project developers, institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds and energy-focused private equity.

Africa’s rising domestic consumption of crude – forecast to reach 4.5 million bpd by 2050 from just 1.8 million bpd in 2024 – further underlines the need for investing in downstream infrastructure.
If the continent seizes this momentum, it can move beyond being a raw crude exporter to becoming a competitive, resilient and integrated energy producer.

The 2025 edition of African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies in Cape Town will provide a platform for governments, operators and financiers to align on next-phase refinery projects, policy incentives and deal pipelines, as countries seek to reduce costly imports and capture more value from domestic crude,

Oil Review Africa catches up with Christopher Hudson, President of dmg events, ahead of ADIPEC 2025

Excerpts from an interview: 

Energy across Africa, as elsewhere in the world, is seeing major shifts and advancements. How does ADIPEC 2025 reflect this changing industry landscape and help meet the needs? 

Energy is one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving sectors. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global energy demand rose by 2.2% last year, outpacing the average annual increase of 1.3% recorded over the last decade. At the same time, the global population is projected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, with over 750 million people still lacking access to electricity, and more than 2.1 billion people remain without access to clean cooking. Rising urbanisation and living standards are reshaping energy demand, with air conditioning alone expected to be one of the largest contributors to electricity demand growth in the coming decades. This reveals the sector’s increasing need to not only produce more energy but to produce it in a way that is equitable and sustainable.

In this context, ADIPEC 2025 is being held under the theme of ‘Energy. Intelligence. Impact’. It reflects a simple but powerful truth: meeting the world’s growing need for secure, affordable and sustainable energy will depend on how intelligently we harness every resource – human, technological and natural – to deliver meaningful results for economies and communities alike.

At its core, the theme recognises that intelligence – both human and artificial – is transforming the way energy is produced, managed, and consumed. From AI-driven optimisation and digital integration to advances in hydrogen, LNG, and decarbonisation, intelligent innovation is reshaping the global energy landscape. ADIPEC serves as the meeting point for these forces, where ideas translate into action and impact can be measured in investment, policy, and progress.

AI is a major topic of discussion in the context of energy, due to its high demand. How is ADIPEC responding to the challenges and opportunities of the AI-energy nexus? 

Artificial intelligence is reshaping both global energy demand and the industry’s ability to respond. Data centres already consume around 1.5% of global electricity, and with AI workloads, that demand could more than double by 2030, rising from 415 TWh to 945 TWh. A single advanced AI model can require as much electricity to train as 100 households use in a year, while an AI query may consume 10 times more energy than a standard search.

This convergence is both a challenge and an opportunity. AI requires enormous energy, but it can also optimise grids, cut waste, improve operational efficiency, and accelerate decarbonisation. At ADIPEC 2025, we have expanded our AI Zone into five experiential areas showcasing how AI is transforming systems, people, and infrastructure. Alongside this, more than 80 conference sessions are dedicated to the AI–energy nexus, from predictive analytics to governance frameworks.

For Africa, this is particularly significant. Many countries are rapidly digitalising while also expanding power systems. The ability of AI to enhance reliability and reduce costs could be transformative for energy access and economic growth.

How is the diversity of the African continent and its vast energy sector reflected across ADIPEC 2025’s programme? 

Africa is a core part of ADIPEC’s community. This year, we are proud to welcome a strong delegation of African ministers and leaders, including those from Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Equatorial Guinea, and Egypt. Their participation enriches ADIPEC’s Strategic Conference and exhibitions, ensuring Africa’s perspectives are reflected in discussions on natural gas, hydrogen, downstream, and low-carbon solutions.

dmg events is also the largest organiser of energy and infrastructure events across Africa, with long-standing operations in Nigeria, Mozambique, Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa, Egypt and Morocco. This presence gives us a unique vantage point to bridge African priorities with global dialogue.

Africa holds some of the world’s largest reserves of natural gas, oil, and minerals, as well as enormous potential in renewables. ADIPEC is committed to supporting this potential by convening African voices alongside global leaders, unlocking partnerships that can expand access, accelerate industrialisation, and strengthen Africa’s contribution to global energy progress.

Some of ADIPEC 2025’s notable African speakers include: Honourable J. Opiyo Wandayi, Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum, Kenya; Honourable Sen. Dr. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister for State (Oil), Petroleum Resources, Nigeria; Rt. Honourable Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister for State (Gas) Petroleum Resources, Nigeria; Honourable Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power, Nigeria; Honourable Julius D. Mattai, Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Republic of Sierra Leone; Honourable Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Uganda; His Excellency Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Arab Republic of Egypt; His Excellency Antonio Oburu Ondo, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons, Equatorial Guinea, Honorable Julius D. Mattai, Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources, Republic of Sierra Leonne; Honourable July Moyo, Minister of Energy and Power Development, Zimbabwe; His Excellency Nani Juwara, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Gambia; Honourable Cheikh Niane, Deputy Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Senegal, and Mathias Katamba, board chairman, Uganda National Oil Company.