AOW 2023 Programme

AOW 2023: Welcome Reception

The Africa Oil Week welcome reception is an eagerly anticipated event that sets the stage for this premier industry gathering. It offers attendees a fantastic opportunity to mingle, connect, and foster valuable relationships in a relaxed atmosphere with stunning views of Cape Town. As delegates from around the world converge to share insights, innovations, and strategies, the welcome reception serves as the perfect icebreaker, enabling participants to meet new faces and reconnect with industry peers. 

MC Welcome

GOVERNMENT WELCOME ADDRESS, SOUTH AFRICA

GOVERNMENT KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Speaker TBA

GOVERNMENT KEYNOTE ADDRESS

INDUSTRY KEYNOTE ADDRESS

FIRESIDE CHAT: Key Industry Trends and Outlook in Finance and Energy

A Q&A with Africa’s thought leaders shaping the future of finance and energy.
Africa’s strategies to build a high-energy future are as diverse as the continent but all share one common challenge: access to capital. In today’s world, accessing cheap financing requires true ingenuity and competitiveness while balancing local priorities with global scrutiny. In this Q&A, we bring you the perspectives from Africa’s most influential thought leaders shaping the future of finance and energy.

Interviewer: David Parkinson, Vice President, Wood Mackenzie

Networking Coffee Break

INDUSTRY KEYNOTE ADDRESS

PANEL DISCUSSION: Securing Global Energy Demand with Africa’s Resources

According to various industry estimations, oil will peak around 2040 – possibly reaching 114 million barrels per day – but the international community will continue to require hydrocarbons as we transition into year 2050. This being the case, how can African countries adapt to remain competitive and position their upstream markets as the supply base of choice?

• What makes Africa a viable global energy supplier and how can it improve its global strategic positioning by 2050?
• To what extent does the carbon profile of African markets weigh into investment decisions?
• What is the future for frontier oil and gas markets given the global drive to low carbon futures?
• How can non-producing nations attract investment into exploration?
• Thinking beyond upstream – how cangovernments and E&P companies can support the delivery of integrated value chains from oil to refinery/petrochemicals and gas to power/industries?

GOVERNMENT KEYNOTE ADDRESS

COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT: South Africa - Maximising Natural Resources to Support Sustainable Economic Development

Since 2019, Total Energies’ discoveries in the Outeniqua Basin has positioned South Africa as a new exploration frontier and redrew the cards of the country’s energy security scenario. Newly found reserves can support decarbonization and industrialization at home, while encouraging additional exploration in frontier basins to the West (Orange Basin) and to the East (South Outeniqua). Meanwhile, onshore exploration and development is picking up: South Africa became an LNG producer in 2022 and is witnessing growing exploration for shallow conventional and coal-bed methane (CBM) gas.

• What are the prospects for additional exploration in South Africa amidst growing ESG opposition and concerns?
• How can policy address current bottlenecks and help unlock investments and value from the country’s oil & gas sector?
• What is the future of gas within South Africa’s energy mix (industry, transport, power)?
• What is South Africa’s main infrastructure requirements to successfully monetise domestic gas?
• What is the role of South African agencies and national companies in supporting the country’soil & gas ambitions? 

Networking Lunch

COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT: Angola - Onshore Licence Round + Marginal Fields

In this session, the Angolan Ministry and ANPG will set out objectives for the 2023/4 licence round and how the concessioning of their 10 onshore oil blocks will help the country discover new resources to attract investment and drive innovation.  

Government Opening remarks: Ministry of Mineral Resources and Petroleum, Angola

Moderator: Senior representative, Deloitte

Somalia: National Showcase

Led by: Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources of the Federal Republic of Somalia

FIRESIDE CHAT: Building the African E&P Companies of the Future

To be competitive in today’s energy world, E&P companies in Africa must embrace new business models and navigate complex regulatory, operational, and technical realities. As Africa’s upstream landscape evolves, we bring you two of the continent’s most active E&P players and two of sub-Saharan Africa's largest oil producing countries to talk about their approach to developing Africa’s natural resources.

Interviewer: Mansur Mohammed, Head of West Africa Upstream Content, Sub-Saharan Africa Oil & Gas, Wood Mackenzie

COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT: Planning for Success in Namibia

The recent discovery of hydrocarbon prospects along Namibia’s offshore borders has brought exciting investment opportunities, which could lead to considerable oil revenue for this diverse, new energy hub. As E&P companies maintain their pursuit of the deep offshore Orange Basin, we invite stakeholders to share how we learn from the past to ensure that these new discoveries are equitable and provide social economic benefits to the region.  

• Deep water exploration challenges and opportunities.
• Cost effective solutions to low carbon emissions.
• Enabling local access and participation to meet supply chain demands.
• The next step for exploration success – Walvis Basin.
• Balancing regional and export demands.

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: How Seplat is driving sustainability through Energy Transition and Security in Nigeria

South Africa: National Showcase

REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT: MSGBC – Accelerating Growth Through Regional Partnership

The MSGBC basin, encompassing the waters from Mauritania, Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Conakry, holds sizeable offshore oil and gas reserves. Known to offer a favourable investment climate, this region is positioned to be one of the most exciting areas for oil & gas activity this decade. In 2024, both the $4.8 billion Grand Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG project in Mauritania/Senegal and the Sangomar Offshore Oil Project in Senegal will be commissioned, while a wildcat well will be drilled offshore Guinea Bissau. In this session, Ministers and senior government from the MSGBC Basin gather to discuss how these mega projects will deliver sustainable economic transformation for the region.  

PANEL DISCUSSION : Driving Social Value for African Economies Through Local Content

Africa’s oil and gas can be a conduit for its development, if delivered on an equitable basis through a focus on local content and domestic value creation. Achieving stronger stakeholder collaboration between government and private sector is paramount to ensure oil and gas can deliver a legacy of prosperity and economic benefits to host countries.  

• What does an equitable local content policy in oil and gas look like for Africa?
• What can operators do to empower local economies and develop the domestic capacities required to support national development agendas?
• How to ensure local markets, local people and local communities gain long term benefit from oil and gas investment?
• How to empower SMEs and national technology and service providers to access oil and gas projects?
• How can policy support local content to become a positive enabler for local businesses?

Happy Hour

Close of Day 1

Day 1: Networking Reception

Open to all! Connect and engage with delegates at the evening networking reception hosted by AOW. 

MC Welcome

GOVERNMENT WELCOME ADDRESS

GOVERNMENT KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Speaker TBA
 

COUNTRY SPORTLIGHT: NIGERIA - A Renewed Hope for a High Energy Future

Africa’s biggest oil producer is in the middle of a complete overhaul of its energy sector following the adoption of the Petroleum Industry Act in 2021, the Electricity Act in 2023, and the recent removal of its multi-billion dollars gasoline subsidies. To grow output back to the 2 million barrels per day threshold and boost gas supply, Nigeria must now sanction long-delayed offshore projects while resolving its onshore security crisis.

• How are the Petroleum Industry Act and Electricity Act creating new opportunities for investments across the value-chain?
• Following a few encouraging discoveries by TotalEnergies and Seplat Energy since 2021, how can onshore and offshore exploration be further incentivized?
• What are the commercial aspirations of Nigerian independents and how can they access capital to expand energy and gas infrastructure?
• What decarbonisation and ESG strategies are required to make Nigeria’s oil & gas sector more attractive to global capital?

MSGBC: Regional Showcase

Led by: Petrosen, SONAP, AGC, Petroguin

FIRESIDE CHAT: Key Industry Trends and Outlook for African Gas

African gas has become a much sought-after commodity given current geopolitical shocks and strong projected demand from global markets over the coming decades. But at the same time, investors must ensure that new gas projects also work for African local economies and value-creation. This Q&A unpacks the opportunities and challenges of building balanced and value accretive gas markets by giving stage to some of the industry’s most influential thought leaders.

Interviewer: Gavin Thompson, Vice chair EMEA, SVP Research, Wood Mackenzie

Networking Coffee Break

PANEL DISCUSSION : Monetising Africa’s Gas in the Next 7 – 10 years

As valuable as gas is for Africa, its potential as a transition fuel is yet to be truly actualised. According to the IEA, tapping into Africa’s undeveloped gas reserves could add an additional 90 bcm per year by 2030, around two-thirds for domestic needs, and the rest for export. Given that potential, how can African nations build roadmaps for domestic gas monetization whilst balancing export demands?

• Domestic, regional, and international supply - which scenario is best for Africaand what is required to build roadmaps for a balanced gas monetisation strategy?
• What are the challenges of developing gas-to-power and what is required to fast track it’s potential in the short to medium term?
• How can Africa monetize its gas locally to eradicate energy poverty, industrialise, and advance towards middle income economies?
• Balancing gas monetizing with LNG. What policy is required to make domestic monetization a reality?
• How can Africa fast track investment into domestic and regional gas development to provide energy security across the continent?

COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT: Cote d’ Ivoire – Big Discoveries and Investment Prospects

Côte d’Ivoire’s proven reserves have the potential for it to become a major offshore oil producer in West Africa. While the country is a well-established producer, output is set to significantly grow once Eni starts developing its 2.5bn barrels of oil and 3.3 Tcf of gas discovered at Baleine. Beyond Baleine, Côte d’Ivoire has significant exploration potential and several discoveries waiting to be developed. What’s next for the country and how is policy helping to build local content while drawing investments into E&P?

• What are the key offshore exploration and production developments shaping Côte d’Ivoire’s upstream?
• How can Côte d’Ivoire meet its growing demand for natural gas?
• What is the future of exploration after the discovery of Baleine?
• The prerequisites to implementing a successful national gas strategy.

Government Opening remarks: Ministry of Mines, Petroleum and Energy, Cote d’Ivoire

Angola: National Showcase

Led by: ANPG

PANEL DISCUSSION: Striking a balance – ILX and Frontier Exploration in Diverse Markets

This panel aims to discuss the pros and cons of both infrastructure-led ILX and Frontier Exploration strategies. Participants will discuss the geoscience and investment needs underpinning these two strategies, and the relative challenges in developing value in diverse markets where there are opportunities for both. How do the strategies of IOCs and NOCs compare, and how can data support effective decision making to reduce the risk of stranded assets and improve reserve positions in each context.

Networking Lunch

Namibia: National Showcase

Led by: Namcor

COUNTRY SPOTLIGHT: Ghana – Heading Towards the Next Growth Cycle

Following its initial growth cycle that started with the commissioning of the Jubilee, TEN and SGN fields by Tullow Oil and Eni last decade, Ghana is determined to take its industry to the next level.

Existing operators are currently involved in significant brownfield expansions to mitigate production decline and monetise gas, thereby enhancing the sustainability of their assets while making more energy available for Ghana’s industries and households. But more is on the table as new offshore hubs progress towards FID and delayed exploration programmes are put back on the table.

In this session, we invite the government of Ghana and its operators to discuss future drilling campaigns, plans to unlock Ghana’s local and regional gas potential, and the outlook for the country’s upstream sector.  

• How is Ghana preparing to position itself as a key supplier of gas to regional and export markets?
• What are the financial requirements for future exploration and developmentdrilling campaigns?
• What has been the success of Ghana’s local content policies thus far? What are the next steps to build capacity?
• What projects is Ghana advancing to further expand its value-chain from upstream to downstream and make a better use of its natural resources?

Government Opening remarks: Hon. Andrew Egyapa Mercer, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Energy, Republic of Ghana

WELCOME ADDRESS

Senior representative, NVentures

Securing industry partners ahead of exploration drilling and monetisation options in the case of drilling success

Presentation: PGS

Senior representative, PGS

A unique Farm-in Opportunity in one of the Last Remaining Unexplored Basins with a Multi- billion-barrel Potential Discovery Offshore Somalia

PANEL DISCUSSION : Export vs. Domestic: How Can Africa Bridge the Global Supply Gap While Developing its Domestic Gas Markets?

African gas reserves are becoming increasingly attractive in the wake of global geopolitical shocks, strong demand prospects, and the need to secure global supply. However, new create additional value for local economies. How can Africa balance lucrative export revenues with the development of its own domestic gas markets?

• Roleof local, regional, and global off-takers
• Opportunitiesand challenges of decarbonizing African gas assets
• Therole of regionalization and trade in unlocking Africa’s gas value-chain potential
• Financing requirements for LNG and gas infrastructure and available sources offunding

Unlocking the Potential of PEL 96, Offshore Walvis Basin, Namibia

Extending Sangomar Success -Low Risk and High Reward Exploration Opportunities in Gambia

Deepwater Zambezi Delta – Exploring a Frontier Basin Using High-end Imaging

PANEL DISCUSSION: Sustainable Cross Border Value Creation

Cross border gas transmission pipelines provide a vital service in linking sources of supply and consumers both within Africa and from Africa to Europe. These pipelines provide opportunities for producers, increase security of supply for consumers, and offer investment opportunities for an investors seeking a particular asset class.

In this session we consider the experience of stakeholders in existing cross border gas pipelines, ROMPCO (Mozambique – South Africa) and GME (Morocco- Spain) and explore the potential for new international pipelines.

PRESENTATION: Searcher

PRESENTATION: LEKOIL

Ghana: National Showcase

Led by: GNPC

Networking Coffee

The new Nigerian E&P firm developing a major portfolio of Marginal Fields

PRESENTATION: Shearwater

Senior representative, Shearwater

PANEL DISCUSSION: The Energy Industry Value Proposition – Amplification of the ‘S’ in ESG’

Oil and Gas companies are growing more concerned about diversity and inclusion and are refining business models to focus on value-driven initiatives as data indicates a fast declining, ageing workforce, widening skills gap and imbalances in gender parity. This panel will explore how companies are prioritising and aligning budgets to meet human capital requirements.

• How can effective collaboration remove gender balances?
• How are companies bridging the skills gap required to support the outlook for oil and gas?
• Addressing board-level gender gaps
• How will recruitment evolve to maintain a skilled, gender balanced and inclusive pipeline of talent?

Farm in Opportunities in the Kavango Basin

End of Prospects Forum & Close of Day 2

Lean In Equity & Sustainability Happy Hour

 Day 2: Networking Reception

Open to all! Connect and engage with delegates at the evening networking reception hosted by Azule Energy 

WELCOME ADDRESS

OPENING WELCOME ADDRESS:

PRESENTATION: Aradel Holdings Plc

The Africa Independents Forum provides a select number of independent, indigenous, and local African companies with assets across the continent to showcase exploration and development and gain enhanced exposure to the wider oil and gas industry, key financial markets, and investors

Financing for African Upstream Deal Flow

For buyers wanting to invest in Africa, access to capital (both debt and equity) is proving more challenging whilst several of oil majors and national oil companies look to run disposal processes. As traditional commercial bank financiers continue to make global announcements about reducing their exposure to oil & gas globally, and given that most (if not all) acquisitions of big packages of African upstream assets will require debt across the line, is it available and where is it going to come from?

• What are the key challenges to financing African E&P
• What do financial institutions require to continue lending?
• How can African companies better originate projects?
• Will it continue to get harder to finance these deals?

PRESENTATION: Capricorn Energy Ltd

PRESENTATION: Invictus Energy Ltd Showcase

The Africa Independents Forum provides a select number of independent, indigenous, and local African companies with assets across the continent to showcase exploration and development and gain enhanced exposure to the wider oil and gas industry, key financial markets, and investors

Raising Debt in Challenging Jurisdictions/Alternatives to Commercial Bank Debt

In this session we invite CFOs and lenders to share their thoughts on raising debt in challenging jurisdictions – successes and lessons learnt.

• Navigating local law and
• What’s the general lender appetite in certain jurisdictions?
• What role does government play in attracting investment in oil & gas?
• The role of regional financial institutions in funding E&P transactions as traditional lenders dial
• How to navigate political risk and concerns and what are the potential mitigants?
• Who will fund these transactions?

Nigeria: National Showcase

Led by: NUPRC

NDW: SITP; Empowering Africa’s Future Leaders

The Africa Independents Forum provides a select number of independent, indigenous, and local African companies with assets across the continent to showcase exploration and development and gain enhanced exposure to the wider oil and gas industry, key financial markets, and investors

PRESENTATION: ReconAfrica

The Africa Independents Forum provides a select number of independent, indigenous, and local African companies with assets across the continent to showcase exploration and development and gain enhanced exposure to the wider oil and gas industry, key financial markets, and investors

Networking Coffee Break

Capricorn Energy Ltd Showcase

The Africa Independents Forum provides a select number of independent, indigenous, and local African companies with assets across the continent to showcase exploration and development and gain enhanced exposure to the wider oil and gas industry, key financial markets, and investors

PRESENTATION: Successful Funding of E&P Midstream Infrastructure Deal in the African Energy Transition:

Lessons from a Nigerian Indigenous Operator

Becoming a trusted partner of IOCs and Host Governments to Realise the Full Potential of Divested “Legacy” Assets

Structuring the Deals of the Future

As African operators and asset owners seek to raise billions to grow oil & gas production and expand energy infrastructure, global competition to access capital is intensifying. For most investors and financiers, projects must demonstrate their compliance with global ESG standards and alignment with a lower carbon future to be attractive. What does that mean for African oil & gas projects?

• What are the key requirements any African project must consider to be bankable and attractive in the current market environment?  
• How can lenders to African deals support and ensure their borrowers look to reduce carbon emissions and play their part in the energy transition?  
• What alternative funding models can be considered to attract investment?
• The requirement for a “lenders’ environmental adviser”: how important is this for lenders?  
• When will an Environmental and Social Action Plan be required and how important is that document to a successful financing?

A Promising Deepwater Opportunity in an Emerging Hydrocarbon Province Offshore Dahomey Basin, West Africa

The Africa Independents Forum provides a select number of independent, indigenous, and local African companies with assets across the continent to showcase exploration and development and gain enhanced exposure to the wider oil and gas industry, key financial markets, and investors

PRESENTATION: Maurel & Prom

The Africa Independents Forum provides a select number of independent, indigenous, and local African companies with assets across the continent to showcase exploration and development and gain enhanced exposure to the wider oil and gas industry, key financial markets, and investors

Congo: National Showcase

Led by: SNPC Congo

Opportunities and Challenges in African M&A

African M&A has continued to be active and has drawn in new market entrants. However, there have also been challenges with deals taking greatly extended periods to close.

• Opportunities - What’s driving the new entrants into the market (both pull factors attracting investment and push factors from other mature regions)?
• Challenges - What are the challenges facing deals and why are they taking so long to close? How can this process best be managed?
• Funding - With turbulent stock markets and transition pressure on investment in the hydrocarbon sector, how are deals being funded?

Networking Lunch & End of Finance & M&A Forum

Tanzania: National Showcase

Led by: TPDC

Uganda: National Showcase

Led by: UNOC

Networking Coffee Break (End of Africa Independents Forum)

Cote d’Ivoire: National Showcase

Led by: Petroci

Leading the Charge Towards a Lower Carbon Future

How can technology drive down cost, increase efficiency and ensure that Africa’s oil and gas sector develops strong carbon management strategies that attracts international capital. This panel brings together government, oil field service companies and EPCs to outline how innovation and technology can improve margins and decarbonize exploration and production.

• How can Africa maximise its resources in a carbon friendly way – The African Narrative
• How can African E&P progress leave an environmentally friendly footprint that contributes to the transition and allows for more funding to flow?
• How can Africa create carbon management policies that incentivizes the growth of carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS)?
• What solutions should Africa explore to reduce the carbon intensity of oil and gas products?

PRESENTATION: Yinson

FPSO Agogo - Leading the Way Towards Lower Emissions

Presentation: CGG

Unearth Africa's Subsurface with CGG’s Cutting-edge Seismic Imaging Technologies to Optimise the Value of Data Extraction and Mitigate Exploration Risk
 

PRESENTATION: McDermott

A presentation showcasing how innovation and technology are improving margins and reducing carbon emissions in African E&P.

End of Conference

Happy Hour

Day 3: Late Night Networking Reception

Open to all! Connect and engage with delegates at the evening networking reception hosted by AOW

Morocco: National Showcase

Morocco’s Oil and Gas Exploration Potential and Opportunities

AOW 2023 Farewell Beach Braai

The Africa Oil Week Farewell Beach Braai is the perfect closing note to this dynamic and informative conference. With the week's worth of discussions, presentations, and networking behind us, this beachside barbecue offers attendees a last chance to network but also unwind, reflect, and say their goodbyes in a relaxed and picturesque setting.