African Energy Ministers, National Oil Companies (NOCs) and Regulators Stand Out Among African Energy Chamber's (AEC) 2025 Movers and Shakers
Namibia's Tom Alweendo, Minister of Mines and Energy, is at the forefront of the country's emerging oil industry. With first oil expected by 2029 and a pioneering local content policy in place, Minister Alweendo is focused on translating Orange Basin discoveries into tangible development, while balancing investor and community needs. In the Republic of Congo, Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, Minister of Hydrocarbons, has led milestones including the country's first LNG exports and the Banga Kayo gas project. As Congo prepares for a 2025 licensing round and implements its Gas Master Plan, Minister Itoua's leadership will be critical in positioning the country as a leading energy hub. Equatorial Guinea's Antonio Oburu Ondo, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons, is driving efforts to reverse declining oil and gas production. Minister Ondo is tasked with securing investment, implementing the Gulf of Guinea gas pipeline project with Nigeria, and advancing the Yoyo-Yolanda gas project to revitalize the country's energy sector.
Africa's leading NOCs and regulators were also recognized for their pivotal role in driving energy sector developments in 2025. Godfrey Moagi, CEO of South Africa's National Petroleum Company (SANPC), is spearheading efforts to develop the Brulpadda and Luiperd discoveries, while advancing gas-to-power projects at Saldanha Bay, Richards Bay and Coega LNG terminals. Moagi's leadership will determine SANPC's ability to establish itself as a key player in the country's energy transition. In Angola, Sebastião Gaspar Martins, CEO of Sonangol, is driving a sweeping transformation to restore the company's profitability. With strategic partnerships, operational streamlining and the sale of non-core assets, Sonangol is poised to emerge as a more efficient and competitive entity under his guidance.
Maxient Raoul Ominga, Managing Director of SNPC, is spearheading initiatives in the Republic of Congo to boost oil production to 500,000 barrels per day. Through the development of key fields and implementation of the Gas Master Plan, Ominga is positioning Congo as a competitive gas player while reducing flaring and diversifying revenue streams. In Ivory Coast, Fatoumata Sanogo, CEO of PETROCI, is driving hydrocarbon development through strategic partnerships with TotalEnergies and Eni. With the Baleine field development on track to significantly boost production by 2025, PETROCI is cementing the country's position as a regional energy hub.
Sylvia dos Anjos, Head of E&P at Petrobras, is leading the Brazilian NOC's ambitious re-entry into Africa, targeting markets in Namibia, South Africa and Angola. Her vision focuses on leveraging untapped reserves to establish Petrobras as a competitive player and strengthen Brazil's partnership with Africa. In Sierra Leone, Foday Mansaray, Director General of the Petroleum Directorate, is fostering investment in offshore oil and gas exploration. Following the successful conclusion of Sierra Leone's fifth licensing round, Mansaray is focused on turning interest into tangible exploration and production gains.
As Africa's energy future continues to unfold, the AEC remains committed to recognizing and supporting the leaders who are making transformative impacts in the sector. For the full Africa's Top 40 Movers and Shakers to Watch in 2025 list, visit www.EnergyChamber.org
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Broadcast Pro
6 hours ago
- Broadcast Pro
Viory expands African network with Mali's national broadcaster
With ORTM joining this growing network, Viory strengthens its presence in the region. Viory, the video news agency of the Global South, has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with Mali's national broadcaster, the Office de radiodiffusion et de télévision du Mali (ORTM). The agreement marks a step in Viory's mission to amplify Global South perspectives on the international stage while expanding its presence in West Africa. As Mali's national broadcaster, ORTM serves millions of viewers across the country with vital news and cultural programming. Under the MoC, Viory and ORTM will work together on international news coverage, the promotion of cultural and public events, technical cooperation, digital innovation and knowledge sharing. The collaboration aims to strengthen broadcasting capacity and ensure that stories from Mali and the wider West African region gain greater global visibility. Speaking about the MoU, Zulayho Siddikova, General Manager of Viory, said: 'Partnering with ORTM, Mali's most prominent broadcaster, is a moment of real significance for Viory. It allows us to expand our presence in West Africa and ensure that the perspectives of Mali and its people are represented globally. ORTM's reach and reputation make it an invaluable partner as we continue building a strong, diverse network across the Global South.' Hassane Baba Diombélé, Director General of ORTM, added: 'Our MoC with Viory represents a new chapter for ORTM in expanding our reach and capabilities across borders. Working together with the video news agency of the Global South allows us to amplify Malian stories, connect with broader audiences, and enrich the diversity of media content available to our viewers.' The agreement builds on Viory's growing footprint across Africa. In recent months, the agency has signed MoCs with Agence Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) and the O.I.C States Broadcasting Union (OSBU) at the Arab Radio and Television Festival in Tunisia, as well as with the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation. These partnerships underscore Viory's role in uniting media organizations across the continent, promoting collaboration, and ensuring African voices are better represented in global coverage. With ORTM joining this expanding network, Viory not only strengthens its regional presence but also reinforces Mali's position as a cultural and media hub. The partnership highlights Viory's continued commitment to shaping international narratives with authentic stories from Africa and the wider Global South.
Arabian Post
9 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Africa's AI Ambition Takes Shape with AfricAI Venture
Four technology firms from Australia, Nigeria, the UAE and the Netherlands have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a joint venture named AfricAI, aimed at creating enterprise-grade artificial intelligence solutions specifically designed for Africa's diverse markets. The pact marks a strategic push for digital sovereignty and localised innovation across the continent. Lakeba Group of Australia, Next Digital of Nigeria, AqlanX of the UAE and Agentic Dynamic of the Netherlands are the founding partners behind AfricAI. Nigeria will serve as the venture's launchpad, leveraging existing digital infrastructure to deploy AI-powered systems in public services, healthcare, enterprise operations and identity management. Strategic planners envision AfricAI as a distributed AI network that reaches across the continent, offering tailored solutions in agriculture, urban planning, education and citizen services. Expansion plans include Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Rwanda by 2026, with a commitment to training more than 100 AI professionals to bolster regional expertise. ADVERTISEMENT This initiative aligns with broader shifts in Africa's AI ecosystem. Investment in AI startups is rising, drawn increasingly towards sectors beyond fintech—particularly in climate tech, healthcare and education. Several African-born startups have already attracted significant funding. Notably, eight were raising over US$1 million apiece this year, with Egypt leading the pack with three firms securing such backing. Among those, the startup PlayAI, focused on voice technology, has even been acquired by Meta, underlining the continent's potential for globally competitive AI innovation. This heightened activity in AI mirrors the strengthening of digital ecosystems—with Lagos, Nigeria, recently being named the fastest-growing tech ecosystem in the world for 2025, driven by the presence of major unicorns such as Interswitch, Flutterwave, Jumia, OPay and Moniepoint. Still, barriers persist. Challenges related to limited infrastructure, funding gaps and data availability remain obstacles for widespread AI deployment. The AfricAI joint venture demonstrates a strategic response to these challenges. By focusing on solutions built in Africa for African contexts, the partners aim to avoid outsourcing while empowering local development. Meanwhile, other international collaborations—such as the Ghana-UAE US$1 billion tech hub deal—signal growing global interest in supporting Africa's digital transformation, including talent development and AI infrastructure. Venture capital patterns provide further insight: African AI startups are increasingly winning investor interest by demonstrating problem-first approaches, capital efficiency, domain expertise, scalability beyond home markets and regulatory alignment. Moreover, global tech giants are positioning themselves to support African innovation; Google, for instance, selected fifteen AI ventures from the continent for its Startups Accelerator programme, enabling early-stage development and mentorship.
Zawya
12 hours ago
- Zawya
Debt swap momentum mounts in Africa: IFR
African countries are clamouring to follow the lead of Ivory Coast's recent debt-for-development swap, according to one of the landmark World Bank-backed deal's new money lenders. 'The same logic can be replicated to another jurisdiction, focusing on a sector that's a priority for them,' said Ankit Khandelwal, head of Africa for sovereigns, development finance institutions and blended finance at MUFG, citing healthcare as one possible alternative to Ivory Coast's commitment to use some of its DFD savings for education. Khandelwal reports engaging with 'multiple' African sovereigns on potential DFD deals, with some requesting case studies. 'There is a lot of interest. That approach gives the ability to a country to actually lock in some of the savings using the power of a partial World Bank guarantee and channel those savings into an area that is priority for that country.' The groundbreaking new Gaia blended finance platform – which MUFG has been instrumental in bringing to market – may also be integrated into DFD structures. "If the underlying project is aligned with the goals of Gaia, then absolutely,' he said, noting that Gaia can also provide competitive financing in local currency. The climate adaptation-focused platform, which will become operational shortly, should provide complementary capacity to the Japanese bank's existing blended finance efforts. "One of the key reasons for us getting involved in Gaia is to look at some of those smaller but essential projects,' said Khandelwal. He said MUFG is "already engaged' with African sovereigns to identify projects that could be financed under Gaia. Nine of Gaia's 25 targeted sovereigns are in Africa. Gaia has also been a catalyst for efforts by MUFG to involve philanthropic investors in its blended finance deals. "We are getting into that space. We are in conversation with some of them on specific transactions," Khandelwal said. Middle East expansion MUFG is expanding its blended finance effort to emerging Middle East economies such as Jordan and Iraq, according to Khandelwal, who recently relocated to Dubai from London to facilitate the new push. He expects to retain the bank's existing focus on all types of infrastructure financing, including roads, rail, airports, ports, hospitals and schools – 'the whole spectrum of social infrastructure'. MUFG's 'slightly unique' approach also sees it focus on the long tenor end of the spectrum of the debt financing requirements. That "is where the blended finance product really comes through and provides the added advantage for the borrowers', according to Khandelwal. With capital requirements limiting bank appetite in this area, it emphasises mobilising non-bank liquidity from life insurers and pension funds globally. This also requires working closely with providers of credit enhancement, including multilateral development banks, export credit agencies and newer entities such as the Green Guarantee Company. Investor demand for well rated infrastructure debt in emerging markets remains strong, Khandelwal said. 'When investors are confident the deals are being structured [well], there is definitely demand there.' This in turn can drive blended finance pricing to competitive levels, though not to the concessional levels provided by donors. The recent lowering of western aid has made this financing rarer, however, and has forced some African sovereigns to seek alternative sources. Against this background, Khandelwal expects public/private PPP structures to grow as a way of delivering infrastructure 'without leveraging government balance sheets any further", citing the Lobito Corridor rail project in west Africa.
