logo
Heirs Energies Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joins Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) as Congo Ramps up Oil Production

Heirs Energies Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joins Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF) as Congo Ramps up Oil Production

Zawya27-02-2025

As Africa's third-largest crude oil producer, the Republic of Congo has set an ambitious goal of increasing production to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) by 2027. To attract new investment in exploration and production, the country is leveraging policy reforms and plans to launch a new licensing round in Q1 2025.
With its production drive led by landmark projects from international oil companies, Congo has emerged as one of Africa's most attractive oil markets. The participation of Osayande Igiehon, CEO of Nigerian integrated energy company Heirs Energies, at the Congo Energy&Investment Forum (CEIF) 2025 this March reflects the country's growing appeal to indigenous African oil explorers and producers.
The inaugural Congo Energy&Investment Forum, set for March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, will bring together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities. The event will explore the latest gas-to-power projects and provide updates on ongoing expansions across the country.
Heirs Energies currently operates OML 17 in the Niger Delta, onshore Nigeria. The asset includes 15 oil and gas fields with significant potential for growth, offering multiple low-risk opportunities to develop high-grade reserves. The company recently ramped up production to 53,000 bpd, making it one of Nigeria's leading oil and gas producers. Through the participation of indigenous operators like Heirs Energies, CEIF 2025 is expected to provide valuable insights into how Congo can maximize the potential of its mature oil fields to meet its ambitious production targets.
'Igiehon's involvement in CEIF 2025 underscores the growing collaboration between Africa's oil-producing nations. His participation highlights the potential for both local and international players to capitalize on new opportunities in the region's evolving energy landscape,' states Sandra Jeque, Events and Project Director at Energy Capital&Power.
By showcasing Congo's strategic approach to sustainable oil production growth, CEIF 2025 will highlight the country's expanding role in Africa's energy market. Participants will gain firsthand insight into how collaboration between local and international stakeholders is key to unlocking the full potential of oil and gas projects set to transform the national energy landscape.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Etihad and Ethiopian Airlines Expand Global Connectivity
Etihad and Ethiopian Airlines Expand Global Connectivity

Arabian Post

timea day ago

  • Arabian Post

Etihad and Ethiopian Airlines Expand Global Connectivity

Etihad Airways and Ethiopian Airlines have launched a strategic codeshare partnership designed to broaden travel options and enhance connectivity across their global networks. This collaboration enables passengers to access a wider array of destinations with seamless transfer options, utilising the complementary routes of the two carriers. The agreement allows Etihad, based in Abu Dhabi, and Ethiopian Airlines, headquartered in Addis Ababa, to offer joint flight services where each airline sells seats on the other's flights under their own flight numbers. This integration facilitates smoother travel for customers by synchronising schedules and improving booking efficiency. The codeshare spans multiple regions, including Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, bringing more destinations within reach for travellers across the two networks. Etihad has been pursuing partnerships to strengthen its footprint across Africa and beyond, capitalising on Ethiopian Airlines' extensive reach as Africa's largest carrier by fleet size and destinations. Ethiopian operates over 60 passenger routes across the continent, as well as significant long-haul services to Europe, the Americas, and Asia. This codeshare allows Etihad to tap into new African markets that would otherwise require complex routing, enhancing its appeal to both business and leisure travellers seeking efficient connections. ADVERTISEMENT The deal is set to improve passenger experience by providing better coordination of schedules, baggage handling, and streamlined ticketing processes. This is critical in a region where connectivity often faces logistical challenges. For Ethiopian Airlines, the partnership enhances its access to the Middle East and onward connections via Etihad's global network, which includes significant hubs in the Gulf region, Europe, and beyond. Joint codeshare agreements like this reflect an industry trend where airlines seek to offer greater convenience through network alliances rather than costly route expansions. Given the competitive aviation landscape post-pandemic, airlines are leveraging collaborations to rebuild passenger confidence and improve load factors. Both Etihad and Ethiopian are looking to capitalise on growing travel demand, particularly the increasing economic ties between the Middle East and Africa. This arrangement also comes at a time when air traffic between Africa and the Middle East is recovering from the disruptions caused by the global health crisis and geopolitical uncertainties. Enhanced cooperation between carriers such as Etihad and Ethiopian Airlines supports the broader goal of facilitating smoother trade and tourism links across these interconnected regions. Travel industry analysts have noted the potential benefits of this partnership in creating more direct routes, reducing layover times, and offering customers a more consistent service standard across flights operated by either airline. Improved connectivity can also foster business growth, as companies in Africa and the Middle East increasingly require reliable travel options for corporate and cargo purposes. Both carriers have committed to leveraging their respective strengths: Etihad's reputation for premium service and advanced fleet, including its recent expansion with fuel-efficient aircraft, and Ethiopian Airlines' robust regional presence and operational expertise. Ethiopian has also invested in modernising its fleet with Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A350s, positioning it as a key player in African aviation. ADVERTISEMENT Further, this partnership aligns with Ethiopian Airlines' vision to be the leading aviation group in Africa, enhancing its hub status in Addis Ababa while connecting with global markets more efficiently. For Etihad, this codeshare is part of a broader strategic plan to deepen ties with African markets, which are expected to see significant passenger growth over the next decade due to demographic trends and economic development. Both airlines emphasise that customer benefits include more options to book single tickets across both carriers, improved flight connections with less waiting time, and streamlined travel processes such as through-checking of baggage. These improvements reflect ongoing efforts in the aviation sector to raise service quality and passenger convenience amid rising competition. The codeshare covers flights connecting Etihad's Abu Dhabi hub with Ethiopian's African network, facilitating travel to key African cities like Nairobi, Lagos, Accra, and Johannesburg, among others. This effectively expands Etihad's reach into high-demand African markets, supporting tourism, business travel, and diaspora communities. Regulatory approvals for the partnership have been secured from relevant aviation authorities, and the two airlines are moving quickly to integrate reservation systems and coordinate marketing efforts. Industry observers see this as a model for future collaborations between Middle Eastern and African carriers, with potential for further joint ventures or equity partnerships down the line. While the partnership is expected to bolster passenger volumes, it also has cargo implications. Both airlines operate significant cargo services, and improved network coordination can enhance freight movement efficiency, which is vital for trade and supply chains across the regions involved. This development highlights the strategic importance of partnerships in the aviation industry, especially for carriers seeking to optimise resources and enhance competitiveness without the high costs of route duplication. For travellers, the collaboration between Etihad and Ethiopian Airlines offers a practical solution to accessing a broader range of destinations with improved connectivity and reliability. The initiative also coincides with broader trends where Gulf carriers are strengthening ties with African airlines, reflecting the rising economic and geopolitical importance of Africa. Enhanced air connectivity is a key driver of investment, tourism, and cultural exchange between these regions. Both Etihad and Ethiopian Airlines have underlined their commitment to safety, operational excellence, and sustainable growth, indicating that this codeshare will be part of a long-term strategy rather than a short-term tactical move. They aim to leverage this partnership to capture emerging opportunities as global travel patterns evolve, particularly in linking Africa with global markets through efficient hub-and-spoke systems.

Afreximbank downgrade dispute raises questions on loan categorisation
Afreximbank downgrade dispute raises questions on loan categorisation

Arabian Post

timea day ago

  • Arabian Post

Afreximbank downgrade dispute raises questions on loan categorisation

African Union's African Peer Review Mechanism has challenged Fitch Ratings' downgrade of the African Export‑Import Bank, arguing the move rests on a misinterpretation of its sovereign loan portfolio. On 4 June, Fitch lowered Afreximbank's long‑term foreign‑currency issuer rating from BBB to BBB‑—a notch above junk—with a negative outlook. The agency attributed the downgrade to elevated credit risk, citing an estimated non‑performing loan ratio of 7.1 %, primarily due to sovereign exposures to Ghana, South Sudan and Zambia classified as NPLs. The APRM asserts that Fitch's classification is flawed and inconsistent with Afreximbank's own disclosure of an NPL ratio of 2.44 % as of end‑March. The AU‑established body emphasises the bank's status as a multilateral lender created under a 1993 treaty, which binds member governments—including Ghana and Zambia—as signatories, shareholders and founding members. APRM contends such loans are grounded in intergovernmental cooperation rather than standard commercial terms, so treating them as NPLs misrepresents their nature. Fitch defended its methodology, stating that its supranational rating decisions adhere to globally consistent and publicly available criteria, and highlighting that their analysis clearly identified rating drivers and sensitivities. The agency maintains sovereign exposures showing delayed repayments meet its threshold for classification as non‑performing, irrespective of legal structures or treaties. In that sense, the downgrade aligns with accepted analytical standards. ADVERTISEMENT APRM's critique zeroes in on that threshold. It argues that sovereign repayment negotiations are routine diplomatic engagements, not signs of default. It remains concerned that Fitch's decision conflates financial dialogue with credit impairment. The body has formally called on Fitch, Afreximbank and other African institutions to convene technical consultations and reassess the rating, emphasising the importance of contextually intelligent credit assessments. Beyond the immediate dispute, this episode resonates with a broader continental debate over the relevance and fairness of global credit‑rating frameworks applied to African multilaterals. Africa's longstanding concerns that Western rating methodologies fail to grasp local realities and may unfairly inflate borrowing costs have sparked momentum for alternative mechanisms. Among these, an Africa‑led credit‑rating agency is under development, envisaged to begin operations by September 2025, aimed at providing sovereign ratings that reflect regional economic and institutional contexts. Central to the debate is Afreximbank's evolving lending strategy. Under outgoing president Benedict Okey Oramah, the Cairo‑based lender has aggressively expanded its footprint, increasingly financing private sector projects across the continent and taking calculated sovereign exposure. Supporting growth in under‑served markets like Zimbabwe and Nigeria, the bank grew its asset base from around US$7 billion in 2015 to approximately US$40 billion in 2024, with deposits rising to US$37 billion. That growth has attracted scrutiny. Fitch has highlighted what it sees as elevated concentration of corporate and sovereign risk, pointing to an NPL ratio that exceeds its internal threshold. Observers note that up to 92 % of Afreximbank's lending is directed at commercial businesses, and certain sovereign loans carry interest rates as high as 6.875 % over benchmark rates—much higher than traditional development finance institutions. Proponents of the APRM's position, including lead credit‑ratings expert Misheck Mutize, argue that supplementary indicators such as capital adequacy, collateral density and profitability should carry mitigating weight. Mutize points to a strong equity ratio of 19 %, risk‑weighted capital at 21 %, internal capital generation through profits, and loan collateral cover for 84 % of the portfolio. These factors, he suggests, are downplayed in the rating downgrade despite being explicitly acknowledged in Fitch's own analytic framework. He warns that over‑reliance on contested NPL figures can breach the methodology's balance principles. ADVERTISEMENT Not everyone supports APRM's framing. Analysts note that countries like Zambia officially halted repayments to Afreximbank in 2021, and South Sudan failed to honour its obligations, prompting legal recourse in London. Zambia's treasury has openly stated its debt will be restructured. Against this backdrop, Fitch's interpretation that certain sovereign debt has become non‑performing appears defensible under global standards. This dispute underscores a tension: Afreximbank's assertive growth strategy has boosted its developmental reach and institutional clout, yet it must reconcile that dynamism with risk and transparency expectations imposed by global credit agencies. With Oramah set to step down later this month, the new president will face a pivotal choice: maintain aggressive expansion as the bank charts an independent path, or recalibrate operations to conform more closely with multilateral development bank norms—a course change that could preserve borrowing benefits but limit growth prerogatives. Beyond institutional implications, the outcome has broader financial consequences. A downgrade to BBB‑ tightens Afreximbank's borrowing costs, heightens the risk premium for countries swayed by its lending, and complicates its mission to finance intra‑continental trade. That may squeeze African exporters and traders relying on the bank's funding. Policy stakeholders are paying attention. The APRM's call for dialogue and transparency signals a pushback against the perceived hold of Western agencies over African financial destiny. Meanwhile, the African Development Bank is developing a Continental Financial Stability Mechanism that may borrow under a regional rating—another step towards financial sovereignty.

Marsh appoints Aditya Khanna to lead Energy & Power for Marsh Middle East
Marsh appoints Aditya Khanna to lead Energy & Power for Marsh Middle East

Zawya

timea day ago

  • Zawya

Marsh appoints Aditya Khanna to lead Energy & Power for Marsh Middle East

Dubai – Marsh, the world's leading insurance broker and risk advisor and a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), today announced the appointment of Aditya Khanna as Energy & Power Leader, Marsh Middle East, effective July 1, 2025. Based in Dubai, Mr. Khanna will report jointly to Gaurav Bhatnagar, President and Head of Specialty, Marsh India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA), and Amy Barnes, Global Head of Energy & Power, Marsh Specialty. In this role Mr. Khanna will be responsible for the strategic direction of Marsh's Energy & Power practice across the Middle East, working closely with Marsh's global and regional network of specialist energy and power advisors, risk engineers, and brokers to support clients in understanding, quantifying, and managing risk. Mr. Khanna has over 16 years' experience in the energy sector, working in India, the UK, and the Middle East. Mr. Khanna joined Marsh in 2009 and has served as Chief Client Officer, Energy & Power, Middle East and Africa since 2022. He has an extensive track record in managing large-scale energy risks and delivering complex structured placement outcomes for some of Marsh's largest clients. Ms. Barnes said: 'The global energy industry is currently experiencing major policy shifts amid acute geopolitical strains and heightened concerns around energy security. Aditya's extensive experience and proven track record in the global energy sector will be invaluable as we continue to enhance our service offerings and support our clients in navigating the evolving energy landscape in this key region.' Mr. Khanna added: 'I am honored to take on this role and lead Marsh's Energy & Power team in the Middle East. The region is at the forefront of the energy transition and developing innovative next generation solutions; I look forward to working closely with our colleagues to provide our clients with tailored solutions that address their unique challenges.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store