Latest news with #Ayuk
Zawya
24-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
African Energy Chamber (AEC) Champions Smart Policy, Strategic Partnerships to Advance Namibia's Oil & Gas Discoveries
As a strategic partner of the Namibia International Energy Conference (NIEC), the African Energy Chamber (AEC) ( is calling for a deliberate and accelerated approach to moving Namibia's recent oil and gas discoveries into production – emphasizing the importance of speed, investor confidence and strategic collaboration. Speaking during a high-level panel at NIEC 2025, AEC Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk urged Namibia to seize the momentum of its frontier discoveries, while avoiding the pitfalls that have stalled progress in other hydrocarbon-rich African nations. He emphasized that Namibia's path to becoming a regional energy hub hinges on its ability to learn from international case studies and execute deals that ensure long-term national benefit. 'Namibia needs to move fast, produce quickly and negotiate the best deals with its partners to ensure the rapid development of its oil discoveries,' Ayuk stated. He pointed to Guyana as a prime example, noting how the South American country developed a robust strategy focused on national benefit and successfully attracted billions in investments to fast-track its energy projects. In contrast, Ayuk cautioned against the delays experienced by countries like Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda and South Africa, where production was significantly postponed, leading to rising project costs and lost opportunities. 'There is a growing movement trying to discourage Africa – and Namibia – from producing its oil and gas. We must resist that,' he added. Reinforcing the need for investor-friendly terms, Justin Cochrane, Africa Upstream Regional Research Director at S&P Global Commodity Insights, highlighted the necessity of contract stability, transparent data-sharing and a balanced approach to fiscal negotiations. 'It's natural that Namibia wants to maximize its benefits, but pushing too hard on IOCs can result in getting 100% of nothing… The first milestone must be achieving first oil,' said Cochrane. Representing Namibia's national oil company, Victoria Sibeya, Interim Managing Director of NAMCOR, stressed that the company is actively engaged in every phase of the industry, from data acquisition and exploration to shaping the downstream and midstream vision. 'We are not just bystanders,' said Sibeya. 'NAMCOR is deeply involved in data acquisition, exploration and the exchange of knowledge and technology with our partners. We are also preparing to invest in downstream and midstream sectors to ensure that we can add value once production begins.' Echoing the call for local development, Adriano Bastos, Head of Upstream at Galp, underscored the need for early and continuous skills development – proposing that Namibians be trained abroad in specialized areas like FPSO operations to ensure they are prepared to lead once production begins at home. 'Namibia has capabilities that are rare in the region, but more collaboration with international partners is essential to build the local skills base,' he said. Bastos noted that Namibians make up 25% of Galp's workforce in the country, including its first female offshore base manager. 'We are proud of the strides we have made. Our nationalization plans are aggressive, and we work closely with [the Namibian Ports Authority] and other local entities to implement meaningful capacity-building projects.' As Namibia stands on the cusp of transforming exploration success into production, the message from industry leaders is clear: time, trust and talent will determine the country's trajectory. Through cross-border collaboration, pragmatic deal-making and a strong national vision, Namibia can emerge not just as an oil producer – but as a continental model for inclusive, forward-thinking energy development. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Zawya
07-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Intra-African Trade, Investment and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) can Address Africa's $15B Infrastructure Gap
NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (www. has called for greater utilization of African financial solutions to address the continent's $15.7 billion infrastructure deficit. With these sources of capital, the continent stands to maximize the production, processing and distribution of local oil and gas resources amid efforts to make energy poverty history by 2030. Speaking during an event organized by the African Refiners&Distributors Association (ARDA) in Cape Town this week, Ayuk proposed tapping into the $400 billion available through Africa's pension funds to support oil and gas projects. With this capital, Africa can advance key infrastructure projects, such as pipelines, refining facilities and power generation, ensuring enhanced intra-Africa energy trade to address energy poverty. With over 600 million Africans living without access to modern energy and 900 million people living without access to clean cooking solutions, securing greater investment is key. As such, Ayuk called for greater regulatory reform in Africa, citing the need to advance intra-African trade through the ease of movement of products and industry stakeholders, while ensuring infrastructure sharing across the continent. He pointed out that the greatest obstacle to realizing an 'Africa-First Vision' is not external challenges, but rather internal, owing to outdated and restrictive regulations that hinder trade and the free movement of people across borders. 'How can we move commodities across the continent yet we struggle to move people?' stated Ayuk, advocating for improved visa and immigration policies to facilitate mobility for industry stakeholders and citizens. Ayuk also called for African policymakers to address high intra-African taxes that hinder trade, while encouraging greater collaboration between African energy markets. By addressing key challenges to trade, including lack of shared infrastructure and funding, Ayuk highlighted that the continent can achieve its downstream goals. A strategy for this is collaboration. Rather than competing against one another for limited capital, Africa can pool its resources to create an integrated value chain across the continent. 'We shouldn't compete for capital amongst ourselves,' he said. 'Our competition should be with international markets.' Besides increasing investment in downstream infrastructure and revamping policies, Ayuk highlighted that achieving the 'Africa First Vision' requires fully utilizing every drop of oil and gas available on the continent to power Africa's development. He emphasized the crucial role LPG and LNG will play in advancing access to clean cooking as well as the role of natural gas in providing baseload power for the foreseeable future. In closing, Ayuk applauded ARDA for promoting investment in African oil and gas, despite challenges posed by the energy transition. Centered around the theme Africa First: Delivering Our Energy Future, the event sought to chart a course for energy security and industrial development through increased investments across the downstream sector across the continent. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Zawya
03-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
African Energy Chamber Highlights Africa's Energy Potential at Russia's HSE University
NJ Ayuk, Chairman of the African Energy Chamber (www. delivered a keynote lecture titled "African Energy Agenda: Prospects and Challenges" at Russia's HSE University's on March 31 – shedding light on the African continent's energy prospects and challenges. The event was organized by the HSE Center for African Studies and supported by the Roscongress Foundation, with Vsevolod Sviridov, Deputy Director of the Center for African Studies, moderating the discussion. Anastasia Likhacheva, Dean of the HSE Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, welcomed participants and underscored Africa's vast potential as the world's largest undeveloped energy market. She emphasized Russia's readiness to bridge the knowledge gap and tackle key challenges hindering Africa's energy development. Sviridov outlined the results of the research on African energy markets conducted by the Center's experts in the expert-analytical handbook Africa 2025: Prospects and Challenges (the chapter 'African resources to African markets: making mining and energy work for Africa') ( 'One of the biggest challenges faced by the African countries is the lack of reliable data on the state of the African energy sector. For example, we don't know the exact number of diesel generators situated in Africa and the amount of electricity they produce,' Sviridov noted. During his presentation Ayuk highlighted key successes in Africa's energy sector, emphasizing the significance of Russian-African energy cooperation and explored opportunities for Russian involvement in developing regional energy markets, providing valuable insights into the future of Africa's energy landscape 'What Africa really needs is empowerment. It's not the assistance, but the right to shape its future development. This affects, among other things, the energy sector,' he said, adding that Russian-African cooperation in the energy sector has significant potential. 'For example, Gazprom is looking at the projects in the field of gas motor fuel and compressed natural gas, and Rosatom has started construction of a nuclear power plant in Egypt,' Ayuk noted. Meanwhile, he pointed out that there was great demand for Russian expertise and experience in Africa's energy sector. 'We need full-depth analysis of the African energy sector to understand the prospects of its long-term development. This is a big challenge that African governments and the private sector are currently facing. That is why we appreciate our partnership with Russian think tanks,' Ayuk said, highlighting the Africa 2025 Handbook. 'It is a source of valuable knowledge that supports activities at the level of government agencies, business leaders of all levels and international organizations.' During the session, Ayuk emphasized that Africa offers young people unique career opportunities in various sectors. 'You need to be focused on doing something big and important. You have to be a problem solver, very ambitious and ready to contribute to lives of others. In Africa, you can find so many challenges and so many opportunities at the same time. And one more tip that I want to give is to be brave enough,' he said. Closing the event, Andrey Maslov, Director of the Center for African Studies, expressed his gratitude to Ayuk for the informative lecture and highlighted the importance of knowledge and experience sharing for maintaining and developing Russian-African contacts, including in the energy sector. 'For us it's a great pleasure to host the African Energy Chamber here, in the HSE University. We hope to continue the expert and analytical dialogue, conduct joint projects including those involving students and strengthen our cooperation in the future.' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Zawya
18-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Mozambique's Gas Potential Crucial for Africa's Economic Transformation
Mozambique stands out as a key player in natural gas production and plays a crucial role in Africa's agenda to expand electricity access and clean cooking solutions, according to NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber ( Ayuk highlighted key projects, market trends and policies accelerating Mozambique's energy sector and position as a global energy hub during an interview at the Invest in African Energy: Mozambique Roundtable last week. 'No other country in Sub-Saharan Africa has as much untapped and unexplored gas as Mozambique. We are encouraging the government, the IOCs and investors to ensure every drop of hydrocarbons is produced to drive agricultural growth, strengthen energy security and enhance socio-economic development,' Ayuk stated. He mentioned ExxonMobil's $25 billion investment in the Rovuma LNG initiative, Eni's Coral Sul expansion with the Coral North project and TotalEnergies' ongoing efforts in the multi-billion-dollar Mozambique LNG project, as key projects driving Mozambique's energy expansion. 'These developments, coupled with gas-to-power and petrochemical projects, signal Mozambique's readiness to attract new investors and further integrate into the global energy market,' stated Ayuk. While renewables contribute to diversifying the energy mix, the intermittency nature of wind and sun energy makes gas a more reliable energy resource for resilient baseload power, according to Ayuk. He also emphasized Mozambique's ability to produce urea and ammonia from its gas reserves, bolstering food security and reducing Africa's dependence on external markets like Ukraine. Ayuk said the energy sector could serve as a platform to empower local communities, females and the youth as active industry participants not mere bystanders. Expanding on local content development, Ayuk praised Mozambique's commitment to utilizing its gas resources for domestic needs. He recognized the country's gas-to-power strategy and the inclusion of SMEs within the energy value chain. He encouraged the government to streamline regulations, eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks and introduce new licensing rounds to unlock the market's full potential. Ayuk also underscored the importance of collaboration between Mozambican stakeholders and other African nations to position the continent as a competitive and attractive investment destination. Watch for video interview: Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber. AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit for more information about this exciting event.
Mid East Info
06-02-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Petrobras, Namibia Energy Corporation (NEC), the Brazilian Institute of Petroleum (IBP) and African Energy Chamber Strengthen Africa-Brazil Oil and Gas Investments in Rio
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, February, 2025- The African Energy Chamber AEC – the voice of Africa's energy sector – hosted an Invest in African Energies Investment Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 30 January 2025. Attended by key Brazilian energy stakeholders, including representatives from Petrobras, the Brazilian Petroleum Association and the Brazilian Association of Petroleum Geologists, alongside African stakeholders such as RichAfrica Consultancy, the event showcased investment opportunities in Africa's energy sector, providing a platform for enhanced multilateral partnerships. The event served to promote collaboration by exploring strategic investment avenues, highlight challenges to development while facilitating greater engagement between Brazilian and African energy players. During the event, the AEC's Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk was also honored with the prestigious Best Brazil-Africa Integration in Petroleum Geology and Energy Award, which included a special book documenting key courses, events, conferences and workshops organized by the Brazilian Association of Petroleum Geologists since 2022. In his remarks, Ayuk highlighted Africa's lucrative oil and gas opportunities and urged global investors, including Brazilian firms, to tap into markets such as Namibia, Angola, the Republic of Congo and many more. He strongly defended Africa's right to develop its hydrocarbon resources to lift 600 million people out of energy poverty and drive continent-wide industrialization. 'We will not stop developing and producing our oil and gas. Every drop must be utilized to fuel our economies, just as Western nations have done, to drive industrialization and economic growth,' Ayuk stated. He urged Brazil to maximize its oil and gas production and stand with Africa against Western pressures discouraging fossil fuel development in the name of the energy transition. 'Brazil accounts for less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions and Africa as a whole contributes less than 3%. Yet, we are told to stop developing our resources. A kettle in the UK consumes more electricity than seven African families combined. Heathrow Airport alone uses more power than the entire nation of Sierra Leone. We want to use our gas to produce fertilizers so we don't have to beg for food from Ukraine,' Ayuk emphasized. As one of the world's final frontiers for oil and gas exploration, Africa offers a wealth of opportunities for foreign investors. Countries like Namibia – which recently emerged as a global exploration hotspot due to a slate of offshore discoveries in the Orange Basin – offer growth opportunities for Brazilian companies. Brazil's Petrobras is currently assessing investment opportunities in Namibia, highlighting the potential for collaboration between the two nations. 'Almost every major oil company such as Chevron, Shell, TotalEnergies, Galp and more have made discoveries in Namibia. That speaks volumes about the country's geological potential,' Ayuk noted. He also commended Ndapwilapo Selma Shimutwikeni, Managing Director of RichAfrica Consultancy, for her 12 years of dedicated efforts in promoting Namibia's oil and gas potential, which has led to a surge in global interest. 'Selma stood by Namibia when everyone doubted its potential. People said there was no oil but she never gave up, she championed Namibia's energy sector with dignity and integrity and promoted Namibia as Africa's number one investment destination for oil and gas investments,' Ayuk said. He also invited Brazilian firms to explore Namibia's energy opportunities at the upcoming Namibian International Energy Conference, set for April 23–25 in Windhoek. Shimutwikeni reinforced Namibia's commitment to becoming an African energy hub, emphasizing the transformative impact of oil and gas resources on the country's 3 million people. 'We see Brazilian firms as valuable partners in exploration and development. Brazil's journey of resilience and transformation is an inspiration to us,' she stated. Meanwhile, Marcio Rocha Mello, President and Founder of Namibia Energy Corporation, emphasized Brazil's commitment to partnerships, pledging to invest in upstream exploration and infrastructure in Namibia and across Africa. 'Brazil is a nation that shares, builds and grows together with our partners,' he affirmed. The renowned 'oil man' is bullish about finding more oil in deep water Namibia. Sylvia Anjos, Executive Director of Exploration and Production at Petrobras, reaffirmed the company's commitment to expanding investments in Africa, specifically in Namibia, Nigeria, Angola and South Africa. These investments aim to sustain production and drive new discoveries. 'If Brazil was not a producer and had to import 2 million barrels of oil daily to meet demand, our economy would struggle. We hope Namibia starts producing soon – it will make a huge difference,' Anjos stated. Further reinforcing Brazil's interest to invest in African oil and gas, Carla Araujo, President of the Brazilian Association of Petroleum Geologists, highlighted the country's readiness to support Brazilian firms exploring Africa's energy opportunities, with a focus on workforce development, training and market insights.
