Latest news with #EkperikpeEkpo
Zawya
13-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Minister Ekpo to Drive Nigeria's Gas Investment Agenda at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025
Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, is confirmed to speak at the 2025 edition of African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies in Cape Town. As Nigeria scales up its natural gas infrastructure and strengthens its position as a leading destination for energy investment, Minister Ekpo's participation will highlight the country's expanding gas market, growing project pipeline and drive to attract a greater share of global energy capital. Nigeria's gas sector is set to attract significant foreign investment, with the U.S., UAE and key financial institutions expressing strong interest in the $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline. This month, the UAE agreed to contribute funding to the project, while the U.S. expressed interest in the pipeline during a meeting with Nigeria's Ministry of Finance in April. The initiative, which aims to transport Nigerian gas to Europe through Morocco, is expected to boost regional energy security and economic growth. Nigeria's momentum extends further with the $550 million Final Investment Decision made by TotalEnergies and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in June 2024 for the Ubeta Gas Project. Targeting 350 million cubic feet of gas and 10,000 barrels of associated liquids per day by 2027, the project incorporates clean energy solutions such as a 5 MW solar plant and electrified drilling rig. Additionally, NNPC has signed a project development agreement with Golar LNG to deploy a floating LNG facility offshore the Niger Delta. The plant will monetize 400–500 million cubic feet of gas per day and produce LNG, LPG and condensates, with first gas expected in 2027. These advancements are underpinned by Nigeria's broader institutional and financial reforms. Notably, Abuja has been selected to host the newly established Africa Energy Bank (AEB) – a supranational institution formed by the African Petroleum Producers' Organization and the African Export-Import Bank. With an initial capital base of $5 billion, the AEB is slated to launch in 2025 and will fund oil, gas, renewables, hydrogen and infrastructure projects across Africa. Nigeria's successful bid to host the bank further cements its leadership in the continental energy space. With proven reserves of more than 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 37 billion barrels of crude oil, Nigeria is pursuing an ambitious strategy to expand energy access, reduce emissions and foster industrial growth. Additional milestones include the commissioning of the Tetracore CNG facility in June 2024 and ongoing progress on the Nigeria LNG Train 7 expansion project, which is set to boost the country's LNG capacity by 35% while adding roughly 8 million tons per annum to the country's production capabilities. Backed by strong policy support and rising investor interest, Nigeria is well-positioned to capitalize on AEW 2025 as a launchpad for its next phase of energy-driven development. 'The participation of Minister Ekperikpe Ekpo at AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 reinforces Nigeria's role as a driving force in Africa's gas revolution. As the country rolls out critical infrastructure and attracts multi-billion-dollar investments, AEW will serve as the ideal platform to showcase Nigeria's investor-friendly reforms and its roadmap for gas monetization,' states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the 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. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Zawya
13-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
African Ministers to Tackle Energy Investment Gap at Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025
At Invest in African Energy 2025, a high-level ministerial panel will bring together energy ministers from Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zimbabwe to examine the capital requirements and strategic partnerships needed to bring Africa's next generation of energy projects online. Set against a backdrop of evolving global energy dynamics and intensifying pressure to meet net-zero targets, the session – 'Africa on the Global Energy Stage: Financing the Next Generation of Energy Projects' – will explore how African nations are navigating complex investment landscapes to drive sustainable hydrocarbon development. Moderated by NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, the discussion will feature Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) of Nigeria; Malam Sambu, Minister of Energy of Guinea-Bissau; Wivine Moleka, Deputy Minister of Hydrocarbons of the DRC; and July Moyo, Minister of Energy&Power Development of Zimbabwe. IAE 2025 ( is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 13-14, 2025 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@ Nigeria, which holds the largest natural gas reserves in Africa, is advancing its 'Decade of Gas' agenda under a reform-oriented administration working to reposition the country as a global gas hub. The government is prioritizing infrastructure development, market liberalization and targeted policy incentives to draw large-scale investment into the sector, which has already led to major capital commitments from international players including Shell, Chevron and TotalEnergies, and the rollout of new LNG, FLNG and mini-LNG projects. In Guinea-Bissau, the energy sector is entering a new phase of exploration and frontier investment. As one of the continent's least developed hydrocarbon markets, the country is laying the institutional and regulatory foundations for future growth, with an emphasis on public-private collaboration and regional integration. Last September, Guinea-Bissau spudded a deep offshore exploration well near the neighboring Sangomar discovery in Senegal, marking a significant step toward unlocking its offshore potential. The DRC, meanwhile, is pushing to unlock the potential of its underexplored hydrocarbon basins. With a renewed focus on exploration and development, the DRC is pursuing strategic licensing efforts and engaging international partners to accelerate activity, while also seeking to balance environmental considerations with its economic development goals. Zimbabwe continues to prioritize energy diversification and regional power security. In recent years, the country has undertaken efforts to expand its generation capacity and foster investment through independent power producers and infrastructure partnerships. As southern Africa faces persistent energy shortfalls, Zimbabwe is positioning itself as a critical part of the regional solution. Together, Africa's leading energy ministers will engage in a forward-looking dialogue on innovative partnership models, policy frameworks and the capital flows needed to ensure Africa's energy projects not only get off the ground, but also deliver long-term value for both investors and local economies. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
Zawya
21-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) to Speak at Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025
Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, will take the stage at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum in Paris this May, offering insights into Nigeria's strategy to leverage its natural gas resources for long-term development. As a key decision-maker shaping Nigeria's gas policies, Minister Ekpo's participation will provide valuable perspectives on the country's current gas-focused investment opportunities, relevant regulatory reforms and role within Nigeria's energy mix. Nigeria remains one of Africa's most attractive energy investment destinations and is targeting $10 billion in deepwater gas exploration investments through tax incentives and new policy measures. The country is prioritizing gas as a transition fuel, with major developments underway to expand both domestic and export infrastructure, alongside plans to auction undeveloped oil and gas blocks to accelerate exploration and production. TotalEnergies' $500 million Ubeta onshore field development is set to begin production in 2027, supplying gas to the Nigeria LNG plant. The company is also planning to sanction the $750 million Ima dry gas project this year to further boost LNG supplies. Other recent milestones include Shell's sale of its Nigerian onshore subsidiary, signaling a shift toward greater local participation in the sector. IAE 2025 ( is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 13-14, 2025 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@ Nigeria is also advancing several major pipeline projects to expand its gas sector and strengthen regional energy security and export capacity. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company is undertaking a $1.2 billion rehabilitation of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline to enhance gas supply for power generation and industrial use. Last month, Nigeria, along with the governments of Algeria and Niger, signed agreements to accelerate the implementation of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline project, which aims to transport Nigerian gas through Niger and Algeria to Europe. Agreements for the construction of the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, which would connect West African markets to European demand by running along the Atlantic coast through several countries, are also expected to be signed in 2025. As Nigeria places renewed focus on monetizing its more than 200 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, Minister Ekpo's participation at IAE 2025 comes at a pivotal moment for the country's gas industry. His participation will offer critical insights into Nigeria's investment climate, ongoing infrastructure projects and how global stakeholders can engage with local ministries, regulators and the evolving gas market to advance the energy transition while securing energy supplies. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
