Uche Cecil Izuora
The participation of the Nigeria LNG in the upcoming African Energy Week (AEW) scheduled to hold in South Africa has attracted commendable remarks from the African Energy Chamber (AEC), which sees Nigeria’s energy giants promoting conversations on the continent’s energy security.
The reality is, Africa’s energy future is being shaped by its own institutions,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Leaders like Nigeria LNG, UNOC and EPRA aren’t just participating in the sector, but driving projects, shaping policy and creating real opportunities on the ground. Having them at AEW is critical because these are the people actually getting deals done and moving the industry forward.” Ayuk says.
Africa’s national oil companies and regulators are playing a growing role in shaping the continent’s energy future, moving beyond oversight and state participation to become central drivers of investment, infrastructure development and regional energy security.
Reflecting this shift, African Energy Week 2026 will welcome a strong lineup of institutional leaders, including, Olakunle Osobu, Deputy Managing Director, Nigeria LNG (NLNG), Proscovia Nabbanja, CEO, Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC); Dr. Joseph Oketch, Acting Director General, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) of Kenya.
Nigeria continues to consolidate its position as one of the world’s leading LNG suppliers through the expansion of NLNG. The company’s Train 7 project is expected to increase production capacity by 35%, from 22 million to 30 million tons per annum, reinforcing Nigeria’s role in global gas markets while driving local content development and industrial growth domestically. With construction progressing steadily, NLNG’s expansion has become one of Africa’s most significant gas monetization projects, supporting thousands of jobs and strengthening the continent’s broader LNG ambitions.
“The reality is, Africa’s energy future is being shaped by its own institutions,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Leaders like UNOC, EPRA and NLNG aren’t just participating in the sector, but driving projects, shaping policy and creating real opportunities on the ground. Having them at AEW is critical because these are the people actually getting deals done and moving the industry forward.”
As Africa seeks to unlock greater value from its natural resources, AEW 2026 will provide a platform for leaders to share perspectives on financing, regulation, local content and infrastructure development while engaging directly with investors, operators and policymakers from across the global energy industry.
Uganda is emerging as one of the continent’s most closely watched new oil producers, with first oil from the Lake Albert development expected in 2026. Under UNOC’s leadership, the country has advanced the Tilenga, Kingfisher and East African Crude Oil Pipeline projects, which together are expected to transform Uganda into a significant regional producer. UNOC has also taken on an increasingly strategic role across the value chain, from upstream participation to fuel supply management and refinery development, positioning itself as a key instrument of Uganda’s long-term energy security and industrialization agenda.
In Kenya, EPRA is navigating a complex and fast-evolving energy mix, balancing the country’s leadership in geothermal and renewable power with growing interest in hydrocarbons and regional energy integration. Recent reforms around petroleum pricing, licensing and downstream regulation have aimed to improve market transparency and attract investment, while Kenya continues to explore pathways for crude export infrastructure and potential participation in regional refining projects.