Uche Cecil Izuora
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) has pressed for more energy firms participation in the upcoming Africa Energy Week (AEW) in South Africa referencing the country’s
leading position in oil and gas industry.
As some indigenous companies from Nigeria already positioning as key sponsors of the event,Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber, NJ Ayuk, said indigenous firms in Nigeria have provided exceptional leadership opportunities following divestment of some assets in the country by International Oil Companies (IOCs)
His comment follows Indigenous oil and gas company Lekoil, signified participation as a Gold Sponsor at the African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 Conference and Exhibition, taking place from October 12–16 in Cape Town.
The company’s participation reflects growing investor interest as well as the emerging role scalable indigenous operators play in advancing infrastructure-led production growth across West Africa’s evolving upstream and midstream landscape.
Operationally, Otakikpo (PML 11) represents Lekoil’s core producing asset, operated through its joint venture with Green Energy International.
The companies commissioned the Otakikpo Onshore Crude Oil Export Terminal in 2025, enabling direct tanker loading, reducing reliance on vulnerable third-party pipelines and supporting a ramp-up toward 20,000 barrels per day (bpd). The terminal represents the first new crude export facility commissioned in Nigeria in over five decades and features an initial storage capacity of 750,000 bpd – expandable to 3 million barrels with a loading capacity of 360,000 bpd.
The integrated gas-to-power infrastructure at Otakikpo further strengthens project economics.
A 12-million-standard-cubic-
The project aligns with Nigeria’s gas commercialization policies and enhances environmental compliance alongside revenue diversification.
Ayuk, said this is the model we want to see scaled across Africa as we work toward ending energy poverty by 2030,”.
Beyond Otakikpo, Lekoil is advancing near-term production at OPL 276 (Uda Field), where site preparation, trenching and rig mobilization are underway. The asset’s proximity to existing infrastructure supports a shortened path to first oil. Meanwhile, OPL 310 hosting the significant Ogo discovery remains a longer-cycle development contingent on partner alignment and appraisal drilling execution.
Exploration exposure is maintained through OPL 325, where the company holds a 62% economic interest.
Situated in the Niger Delta, the asset is supported by 3D seismic data covering over 740 km². Parallel to its Nigerian portfolio, Lekoil is expanding through its Namibia subsidiary, supported by a strategic alliance with Namibia’s state-owned Namcor, targeting frontier acreage in the Orange Basin.
Strategically, Lekoil is positioning for phased production growth, targeting 50,000 bpd in the medium term and up to 250,000 bpd longer term. This expansion is underpinned by infrastructure-led development, regulatory support from Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act and a pivot toward supplying domestic refining capacity to capture improved margins and reduce export dependency.
“Lekoil’s progress shows exactly the kind of indigenous capacity Africa needs to build a resilient, self-sufficient energy future.
Their participation at AEW 2026 highlights how African-led operators is not only unlocking resources, but also investing in the infrastructure that keeps value on the continent.