Uche Cecil Izuora
Top energy companies from Africa and major international oil companies would be engaging in a conversation around projects, investment plans and exploration strategies shaping the continent’s next phase of energy development.
This will happen as Africa’s leading energy operators are returning to Cape Town for African Energy Week (AEW) 2026.
From deepwater developments in offshore oil production in Nigeria, Deepwater activities in Angola and Ivory Coast to gas projects in Mozambique and Mauritania and Senegal, Africa’s biggest energy players are targeting Africa’s next growth phase in Cape Town.
“The companies coming to Cape Town are not talking about hypothetical opportunities – they are drilling wells, producing first oil and gas, developing LNG projects and putting billions of dollars to work across Africa. AEW is where this industry meets,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.
Global energy majors will use AEW to advance projects, strengthen engagement and showcase their respective investment priorities. TotalEnergies will bring a senior delegation to the event, led by Mike Sangster, Senior Vice President Africa, alongside Martin Deffontaines, Managing Director Angola; Matthieu Bouyer, Managing Director Nigeria; and Jean-Pascal Clemençon, Managing Director Mozambique.
The company is advancing investments across some of Africa’s most active energy markets, including the $6 billion Kaminho project in Angola (2028); the $800 million Ima Gas Project in Nigeria (2028); and the $20 billion Mozambique LNG project (2029).
ExxonMobil will be represented by Andrew Barry, Vice President Global LNG Marketing; Brian Unietis, President and Lead Country Manager Angola; and Jagir Baxi, Managing Director Nigeria. The major continues to pursue upstream growth across the continent, including established operations and new investment in Angola and Nigeria. Projects include the $30 billion Rovuma LNG project in Mozambique and a $10 billion deepwater expansion in Nigeria.
Chevron is also expanding its exploration footprint. Frank Cassulo, Managing Director Southern Africa; Ben Dockrill, General Manager Exploration, South West Africa; and Kristian Svendsen, Asset Development General Manager will participate at AEW. Their participation follows the announcement of an oil discovery at the 105-4X well in Angola’s Block 0 in August. The company is also preparing further exploration across the region, including the Nabba-1X well offshore Namibia.
bp’s delegation includes Dave Campbell, Senior Vice President Mauritania & Senegal; Mohamed Limam, Vice President and Head of Country, Mauritania; and Taelo Mojapelo, CEO of bp Southern Africa. In Mauritania and Senegal, bp operates the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG development, which moved into production and LNG exports in 2025 and represents one of West Africa’s most significant recent gas developments.
Alongside the majors, AEW will bring together operators responsible for a growing share of African production and project development. Azule Energy CEO Joe Murphy and COO Francesco Dresda return as the company advances its deepwater oil and gas portfolio in Angola. The company achieved full-field start-up at Ndungu in February as part of the wider Agogo Integrated West Hub development in Block 15/06.
Kosmos Energy CEO Andy Inglis and Khady Dior Ndiaye, President and Country Manager Senegal, will bring a West African gas perspective to the event. Kosmos is a partner in GTA, where production ramped up through 2025 and the FLNG facility subsequently operated above its 2.7-million-ton-per-year nameplate capacity.
Woodside Energy, represented by Vice President Exploration Terry Gebhardt and Senegal Head of Country Nancy Diakhate, brings direct experience of taking a major African offshore discovery into production. Its Sangomar Field achieved first oil in 2024 and subsequently delivered sustained plateau production, contributing to Woodside’s record company-wide production in 2025.
AEW 2026 will also spotlight independent companies building positions in Africa’s exploration and producing basins. Sintana Energy CEO Robert Bose joins the event as the company expands its exposure to high-impact Atlantic Margin exploration.
Afentra CEO Paul McDade will participate as the independent continues to build its Angolan portfolio through acquisitions, redevelopment and exploration. In August, Afentra announced a successful oil discovery at Pacassa SW in Block 3/05, encountering 136 meters of net pay, while production was restarted at Impala-1 at approximately 3,000 barrels per day gross.
Nigeria’s Emadeb E&P will be represented by Managing Director Oluwasegun Ogunsanya and COO Olawale Ayeni, adding another indigenous operator perspective to discussions around marginal-field development, mature assets and the growing role of African companies in upstream investment.