The African Energy Chamber’s G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum, set for 21 November in Johannesburg will feature two high-level fireside chats examining the future of Africa’s oil and gas value chain. The discussions will delve into how upstream expansion, midstream diversification, and downstream modernisation can unlock new investment across the continent.
As African governments and energy companies reposition themselves for fresh exploration rounds, refinery upgrades, and transition-aligned strategies, the sessions will underscore the importance of global partnerships in advancing Africa’s energy and climate ambitions.
Oando PLC continues to demonstrate how independent oil and gas players can lead Africa’s energy diversification drive. Having evolved from a trading and downstream operator into one of sub-Saharan Africa’s most integrated and competitive energy groups, the company is broadening its investments while opening new opportunities across the region’s oil and gas value chain. Its recent milestones underline this shift. In 2024, Oando acquired Eni’s Nigerian Agip Oil Company, significantly strengthening its upstream portfolio. The launch of Oando Mining — focused on lithium and other critical minerals — further reflects its commitment to a diversified portfolio, complemented by a renewed push in downstream and marketing operations.
These developments point to a strategy many African independents can adopt. During the G20 Forum, Tinubu will join a fireside chat titled Strategy, Growth and Expansion: From Upstream to Energy Diversification. The discussion will unpack Oando’s approach to energy expansion, emerging opportunities for African independent companies and the broader need to scale Africa’s oil and gas value chain.
“Africa’s oil and gas value chain is full of untapped potential, and companies like Oando are proving what is possible when African champions lead from the front. Oando’s growth story shows that with the right capital and the right partnerships, African companies can drive transformative expansion across the entire value chain,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.
South Africa’s newly established state entity, the South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC), is also gearing up for accelerated project development aimed at strengthening supply chains and bolstering national fuel security. Alongside upstream initiatives, the SANPC is prioritising midstream revitalisation by restoring key refining infrastructure. Years of underinvestment have constrained the country’s refinery network, forcing a heavy reliance on fuel imports and exposing South Africa to supply shocks. The SANPC aims to reverse this trajectory through major projects, including the revival of the SAPREF refinery and the reinstatement of the Gas-to-Liquids refinery. The company intends to restart the 180,000-barrel-per-day SAPREF plant - shuttered in 2022 - with ambitions to boost long-term capacity to between 400,000 and 600,000 barrels per day.
A dedicated fireside chat at the G20 Forum will explore how these infrastructure projects could reshape South Africa’s energy landscape. Featuring SANPC CEO Godfrey Moagi, the discussion will examine strategies for strengthening the country’s oil and gas supply chain under the theme Repositioning the National Champion: Refinery Modernisation, and De-Risking South Africa’s Supply Chain. Investors will gain fresh insight into South Africa’s evolving midstream priorities and long-term energy security plans.
“South Africa’s energy security hinges on strengthening its downstream infrastructure, modernizing refineries, and building a supply chain that is resilient, competitive, and future-ready. SANPC is positioned to play a pivotal national role, but unlocking this vision requires global finance, technology partnerships, and strategic investors who are willing to back long-term refinery upgrades and fuel-security projects,” Ayuk added.
With global interest in African energy markets growing and new policies across multiple jurisdictions designed to accelerate upstream and downstream investment, the G20 Africa Energy Investment Forum’s fireside chats are set to offer investors, national oil companies, and international financiers timely insights and actionable pathways for deepening their engagement across the continent.
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