G20 African Energy Investment Forum Set to Shape Africa’s Investment Agenda
The G20 African Energy Investment Forum – hosted by the African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org/) – is set to play a defining role in shaping Africa's energy investment landscape ahead of the G20 Leaders' Summit in South Africa. Taking place on November 21, 2025, in Johannesburg, the forum brings together African policymakers, global investors, financiers and energy executives to address the continent's most pressing energy and infrastructure financing needs. With Africa facing annual infrastructure requirements of $130–170 billion across energy, water and transport, the event provides a targeted platform to convert political commitments into bankable projects, catalyze high-level partnerships and accelerate solutions that drive energy access and industrial growth.
As South Africa's G20 presidency places the continent's development at the center of the global agenda, the forum offers investors an early window into policy priorities, regulatory adjustments and investment objectives expected to shape the Summit's outcomes. Discussions will center on de-risking investment, scaling clean and affordable energy, modernizing supply chains and leveraging gas and renewables to anchor long-term economic growth. For participants seeking market intelligence, project pipelines and structured deal flow, the Forum aligns national goals, regional requirements and global capital-market interests.
Strategic Priorities and High-Level Engagement
The program features a full day of keynotes, fireside conversations and technical panels offering practical guidance for investors navigating Africa's energy markets. South Africa's Minister of Energy and Electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, will deliver opening remarks outlining South Africa's policy direction as G20 host. A fireside conversation with Wale Tinubu, CEO of Oando, will explore corporate growth strategies, diversification and upstream expansion, while Godfrey Moagi, CEO of the South African National Petroleum Company, will discuss refinery modernization and supply-chain resilience.
A series of high-level panels will examine policy tools that balance affordability, sustainability and security; regulatory interventions required to unlock private capital; and mechanisms to mitigate currency, sovereign and macroeconomic risks. Additional sessions will address national LPG and clean-cooking strategies, investment in storage and refining capacity and financing structures supporting gas, power and industrialization goals. Speakers include senior executives from Standard Bank, S&P Global, the African Refiners & Distributors Association, Eskom, Anglo American, PetroSA and Petredec, alongside moderators from SABC, Channel Africa and CLG.
The Forum will spotlight a range of investment-ready opportunities across the energy value chain: upstream acreage, gas monetization projects, refinery upgrades, national LPG expansion programs, utility-scale solar and wind, gas-to-power, baseload generation, grid modernization and emerging opportunities in digital energy systems, battery storage and carbon markets. With governments and sponsors present, investors gain direct exposure to bankable projects aligned with Africa's industrialization and energy-security priorities.
Investment, Innovation and the Road to G20
With the G20 Leaders' Summit taking place days later, the forum serves as a key platform feeding into global-level negotiations. Core discussions will align with South Africa's push for a G20 action plan on affordable and just energy transitions, enhanced multilateral financing and a new investment pact for Africa. The program will highlight how blended finance, public-private partnerships and risk-mitigation tools can accelerate implementation across hydrocarbons, renewables and next-generation energy technologies.
By convening decision-makers across government, finance and industry, the G20 African Energy Investment Forum offers participants clear insight into upcoming policy shifts, bankable investment prospects and technology trends shaping the future. For investors, developers and financiers seeking clarity, access and actionable deal flow, it stands as a must-attend platform defining Africa's energy agenda in the G20 era.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.Aberdeen Capabilities Underpin Altera’s Offshore Success in Ivory Coast
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Aberdeen's role as a strategic base for companies operating beyond the North Sea was highlighted yesterday as Altera Infrastructure detailed how its UK capabilities are supporting major offshore developments in Africa.
Speaking at the Wider African Energy Summit – hosted in partnership with the African Energy Chamber – this week, Stig Bøtker, Director of Business Development at Altera Infrastructure, said the company increasingly relies on Aberdeen as a center of expertise that directly underpins its work on fast-growing African projects. “Aberdeen is a strategic base for Altera's operations,” he said, noting that the city's technical depth and offshore heritage have been instrumental in driving recent successes.
Bøtker pointed to the FPSO Petrojarl Kong, currently operating at the Baleine Field offshore Ivory Coast, as a leading example of how these competencies are being leveraged abroad. The project was completed on a fast-track schedule, with redevelopment beginning in late 2022 and first oil achieved in December 2024 – an overall timeline of just 24 months. The FPSO is producing 40,000 barrels of oil per day along with 44 million standard cubic feet per day of gas, which is supplied to an onshore power plant to deliver affordable and stable energy to the region.
Altera also secured $464 million in post-delivery financing for the Petrojarl Kong FPSO through a U.S. private placement, marking one of the first transactions of this kind for a West African offshore project. The company hopes this success will pave the way for continued activity in Ivory Coast, with Bøtker saying, “We hope to get more projects in Ivory Coast.”
Local content has been a core focus for the company, which has achieved 85% Ivorian employment onshore and 46% offshore. This has been driven by training programs in the shipyard, partnerships with educational institutions and hands-on development on existing FPSOs. “It's about strengthening local suppliers, promoting transparency, getting local suppliers to understand how we operate and our core values,” Bøtker said, adding that building Ivorian-led capabilities remains a priority. “It's important for us to continue developing people.”
Bøtker also noted that Altera is transferring emissions-reduction technologies to the region, several of which are already deployed on the Petrojarl Kong. He said the company aims to supply as much as possible locally, linking technical delivery with long-term capacity building.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.Breaking News: Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Patrice Talon, Duma Gideon Boko Among Nominees for the African Leadership Magazine (ALM) African Persons of the Year 2025
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Voting Now Open on the ALM Website (www.AfricanLeadershipMagazine.Co.UK)
African Leadership Magazine (ALM) proudly unveils the nominees for the highly anticipated African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year (POTY) 2025, following a resounding response to the open call for nominations across the continent and its diaspora. After a rigorous evaluation by the ALM Editorial Board, the final list of nominees has been confirmed — and public voting is now officially open on the ALM website, running until midnight (GMT+1) on 30 November 2025.
The ALM POTY Awards remain Africa's foremost public-choice honour, spotlighting leaders whose courage, innovation, and decisive actions in 2025 are shifting the continent's development trajectory. The awards follow a rigorous three-stage process that combines credibility with wide public participation: an open call for nominations from across Africa and the Diaspora; a meticulous shortlist by the ALM Editorial Board assessing measurable impact and continental relevance; and a continent-wide online vote that empowers Africans everywhere to choose the personalities driving Africa's progress and reshaping its global narrative.
The 2025 nominees of the African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year showcase extraordinary leadership across governance, business, education, peace and security, philanthropy, youth, and public service. Their work and impact in 2025 and beyond is driving real, measurable change — from economic transformation and stronger institutions to social progress and inclusive, sustainable growth. These leaders are shaping policies, inspiring communities, championing innovation, and redefining Africa's narrative on the global stage. Each nominee embodies bold action, vision, and impact, turning challenges into opportunities and leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.
The winners, determined by public vote, will be recognised and honoured at the 15th African Leadership Magazine Persons of the Year Awards Ceremony, scheduled for 27–28 February 2026 in Accra, Ghana, under the theme: "Leadership for a New Africa: Forging Our Peace, Owning Our Narrative."
The African Persons of the Year (POTY) Awards is the continent's most prestigious leadership recognition event — often described as the African Oscars of Leadership and Achievement. Organised by African Leadership Magazine (ALM), Africa's leading voice on leadership and impact, the event celebrates trailblazers whose vision, innovation, and integrity continue to shape Africa's progress in governance, business, and society. Now in its 15th edition, the POTY has become a magnet for Presidents, Ministers, CEOs, Diplomats, and Innovators — uniting Africa's foremost changemakers under one roof.
The 2025 Persons of the Year nominees are as follows:
African Political Leader of the Year
- Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah — President of Namibia
- Patrice Talon — President of Benin
- Duma Gideon Boko — President of Botswana
- José Maria Neves — President of Cape Verde
African Female Leader of the Year
- Esperança da Costa — Vice President of Angola
- Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey (Ghana)— Secretary-General, Commonwealth of Nations
- Mandisa Maya — Chief Justice, South Africa
- Hend El Sherbini — CEO, Integrated Diagnostics Holdings (IDH), Egypt
African Educationist of the Year
- Farah Sheikh Abdulkadir — Minister for Education, Culture & Higher Education, Somalia
- Tetteh Nettey — Founder & President, Marshalls University College, Ghana
- Barnabas Nawangwe — Vice Chancellor, Makerere University, Uganda
- Owunari Georgewill — Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Africa Peace & Security Leader of the Year
- Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun — Inspector General of Police, Nigeria
- Mbaye Cissé — Chief of the General Staff, Senegalese Armed Forces
- Mahmoud Ali Youssouf — Chairperson, AU Commission, Djibouti
- Mohammed Berrid — Inspector General, Royal Moroccan Armed Forces & Southern Zone Commander
African Industrialist of the Year
- Samuel Dossou Aworet — Founder & Chairman, Petrolin Group (Benin) & Chair, African Business Roundtable
- Yacoub Sidya — Founder & CEO, MSS Security, Mauritania
- Edson R. dos Santos — Chairman & CEO, Etu Energias, Angola
- Phuthuma Nhleko — Chairman/Co-Founder, Phembani Group, South Africa
- Nassef Sawiris — Executive Chairman, Orascom Investment Holding, Egypt
African Philanthropist of the Year
- Jim Ovia — Founder & Chairman, Jim Ovia Foundation
- Dr. Mensa Otabil — Founder, International Central Gospel Church (ICGC)
- Rali Mampeule — Founder, South African Housing & Infrastructure Fund (SAHIF)
- Samuel Tafesse — Founder, Sunshine Investment Group, Ethiopia
Young African Leader of the Year
- Khalil Suleiman Halilu — Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, NASENI, Nigeria
- Darshan Chandaria — Group CEO, Chandaria Group, Kenya
- Adut Salva Kiir Mayardit — Senior Presidential Envoy (Special Programmes), South Sudan
- Azarel Ernesta — Speaker, National Assembly, Seychelles
- Wicknell Munodaani Chivayo — Founder & CEO, Intratrek Zimbabwe
African Public Sector Leader of the Year
- Charles Anosike — Director General/CEO, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet)
- Monique Gieskes — Director General/CEO, Plantations & Oil Mills of the Congo (PHC), DR Congo
- Ireneu Camacho — Chairman/CEO, ENAPOR, Cape Verde
- Avomo Assoumou Paule Koki — Director General, Cameroon Civil Aviation Authority
- Debele Kabeta — Commissioner, Ethiopian Customs Commission
African Public Health Champion of the Year
- Esperance Luvindao — Minister of Health & Social Services, Namibia
- Mekdes Daba Feyssa — Minister of Health, Ethiopia
- Jean Kaseya — Director General, Africa CDC (DR Congo)
- Aaron Motsoaledi — Minister of Health, South Africa
- Paulin Basinga — Director of Health (Africa), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Rwanda)
African Agricultural Development Leader of the Year
- Tinotenda Mhiko — CEO, Zimbabwe Agricultural & Rural Development Authority
- Queta Baldé — Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, Guinea-Bissau
- Bruno Linyiru — Director General, Agriculture & Food Authority (AFA), Kenya
- Girma Amente — Minister of Agriculture, Ethiopia
- Alaa Farouk — Minister of Agriculture & Land Reclamation, Egypt
- Arvin Boolell — Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy & Fisheries, Mauritius
African Government Minister of the Year
- Lee Maiyani Kinyanjui — Cabinet Secretary, Investments, Trade & Industry, Kenya
- Estevão Pale — Minister of Mineral Resources & Energy, Mozambique
- Seedy K.M. Keita — Minister of Finance & Economic Affairs, Gambia
- Nyesom Wike — Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria
- Sheku Ahmed Fantamadi Bangura — Minister of Finance, Sierra Leone
African Lawmaker of the Year
- Celmira Sacramento — Speaker, National Assembly, São Tomé & Príncipe
- Shirin Aumeeruddy Cziffra — Speaker, National Assembly, Mauritius
- Austelino Tavares Correia — President, National Assembly, Cape Verde
- Tlohang Sekhamane — Speaker, National Assembly, Lesotho
- Benjamin Okezie Kalu — Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Nigeria
Voting is now open at www.AfricanLeadershipMagazine.Co.UK — have your say and champion Africa's finest leaders today!
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Leadership Magazine.For media and other enquiries, contact:
Ehis Ayere,
Group General Manager, African Leadership Magazine UK
ehis@africanleadershipmagazine.co.uk
+44 203 051 1883
About African Leadership Magazine:
The African Leadership Magazine is the flagship publication of the African Leadership Organisation (UK) Limited. For more than 19 years, ALM has been dedicated to promoting impact-driven leadership in Africa, strengthening African voices globally through Afro-positive editorial content, trade facilitation, business networking, and public-sector capacity-building. With over 30 million readers across 35+ countries, ALM has become a trusted convener of conversations that define Africa's trajectory, illuminating the stories of Africa's finest — from boardrooms to State Houses — building bridges between African leadership and global recognition. Hosting the 2026 edition in Accra, Ghana — a symbol of peace, democracy, and Pan-African pride — reaffirms the Magazine's commitment to unity, purpose, and African-led transformation.
Wider African Energy Summit Highlights Role of Service Companies in Boosting Local Content
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Global service companies were highlighted as a potential vehicle for local content development in Africa during the recent Wider African Energy Summit in Aberdeen, hosted in partnership with the African Energy Chamber (https://EnergyChamber.org).
The value of local content in driving economic growth was a key focus – emphasizing that as the continent's oil and gas value chain evolves, opportunities for service companies to strengthen local content become increasingly apparent. This was showcased in a presentation delivered by Ileana Ferber, CEO and Founder of Colibri Business Development LLC.
“Service companies can become a key enabler of local content in Africa. In addition to upstream opportunities in Africa, we have a lot of prospects in midstream infrastructure. As the sector grows, there are a lot of opportunities for service companies. Service companies are the bridge between operators and suppliers,” she said.
While Africa's oil and gas sector has been largely focused on upstream activities, a recent shift is being seen across the continent, with nations prioritizing mid- and downstream infrastructure under efforts to strengthen trade, fuel access and domestic market development. This has not only created business prospects for service companies but opened new doors for local content development – from job creation to supplier contracts to workforce training and technology transfer.
“There are different elements associated with local content. We want to train people – in both soft and hard skills -; we want to enhance supplier development, to ensure they have the capabilities to meet industry standards; and we want technology transfer, strengthening tacit knowledge and know-how as well as research and development,” Ferber shared.
Many countries across the continent are implementing local content regulations with the aim of generating economic opportunities for local populations. Ferber pointed to some of the challenges with local content requirements, highlighting the need for greater coordination between government and industry in the development of these policies.
“Local content requirements can be prescriptive, with minimum engagement with the industry. They can feature unrealistic targets that exceed local capability and skills. They can also be unfeasible in certain project phases,” she said. However, she also described the opportunities, stating that “local content requirements can develop infrastructure to strengthen the economy, create incentives to develop other industrial sectors and enable programs to develop SMEs as well as unrepresented groups.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.Democratic institutions can deliver again – Gaborone Democracy Lab charts pathway for citizen-centred renewal of African democracies
The inaugural Gaborone Democracy Lab, jointly hosted by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Botswana and Afrobarometer (www.Afrobarometer.org), has launched a continent-wide dialogue on how democratic institutions can be renewed to deliver dignity, inclusion, and social justice for all citizens.
Held under the banner “Democratic Institutions Must Deliver Again,” the two-day gathering brought together 50 policy makers, activists, and experts from across more than 20 African countries. The lab's discussions focused on three key pathways for building democratic institutions that work for people – pathways recognised as critical not only for Botswana, but for Southern Africa and the wider continent.
- Strengthening local-level decision making
Participants emphasised the need for citizens to be directly involved in political decisions at the community level. Decentralised and participatory structures were identified as essential for rebuilding public trust, improving accountability, and ensuring that public services respond to real needs. This shift mirrors growing demands for meaningful local governance across Africa.
- Channelling “Gen Z” activism into organised participation
With Africa's youth driving protest movements and civic action from Cape Town to Nairobi, the lab explored how this energy can be transformed into structured engagement. Delegates highlighted the need for leadership pathways, long-term organising, and political inclusion to ensure young people shape – rather than sit outside – democratic institutions.
- Embedding ubuntu in democratic reform
With its principles of solidarity, dignity, and collective responsibility, ubuntu emerged as a powerful, culturally grounded framework for reshaping African governance. Participants underscored its relevance to the continent as countries seek people-centred systems that reduce inequality and strengthen social cohesion.
The Vice President of the Republic of Botswana Hon. Ndaba Gaolathe emphasised the importance of building citizen-centred institutions and systems that outlast today's leaders. “If democracy is to mean anything,” he said, “it must endure beyond applause. It must survive beyond the headlines. It must live in the daily experience of justice and dignity.”
A defining feature of the Gaborone Democracy Lab is its unique format. Unlike traditional conferences, it brings together policy makers, youth leaders, trade unions, civil society, academics, data experts, and political actors in one experimental space. This “democracy laboratory” encourages creativity, cross-sector collaboration, and consensus building, offering a model that could inspire democratic innovation across the continent.
Afrobarometer's Surveys Director Boniface Dulani noted that while trust in institutions may be declining, citizens across Africa remain committed to democracy and continue to demand accountability and inclusion.
Henrik Maihack, Head of FES Africa, stressed the importance of global cooperation among democratic actors to counter rising threats and build more resilient institutions.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afrobarometer.For more information, please contact:
Asafika Mpako
Communications coordinator for Southern Africa
Telephone: +27 83 979 8299
Email: ampako@afrobarometer.org
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About the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung:
The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) is Germany's oldest political foundation, promoting social democracy and international cooperation in more than 100 countries. For over half a century, FES has been a cornerstone of Botswana's democratic development. Invited by President Sir Seretse Khama in the early 1970s, FES officially opened its Gaborone office in 1973. Since then, FES has served as a partner, working with the pillars of democracy: the marginalised, workers, youth, and women.
Building on this legacy, the FES Botswana office has been officially designated as the FES Democracy Hub Africa in 2025 – the central focal point for Africa-wide initiatives on youth political engagement, party dialogue, and democratic development.
Visit us online at: https://Botswana.FES.de/
About Afrobarometer:
Afrobarometer (AB) is a trusted source of high-quality data and analysis on what Africans are thinking. With an unmatched track record of 430,000+ interviews in 45 countries, representing the views of more than 75% of the African population, AB is leading the charge to bridge the continent's data gap. AB data inform many global indices, such as the Ibrahim Index of African Governance, Transparency International's Global Corruption Barometer, and the World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators. The data are also used for country risk analyses and by credit rating and forecasting agencies such as the Economist Intelligence Unit. All AB data sets are publicly available on the website (www.Afrobarometer.org) and may be analysed free of charge using AB's online data analysis tool (https://apo-opa.co/48nEhLI).
Visit us online at: www.Afrobarometer.org