Non-Profit
MSGBC 2025: Africa Needs $375B to Develop Natural Gas Sector, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Says
Africa requires an estimated $375 billion over the next 10 to 12 years to adequately fund upstream and midstream gas development across the continent, according to non-profit organization the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE).
According to Dr. Riverson Oppong, Africa Director, SPE, who spoke during a workshop at this year's MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference and exhibition – hosted by SPE Senegal – Africa is on track to support increased investment through integrated national gas master plans, bankable contractual frameworks, robust infrastructure and institutional capacity building.
“Africa is a gas market,” Dr. Oppong stated. “But at the same time, despite our immense potential – holding 8% of global reserves – we don't participate on the global stage. Our constraint lies in policy, commercial frameworks, infrastructure and financing conditions.”
“Our aim is to foster technical discussions between the oil and gas players in Senegal and across Africa,” added Dr. Rose Ndong, Dakar Section Chair, SPE.
During the presentation, global technology company SLB noted that digital technology investment can improve exploration and drilling, enhance production efficiency and optimization, and improve supply chain optimization and resilience.
IoT, analytics and AI were highlighted as key enablers to improve Africa's upstream value chain, enabling real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, enhance decision-making and improved safety and environmental compliance.
“Data is a key focus-area for improving the upstream value chain in Africa,” stated Larry Velasco, Africa New Venture Manager, SLB. “The cost of bad data can result in the loss of approximately 15-25% of revenue for most companies.”
SLB indicated that oil and natural gas demand is expected to grow by approximately 20% by 2050. This comes on the back of key oil and gas discoveries across the continent in 2025, with 17 high impact wells having been completed this year.
“Energy demand is rising rapidly, and Africa's oil and gas industry requires a rapid deployment of investment in order to offset declines and meet peak demand,” stated Paul Freeman, Global Exploration Advisor, SLB.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.International Volunteer Day: Munich Nurse Brings Medical Support Back to Her Home Country Madagascar
Since early November, Fahendrena Vanessa Rose de Lima Body, a trained nurse from Munich University Hospital, has been volunteering with Mercy Ships (www.MercyShips.org) on board the hospital ship Africa Mercy® in Madagascar. This will have been the organization's fifth field service in the country, and the 28-year-old will return to Germany in mid-December once it concludes. For Vanessa, who was born in Madagascar, this marks the fulfilment of a long-held dream: to bring urgently needed medical support to her home country.
Vanessa Body first learned German as a foreign language during her school years in Madagascar. Inspired by her cousin, who worked as a translator on the Africa Mercy in 2014, she knew early on that she wanted to pursue a medical career and hopefully volunteer with Mercy Ships one day. After staying in Gmund am Tegernsee as an au pair in 2017, strengthening her German through a voluntary social year, she then began her nursing training at the municipal hospital in Bad Tölz. She gained professional experience mainly in anesthesia and emergency care before moving to her current position at Munich University Hospital.
Vanessa speaks vividly about the critical healthcare situation in Madagascar.
“Anyone who needs medical care in Madagascar has to pay. Treatment, medication – everything is expensive, and most people simply cannot afford it,” she explained. “If you have no money, you must accept your illness. There is no universal health insurance.” While there are several hospitals in the capital Antananarivo, where her parents live, the situation for people in rural areas is far more challenging: long distances, underdeveloped road infrastructure, and unaffordable costs. “Sometimes people die simply because there is no help available in the countryside,” she says. “That is why the work of Mercy Ships is so important for this country. Thanks to donations, patients can receive surgery free of charge, and, through training programs, local healthcare workers gain skills that will continue to benefit communities long after the ship has left.”
Vanessa is grateful to finally be able to support her fellow Malagasy citizens in person:
“As part of the anesthesia team on board, I can help overcome language barriers. For patients, everything about the ship is unfamiliar. I help them build trust with the medical team, create a sense of safety, and ease their fears. It is a wonderful service that I am honored to provide.”
Vanessa will return to her job in Munich in mid-December. A few days later, Mercy Ships' ten-month mission in Madagascar will come to an end.
“Without our volunteers, Mercy Ships simply could not carry out its work,” emphasizes Lydia Rieger, Managing Director of Mercy Ships Germany in Landsberg am Lech. “This year alone, around 100 volunteers came from Germany and Austria. On International Volunteer Day, we want to highlight just how indispensable their contribution is – whether in medical roles, technical support, or numerous other functions on board.”
More information at www.MercyShips.de
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mercy Ships.For more information about Mercy Ships, contact:
international.media@mercyships.org
About Mercy Ships Deutschland e. V.:
Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to strengthen medical care in some of the world's least developed countries. Its comprehensive and long-term support programme includes donation-funded surgeries at the highest standard, training and capacity-building for local professionals, as well as agricultural and infrastructure projects.
Since its founding in 1978, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 55 countries, delivering services valued at over €1.85 billion. Around 3 million people have directly and indirectly benefited from the organisation's work. Each year, more than 2,500 volunteers from around 60 nations serve on board – specialists in surgery, dentistry, nursing, health education, teaching, cooking, navigation, engineering, and agriculture, all offering their time and expertise to help those in need.
With 16 national offices and an additional location in Africa, Mercy Ships brings lasting change to individuals and strengthens healthcare systems across entire countries. Mercy Ships is a non-profit organisation funded by donations. To support this work, please use the following bank details:
Further information at www.MercyShips.de
Canon Central & North Africa Celebrates 10 Years of Growth and Innovation at The Executive Circle 2025 in Seychelles
- The annual exclusive conference marked the celebration of 10 years of Canon Central and North Africa's growth, expansion, and partner success across the continent.
- Canon showcased its new “Canon's World Unseen: 2.0 – Coral” brand campaign and highlighted the coral-restoration partnership in Seychelles with Nature Seychelles and Coral Spawning Lab.
Canon Central & North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com), successfully concluded its Executive Circle Partner gathering, hosted on 3–4 November 2025 in Seychelles. Marking a decade since CCNA's establishment, this milestone edition brought together strategic partners, executives, and industry leaders to reflect on achievements and align on future growth opportunities across the African continent.
Established in 2016, Canon Central & North Africa was created to expand Canon's presence across the African continent, forge deeper collaboration with partners, and accelerate regional growth. Over the past 10 transformative years, CCNA has strengthened Canon's footprint across the African continent by expanding its operations and establishing a local presence in key markets. During this time, the organization has built a strong ecosystem of distributors, resellers, and channel partners, enhancing customer access to innovative imaging and print technologies. Additionally, CCNA has consistently delivered industry-leading service support and training programs, ensuring that partners and customers are equipped with the expertise and resources needed to succeed.
Through strategic partnerships and localized market initiatives, CCNA has consistently driven business value and fostered meaningful relationships, ensuring that Canon's portfolio, solutions, and expertise truly serve the needs of Africa.
ICE: Canon's Strategic Pillar – Innovation, Customer & Employee Experience
This year, the Executive Circle continued to reinforce ICE—Innovation, Customer, and Employee Experience, as the strategic pillar guiding Canon's regional direction. The focus is on driving innovation through new markets and product categories, enhancing customer engagement across every touchpoint, and empowering employees through ongoing development to better support partners and customers.
“Our commitment to Africa goes beyond business, it is about collaboration, innovation, and shared growth,” said Somesh Adukia, Managing Director, Canon Central & North Africa. “As we celebrate 10 incredible years, we remain focused on enabling our partners, investing in our customers, and empowering our people. Together, we are shaping the future of imaging in Africa.”
Canon Launches Global Brand Campaign: ‘Canon's World Unseen 2.0 – Coral Campaign'
Unveiled during the conference, the new brand campaign - “Canon's World Unseen: 2.0, showcases Canon's commitment to storytelling and sustainability. The campaign reveals the breathtaking beauty of coral reefs, much of which remains unseen to the world, and uses photography and imaging technology to raise awareness about the urgent need to protect marine ecosystems.
Hosting the Executive Circle in Seychelles, one of the world's most pristine island nations, reflects Canon's belief in the power of imagery to inspire change, creativity, and environmental stewardship.
Earlier this year, Canon EMEA announced the pioneering sustainability initiative in partnership with Nature Seychelles, a leading environmental non-profit in the region, and Coral Spawning International (CSI), recognized pioneers in land-based coral reproduction and restoration. This collaboration underscores Canon's commitment to sustainability and marine ecosystem preservation in Seychelles and beyond. As part of the event, we also took our partners to witness these efforts firsthand and gave them a guided tour of the project site, allowing them to see the tangible impact of this collaboration in action.
This collaboration supports a first-of-its-kind coral restoration project in the Western Indian Ocean using an innovative coral regeneration method that strengthens reefs against climate change. The project leverages CSL's groundbreaking expertise in coral spawning and Nature Seychelles' deep environmental stewardship to protect and restore coral ecosystems at scale.
Regional Growth, Collaboration and Recognition
The Executive Circle aims to elevate partner collaboration and align strategic priorities across Africa. Through immersive discussions, knowledge-sharing, and business planning sessions, partners engaged directly with Canon's leadership to accelerate collective growth and innovation in the region.
To commemorate the conclusion of the conference, Canon hosted a gala dinner and awards ceremony, recognizing top-performing partners across B2B and B2C segments for their exceptional contribution to the business over the past year. The evening also featured the special 10th Anniversary Awards, honoring our partners who have been with us on this incredible journey for the past 10 years.
The Executive Circle 2025 in Seychelles marked a significant milestone, celebrating a decade of partnership, regional growth, and shared success.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com
APO Group - PR Agency
Rania ElRafie
e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com
About Canon Central and North Africa:
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon's business within the Africa region - by strengthening Canon's in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon's commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.
Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa's rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.
Canon's corporate philosophy is Kyosei (http://apo-opa.co/43xEHwr) – ‘living and working together for the common good'. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon's products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.
For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com