“We are pleased to strengthen our relationship with GIP through this infrastructure agreement which crystallizes the value of some of our midstream infrastructure assets in Africa,” said Jean-Pierre Sbraire, chief financial officer of TotalEnergies.

TotalEnergies Expands African Oil and Gas Activity

The partnership comes as TotalEnergies has recently increased its business activities across Africa’s oil and gas sector. The French supermajor has investments in Angola, Namibia, and Uganda, where it has continued to develop and expand its presence.

In early September 2026, TotalEnergies said it had made a new discovery offshore Angola and acquired operated interest in two new exploration blocks located close to operating hubs. International majors are returning to exploration in Angola’s waters to take advantage of existing infrastructure. The Acacia-5 discovery in Block 17 is expected to achieve first oil just three months after the discovery was made in June 2026, TotalEnergies said. The company has also increased its exploration portfolio offshore Namibia by taking acreage north of a block where a major oil discovery has been made, as it seeks to increase activity in the new global exploration hotspot.

In 2025, TotalEnergies signed an agreement with Galp that formalizes its operatorship over Namibia’s two largest offshore oil discoveries, Mopane and Venus, through a strategic asset swap that consolidates development control in the hands of the French major.

African Projects Strengthen Infrastructure Portfolio

TotalEnergies’ activities in Uganda also form part of its wider African oil and gas operations. In the country, TotalEnergies and China’s CNOOC have been developing the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil fields. These projects are expected to make the landlocked African country the world’s newest crude oil exporter in early 2027 through the $5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). The pipeline will transport crude from Uganda to Tanzania’s port of Tanga.

In latest development, TotalEenergies also signed a three-month bulk fuel supply deal with Namibia.

Namibia’s Minister of Industries, Mines and Energy Modestus Amutse announced on Monday that the TotalEnergies bidding group had been selected as the successful bidder following an open competitive bidding process. Its trading company, TOTSA, has been designated as the supplying member under the agreement. The three-month arrangement includes approximately 246.9 million litres of diesel and 98.4 million litres of petrol. The first shipment is expected to arrive in November, marking the start of the bulk fuel supply deal.

Discounted Fuel Pricing to Deliver Savings

The successful bid provides discounts against the Basic Fuel Price (BFP), offering 61 cents per litre on diesel and 71 cents per litre on petrol. These discounts result in a weighted average discount of 63.85 cents per litre. According to the Ministry, the pricing arrangement is expected to deliver savings of about N$220.5 million during the three-month supply period. The savings will accrue to the national fuel price account, known as the slate, which is managed under the National Energy Fund.

The Ministry said the latest bulk fuel supply deal represents another reduction in Namibia’s fuel import costs. Previous supply arrangements had shifted from suppliers charging premiums above the BFP to fuel being supplied at the benchmark price. In the latest tender, all four participating companies offered to supply fuel at discounts to the BFP, while none requested a premium.

“For years, Namibia paid more than the Basic Fuel Price, the official reference price for imported fuel, to have its fuel supplied: suppliers charged a premium on top of that benchmark,” Amutse said.

“In the last supply round, the Ministry removed that premium entirely: fuel was supplied at the BFP itself, with nothing added. This round, we have gone a step further,” he added.

Government Continues Competitive Fuel Procurement

Amutse said the N$220.5 million saving would strengthen the government’s ability to keep domestic pump prices stable. The Ministry said the bids were evaluated using several criteria, including bidder qualification, pricing, security-of-supply risks and the standing and track record of each supplier. Amutse said the government would continue using competitive bidding to procure Namibia’s bulk fuel requirements while ensuring security of supply.

The new block 17 discovery will be integrated into existing production infrastructure through a tieback arrangement to the Pazflor floating production, storage and offloading vessel. This connection is expected to deliver an additional 6,000 barrels per day of production capacity, leveraging already-established facilities to optimize development efficiency and reduce capital requirements.

Operational Partnership and Stakeholder Structure

France-based TotalEnergies maintains operational control of Block 17 with a 38 percent working interest. The project encompasses a diverse international consortium, reflecting the collaborative nature of modern offshore oil and gas development. Norway’s Equinor ASA holds a 22.16 percent stake, while the United States-based Exxon Mobil Corporation retains 19 percent. The Azule Energy joint venture, equally owned by Britain’s BP and Italy’s state-backed Eni, maintains a 15.84 percent position. Angola’s national petroleum company, Sociedade Nacional de Combustíveis de Angola EP (Sonangol), owns a five percent stake in Block 17.

Recent Exploration Momentum Across Angola Portfolio

“Acacia-5 is the second exploration success recorded in 2026 across TotalEnergies’ Angolan portfolio, following the recent Block 0 discovery in the prolific Lower Congo Basin, where TotalEnergies holds a 10 percent interest alongside Chevron, operator”, TotalEnergies stated in a press release, commenting on the new block 17 discovery.

The Block 0 discovery demonstrated a hydrocarbon column exceeding 600 meters within the primary Pinda reservoir, with net pay exceeding 90 meters and exceptional reservoir characteristics, according to Chevron’s announcements.

Development discussions for the Block 0 discovery are exploring a tieback arrangement to Chevron’s existing infrastructure for the 105-4X find. Production from Block 0 has already commenced through the Mafumeira developments.

Expansion of Exploration Acreage

Concurrent with the new block 17 discovery announcement, TotalEnergies finalized concession agreements with Angola’s National Agency for Petroleum, Gas and Biofuels (ANPG).

“These promising blocks benefit from extensive existing 3D seismic coverage and offer access to several prospective geological plays”, TotalEnergies said.

“They are located close to existing facilities in TotalEnergies-operated Blocks 17 and 32, where six FPSOs are currently producing, therefore allowing for future tie-backs and cost-efficient development of additional resources through existing facilities,” it added.

Additionally, TotalEnergies entered a preliminary agreement with ANPG and ExxonMobil targeting exploration blocks 40, 41, 42, and 58 in the Benguela Basin. Under the arrangement, TotalEnergies would assume a 35 percent working interest in these prospective acreage positions.

Strategic Vision and Market Positioning

“Exploration is a key pillar of our ambition in Angola, supported by the incentives introduced to encourage investment”, said TotalEnergies chair and chief executive Patrick Pouyanné.

“Together with our partners, we aim to explore further and unlock new resources, sustaining a strong exploration effort to identify new opportunities across Angola’s offshore basins,” he added.

This renewed outreach emerged during a pivotal meeting held in Niamey on 18th August 2026 between U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Ryan Grizzle and Abdoulkarim Mohamed Ali, Secretary General of Niger’s Ministry of Petroleum. During the meeting, representatives from Niger’s petroleum sector presented the visiting American delegation with various petroleum sector investment opportunities.

Strategic Opportunities in Niger’s Energy Sector

Niger requested assistance from the U.S. Embassy in identifying and connecting with American companies, investors, research centers, universities, and training institutions. These organizations would need to offer investment capital, advanced technology, and technical expertise to support the nation’s petroleum development agenda.

Gas Development and Associated Projects

The centerpiece of the petroleum sector investment opportunities presented to the American delegation involved the development of associated gas resources. The nation identified particular potential for electricity generation and urea production from these gas reserves. Additionally, Niger highlighted mature oil blocks that remain available to new international partners and emphasized its critical need for cutting-edge technology, project financing, and specialized technical expertise.

The discussions encompassed a broader range of petroleum sector activities. Niger proposed collaboration across oil exploration, drilling operations, and oilfield services. The country also outlined plans to establish a national oil data bank and create an integrated monitoring system allowing government oversight of crude export pipeline operations.

Building Technical Capacity and Local Expertise

Developing human capital emerged as another cornerstone of the petroleum sector investment proposal. Niger’s Ministry of Petroleum sought American cooperation in training and skills development, specifically through partnerships with United States universities and specialized training institutions. The ministry also emphasized the importance of digital transformation initiatives and implementation of Niger’s local-content development strategy as priority cooperation areas.

Niger’s Oil Industry: Scale and Growth Trajectory

Niger’s petroleum sector represents an increasingly vital component of the national economy. The country currently produces approximately 110,000 barrels of crude per day, translating to roughly 40 million barrels annually. At an illustrative price point of $70 per barrel, this production volume represents approximately $2.8 billion in annual gross crude value.

Looking forward, Niger is targeting significant production expansion. The nation aims to increase daily output to 145,000 barrels per day by 2029, reflecting substantial confidence in sector growth and development potential.

Diversification Strategy and International Partnerships

According to Niger’s Ministry of Petroleum, this approach serves multiple strategic objectives. The diversification effort is designed to strengthen Niger’s sovereign control over natural resources, mobilize additional sources of specialized expertise, and expand the nation’s available capital sources for petroleum sector development.

Mutual Benefits and Path Forward

For the United States, this opening provides an avenue to reconstruct economic engagement with a critical West African nation. For Niger, engaging American companies and institutions in its petroleum sector offers access to additional capital reserves, advanced technology, and technical expertise while maintaining independence from any single dominant foreign investor.

The drive for the USD 40B investment reflects Libya’s efforts to restore growth in an industry significantly hampered by decades of political instability, underinvestment, and security-related disruptions. With crude production currently standing at 1.4 million barrels per day, Libya oil investment represents a critical opportunity for both international energy firms and the continent’s broader energy future.

Current Production and Future Targets

The USD 40B investment plan centers on a comprehensive production expansion strategy. The National Oil Corporation (NOC) has established an ambitious target to increase output from current levels to 2 million barrels per day by 2030. More than 60 discovered oil and gas fields remain undeveloped, presenting substantial opportunities for international energy companies to participate in exploration, production operations, and infrastructure development projects.

To facilitate increased capital attraction, Libya is considering meaningful reforms to its investment framework. Proposed changes to production-sharing agreements would shift more upfront financing responsibilities to international investors, enabling projects to advance more rapidly than current arrangements permit. These structural modifications aim to accelerate development timelines and reduce barriers to participation by international energy companies.

Strategic Importance to African Energy Markets

Historically, Libyan crude has served European markets for decades, with major buyers including Italy, Germany, Spain, France, Greece, and the Netherlands. The proximity to Mediterranean ports and the nation’s production of light, low-sulfur crude, favored by numerous refineries, established Libya’s traditional export orientation toward European destinations.

Before the 2011 political transition, African crude production from Libya exceeded 1.6 million barrels per day, with substantial volumes flowing to European refineries. However, subsequent years of conflict, export blockades, and infrastructure disruptions caused significant production fluctuations.

More recently, Libya has begun strengthening its role within Africa’s regional energy ecosystem. In 2026, Libyan crude commenced supply to Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Africa’s largest refining facility. During May 2026, Nigeria imported approximately 64,500 barrels daily of Libyan crude—roughly 2 million barrels for the month—marking the first documented import of Libyan crude into Nigeria according to available trade data. This development signals a meaningful shift toward intra-African energy trade and demonstrates reducing reliance on traditional overseas export markets.

International Industry Interest and Recent Commitments

Major international energy companies including Eni, TotalEnergies, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips maintain ongoing interests in Libya’s oil sector development opportunities. However, investment flows have been constrained by political uncertainty, governance concerns, and persistent security risks.

Recent positive developments provide encouraging signals for the sector. In July, Libya signed an exploration and production agreement with Qatar-based UCC Holding for Area 47, a project anticipated to attract approximately $1 billion in investment. Such commitments demonstrate continuing international interest despite existing challenges.

Persistent Challenges to Sector Growth

Despite substantial energy potential and investment opportunities, Libya’s oil ambitions face considerable obstacles. The country operates under competing authorities in eastern and western regions, with major oil fields and export terminals located in areas controlled by rival factions. This political fragmentation complicates coordinated energy infrastructure modernization efforts and investment coordination.

Infrastructure Development and Project Structure

The USD 1.9B Dosso oil refinery agreement was officially signed in Niger’s capital, Niamey, with Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Bakary Sangaré representing the government, alongside Zimar Group and High Tech CEO Benjamin Day Marok.

The project, which involves a collaboration with the Canadian firm Zimar Group, is structured as a 16-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) agreement. Under this arrangement, the development will include three years dedicated to construction, followed by 13 years of operation by the firm. Once this period concludes, ownership of the facility will transfer to the government of Niger.

Capacity and Regional Impact

The planned oil refinery in Dosso is designed with a production capacity of 100,000 barrels per day. This facility is expected to increase the country’s national refining capacity fivefold. Beyond the refinery itself, the USD 1.9B Dosso oil refinery deal encompasses the development of critical related infrastructure, including pipelines and storage facilities and a broader industrial petrochemical hub, intended to serve both domestic and regional markets.

Strategic Energy Objectives

This agreement follows a period of revision after an initial version was signed in October 2024. The finalized USD 1.9B Dosso oil refinery deal aligns with the broader efforts by Niger to leverage its estimated three billion barrels of petroleum reserves. By enhancing its local processing capabilities, the nation aims to reduce its dependence on fuel imports while developing its petrochemical industry.

The Zimar Group will be responsible for financing and developing the energy infrastructure as part of this public-private partnership. Officials have emphasized that this investment represents a strategic step in the government’s ongoing initiative to maximize the value of its natural resources through increased petrochemical output and regional energy integration.

Expanding Regional Energy Infrastructure

The agreement signifies a deepening of the cooperation between the two nations, building upon existing cross-border energy infrastructure projects such as the pipeline connecting the countries. President Samia Suluhu Hassan stated that the project aligns with a commitment to increase the value of local resources and enhance economic collaboration, allowing the population to benefit more directly from the energy value chain.

The Tanga Regional Energy Hub is designed to provide support for petroleum blending, marine services, and fuel trading. By establishing this center, the countries involved aim to retain more economic value from their natural resources rather than relying on external trading hubs and imported refined products.

Impact on Oil Resources and Trade

As Uganda prepares to commence commercial crude oil production, this development is essential for its transition into an oil-producing nation. The planned infrastructure will serve as a primary gateway for its oil exports to reach international markets.

The involvement of Vitol, a major independent energy trader, provides a technical layer to the project. The company, which maintains existing supply agreements within the region, is positioned to support the expansion of fuel storage and logistics. Furthermore, this move is part of a larger regional vision that includes exploring the construction of a regional oil refinery to process local oil resources.

By improving logistics and reducing supply chain costs, this project is expected to enhance the efficiency of regional trade across the East African community. As governments continue to invest in the necessary infrastructure for processing and transporting energy, the development of Tanga represents a step toward strengthening the energy security and economic integration of the region.

The discussions took place at the headquarters of the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and brought together the Ambassador of Senegal to Algeria, the Ambassador of Algeria to Senegal, the Chairman and CEO of Sonatrach, Mr. Noureddine Daoudi, senior ministry officials, and members of the Senegalese delegation. According to the ministry’s statement, the meeting served as an opportunity to review the status and prospects of cooperation between the two countries across various segments of the oil and gas industry. During the meeting, both sides reaffirmed the strong fraternal and friendly relations between Algeria and Senegal while expressing their shared ambition to transform those ties into a broader economic and strategic partnership.

Focus on Oil and Gas Value Chain, Expertise Exchange, and African Partnerships

A significant part of the discussions focused on developing cooperation across various stages of the oil and gas value chain, particularly in exploration, production, field development, refining, and petrochemicals, while emphasizing the importance of activating the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Sonatrach and PETROSEN to open new horizons for investment and exchange of expertise. The ministers also examined opportunities to leverage Algerian expertise to develop the oil and gas sector in Senegal, especially in light of the country’s recent discoveries, as well as enhancing cooperation in training and knowledge transfer between the Algerian Petroleum Institute and its Senegalese counterpart.

In addition, the meeting covered cooperation opportunities in petrochemical industries, hydrocarbons transport, and the marketing of petroleum and gas products, alongside exchanging expertise in regulation, governance, petroleum data management, industrial safety, and environmental protection.

Speaking during the meeting, Arkab emphasized that Algeria, in implementation of the directives of the Algerian President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune, attaches special importance to strengthening African cooperation and promoting South-South partnerships, particularly in the hydrocarbons sector.

He further stressed the need for intensifying coordination between specialized institutions in both countries and enhancing joint efforts within the framework of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) to support the continent’s energy security, promote technology transfer, and build African capacities.

For his part, the Senegalese minister expressed his country’s keen interest in benefiting from Algeria’s experience in the hydrocarbons sector, praising the outstanding expertise of the Sonatrach Group. He also reaffirmed Senegal’s eagerness to expand cooperation with Algeria in various fields of the oil and gas industry, according to the same source.

Based on estimates that place South African oil demand at 600,000 barrels per day, the proposed reserve would total about 36 million barrels, representing an asset worth billions of dollars. In addition to the state-held reserves, the draft policy would require licensed wholesalers and importers to maintain inventories equivalent to 21 days of demand. Oversight and management of these strategic oil reserves would fall under the state-owned South African National Petroleum Co.

According to the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, the National Treasury and the SANPC will develop financing mechanisms and instruments for the financing and guaranteeing strategic petroleum stocks.

Regional efforts gain momentum as governments strengthen fuel security

South Africa’s last major emergency stockpiling initiative dates back to the 1970s after the United Nations imposed sanctions on the country over its policy of institutionalized racial segregation. Those circumstances resulted in the construction of the 45 million-barrel Saldanha Bay storage hub on the Atlantic coast.

More recently, concerns over supply security and higher prices linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran have restored the facility’s original purpose of serving as a safeguard against severe oil-supply shortages. The conflict across the Middle East contributed to higher global fuel prices while prompting countries to seek alternative sources of supply. Across Africa, several governments responded by reducing taxes and allocating budget resources to help contain fuel costs.

Alongside these short-term measures, governments are increasingly pursuing infrastructure investments designed to strengthen control over fuel supplies and reduce dependence on trading companies. Morocco announced in June 2026 that it will invest $641 million in the development of fuel-storage facilities, while Uganda plans to expand a state-owned terminal to improve supply stability. Ghana is also preparing to increase the use of domestic crude in its refineries.

At the same time, billionaire Aliko Dangote has accelerated projects across the continent after his Nigerian refinery increased production during the Persian Gulf conflict. These initiatives include constructing another refinery of the same design in Kenya as well as developing storage facilities in The Gambia.

Strengthening Regional Energy Ties

Maixent Raoul Ominga, the Managing Director of SNPC, led a delegation to the petroleum refinery facility in Lagos. He characterized the site as a vital asset for the continent and expressed a strong interest in establishing a long-term relationship.

“We have visited this remarkable refinery, which represents a major industrial achievement for Africa. The Republic of the Congo has refining capacity and we are keen to explore strategic cooperation that will help strengthen the supply of refined petroleum products while creating value for both organisations,” he said.

The dialogue between the two entities centered on several key pillars, including refining operations, energy security, and the sharing of technical knowledge. Ominga commended Dangote Group to prove the ability of African entities to finance and manage world-class industrial infrastructure. He further acknowledged the existing presence of the group in the Congolese cement sector, which has already contributed to local industrial capacity and improved access to essential construction materials.

Commitment to Continental Industrialization

Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, stated that the facility serves the broader continent, emphasizing a willingness to meet the specific energy needs of neighboring nations. The petroleum refinery is currently producing fuels that meet international quality standards, which helps in reducing the reliance on imported products from outside the region.

Future Expansion and Investment Goals

Devakumar Edwin, the Group Vice President for Oil and Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, detailed the long-term strategy to expand total refining capacity to 2.1 million barrels per day. This plan includes the current operations in Nigeria and a proposed facility in Kenya to serve East African markets. Furthermore, the organization intends to invest an additional $46 billion between 2026 and 2028 across its refining and fertilizer sectors to support industrial infrastructure development.

The engagement regarding refined product supply cooperation highlights a shared vision to improve energy security and promote self-sufficiency. By strengthening regional value chains and fostering regional energy cooperation, both organizations aim to facilitate increased trade and industrial growth through sustained African energy cooperation.