African energy sector resilient amid upstream challenges

Despite the African upstream oil and gas sector seeing a 75 per cent drop in deal value to 3 billion in 2023, companies are keen to expand portfolios and explore new opportunities

-  ABDULAZIZ KHATTAK

ALTHOUGH investments in Africa’s upstream oil and gas deals dropped considerably in 2023, regional public and Aprivate companies still continued to explore expansion opportunities in the continent.

Africa's upstream saw only $3 billion worth of investments in 2023, compared to over $10 billion in 2023 – a nearly 75 per cent decrease – with acquisitions driven primarily by regionally focused companies, according to the African Energy and Economy: 2023 Review and 2024 Outlook report by S&P Global.

This momentum is expected to increase this year, as private companies lead mergers and acquisitons, albeit focusing on established fields to maximise recovery from operations.

Global integrated oil companies (GIOCs) also increasing investmen in the upstream sector. These companies are not only investing heavily in new projects but also redesigning these projects to incorporate renewables and carbon capture technologies to align with global decarbonisation pressures.

Projects such as Eni’s Baleine field in Côte d’Ivoire and TotalEnergies’ Graff and Venus fields in Namibia are prime examples.

Private investment vehicles owned by high-net-worth individuals, like Famfa Oil and Heirs Holdings, are actively acquiring assets and investing in onshore and shallow-water resources.