By Ayomide Otitoju
The upcoming Wider Africa Energy Summit (WAES), scheduled to take place in Aberdeen, Scotland, on November 18–19, 2025, is set to bring together international operators, leading service providers, and African energy stakeholders to explore new opportunities across the continent’s oil and gas value chain.
Organised by OGV Group in partnership with the African Energy Chamber, the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Energy Industries Council, the Scottish African Business Association, the UK Ghana Chamber of Commerce, and the Global Underwater Hub, the summit aims to foster collaboration and investment between Europe and Africa’s most promising energy markets.
The 2025 edition will feature participation from major industry players, including Shell, bp, Harbour Energy, Canadian Natural Resources, and Serica Energy, reinforcing WAES’s growing reputation as a premier global energy forum.
Shell, one of Africa’s key exploration and production operators, will spotlight its expanding footprint on the continent. The company continues to drive exploration success in Namibia’s Graff field, with plans for a new drilling campaign at PEL 39 in 2026, and recently reached a final investment decision on Nigeria’s HI gas project, unlocking 350 million cubic feet of gas per day. Shell also re-entered Angola in 2025 through a new deal for Block 33.
Similarly, bp will highlight its leadership in Africa’s LNG sector, having commenced production at the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG project in Mauritania and Senegal in 2025, with plans underway for a second phase to expand output. The company also began production at Egypt’s Reven Infills gas project this year.
Harbour Energy, producing about 450,000 barrels per day, will showcase its extensive North African gas portfolio, which includes interests in Algeria’s Reggane Nord, Libya’s Al Jurf, and Egypt’s West Nile Delta, Dissouq, and East Damanhour projects.
The summit will also convene leading international service providers, such as NOV, Oceaneering, Expro, and Modec, whose operations span multiple African markets. NOV continues to strengthen its presence in Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Angola, South Africa, Uganda, and Kenya, delivering advanced technologies that drive operational efficiency and sustainability.
Oceaneering recently renewed its inspection services contracts across West Africa, while Expro remains active in sub-Saharan Africa, supporting well construction, production optimization, and decommissioning projects. Modec, a key player in offshore floating production solutions, maintains a robust presence in Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, and Cameroon.
With participation from top UK supply chain firms, WAES 2025 will serve as a vital platform for forging partnerships, signing new deals, and advancing Africa’s energy transformation agenda through cross-continental collaboration and innovation.
