Nigeria is seeking more than $40 billion in fresh investment to unlock a new wave of deepwater oil and gas projects, as the government seeks to revive developments that have been delayed by high costs, regulatory uncertainty and an investment environment that has struggled to attract sufficient upstream capital. The push comes as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration introduces a new fiscal framework designed to make deepwater developments more commercially attractive and revive projects that have remained stalled for years. The reform is expected to support as much as $50 billion in potential investment, with major projects such as Shell’s…
Author: Nne Bright Nwankwo
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has again lowered its forecast for global oil demand growth in 2026, signalling a softer consumption outlook and adding another layer of uncertainty to an already closely watched crude market. The revision comes as changing economic conditions, energy-market disruptions and evolving consumption patterns reshape expectations for oil producers and investors. Another Downward Revision Signals a More Cautious Demand Outlook OPEC’s latest adjustment underscores the difficulty of forecasting global oil consumption in an environment marked by uneven economic growth and heightened geopolitical uncertainty. The organisation’s demand outlook is closely watched by governments, producers,…
Kenya’s Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) is preparing to launch East Africa’s first exchange-traded fund (ETF) focused on artificial intelligence (AI), marking a significant step in the evolution of the region’s capital markets as exchanges seek to align investment products with emerging global technology trends. The proposed fund, expected before the end of 2026, would provide local investors with exposure to leading global AI companies while broadening the diversity of investment products available on the Kenyan market. Expanding Local Access to the Global AI Economy According to NSE Chief Executive Frank Mwiti, the proposed ETF will track a basket of companies…
CBZ Holdings Limited reaffirmed its position as Zimbabwe’s leading infrastructure financing partner at the Africa Infrastructure & Energy Conference (AIEC) in London, where Group Chief Executive Officer Lawrence Nyazema presented a compelling investment case for Zimbabwe and outlined practical mechanisms for mobilising private capital into strategic infrastructure projects. Speaking during the conference’s high-level plenary programme, Mr Nyazema highlighted Zimbabwe’s significant infrastructure opportunities across transport, energy, mining and digital infrastructure, while positioning CBZ Holdings as a trusted financial partner with the expertise to originate, structure and execute complex infrastructure transactions. His presentation aligned with the conference theme, “Mobilising Private Capital for…
A lower growth projection is more than a macroeconomic revision; it is a measure of how global geopolitical shocks, domestic reforms and investor confidence are reshaping Kenya, East Africa’s largest economy. The World Bank has revised Kenya’s economic outlook downward, forecasting GDP growth of 4.3% in 2026 and 4.4% in 2027, a notable reduction from its earlier projection for 2026. The revision reflects the growing impact of external geopolitical tensions, particularly higher global energy prices linked to the recent Middle East conflict, as well as weaker private investment and declining household purchasing power. The updated outlook contrasts with the Kenyan…
Chinese refiners are increasingly seeking crude oil supplies from West Africa and the Middle East as tightening sanctions on Russian and Iranian oil continue to reshape global energy trade flows. According to industry sources, China’s Hengli Petrochemical, one of the country’s largest independent refiners, has intensified purchases from alternative suppliers amid growing uncertainty surrounding sanctioned crude shipments. The development highlights how geopolitical risk is influencing demand patterns and creating new opportunities for oil-producing nations across Africa. For African producers, the shift represents more than a short-term trading opportunity. It underscores the strategic importance of supply diversification in a market increasingly…
Industry experts and policymakers are increasingly converging on a common conclusion: traditional financing models are insufficient to meet the scale of investment required in Nigeria’s energy sector. Recent calls for the adoption of blended finance mechanisms signal a growing urgency to bridge persistent funding gaps while accelerating project delivery across the energy value chain. The renewed focus reflects both structural constraints within domestic financing systems and broader global shifts, where public capital alone can no longer sustain large-scale energy transitions. Core Developments At the centre of current discussions is the need to scale blended finance structures — financial arrangements that…
Sierra Leone has taken a significant step to revitalise its upstream oil and gas sector, signing a $225 million petroleum licence agreement with Nigeria-based Marginal Energy Limited. The deal grants the company rights to explore and develop offshore hydrocarbon resources, as Freetown seeks to reposition itself as a viable frontier destination for energy investment. The agreement forms part of a broader strategy to attract capital into Sierra Leone’s largely underexplored offshore basin and re-establish momentum in a sector that has seen limited activity in recent years. Core Details Under the terms of the agreement, Marginal Energy will undertake offshore exploration…
A look at what six African nations reveal about the continent’s biggest regulatory puzzle, and why getting it right could be worth trillions. Africa’s mineral endowment is not in question. The continent holds an estimated 30% of global reserves, including many of the critical minerals underpinning the energy transition. What remains unresolved is the regulatory architecture governing their development. Across jurisdictions, mining companies encounter materially different licensing regimes, fiscal structures, and compliance obligations. For investors, this is not a procedural inconvenience; it is a cost variable. Regulatory divergence increases due diligence complexity, extends project timelines, and raises the risk premium…