Seplat, Aradel, Oando, others to Bring Upstream Know-How to AEW in Cape Town

Nigeria’s largest indigenous oil and gas operators have joined the African Energy Week (AEW) Conference and Exhibition, taking place in Cape Town from October 12-16, 2026, to strengthen regional collaboration and advance Africa’s next wave of upstream projects.

Speakers include the companies at the centre of a structural shift in Nigeria’s upstream sector, where local operators have acquired more than $6 billion in assets divested by international majors and now account for approximately 60% of the country’s crude production.

Oando PLC Group Chief Executive Wale Tinubu will attend alongside Dr. Alex Irune, Executive Director of Oando PLC and Managing Director of Oando Energy Resources.

Oando completed its acquisition of Eni’s former NAOC onshore assets in a deal valued at approximately $800 million, adding acreage across the Niger Delta and establishing Oando as one of the largest indigenous operators in Nigeria by production volume.

Seplat Energy, Nigeria’s largest independent producer, will be represented by incoming CEO Engr. Effiong Okon, who takes over from Roger Brown on August 1, 2026.

Seplat’s 2030 strategy targets 200,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and more than one billion standard cubic feet per day of domestic gas production following its acquisition of ExxonMobil’s Nigerian subsidiary.

The ANOH gas processing plant, which Okon helped deliver as Managing Director, achieved first gas in January 2026. Okechukwu Mba, Director of Gas and New Energy, will also participate, contributing to discussions on gas commercialization and the country’s energy transition strategy.

Aradel Holdings, the largest oil and gas company listed on the Nigerian Exchange, will be represented by Adegbite Falade, MD and CEO. Aradel reported revenue of approximately N697.3 billion and 55% profit growth year-on-year for 2025, driven by increased crude and gas production across an expanding asset base.

The company raised crude output to 14,100 barrels per day and achieved its highest-ever gas production rate of approximately 83.8 million standard cubic feet per day during the year.

Aradel is also a shareholder in Renaissance Africa Energy, the consortium that completed its $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell’s onshore Nigerian operations.

The company operates a fully integrated upstream-to-downstream model at its flagship Ogbele field in Rivers State, combining production, gas processing and refining.

Heirs Energies MD and CEO Osayande Igiehon will attend the conference as the company continues to expand its upstream position and financing capacity.

A recent flagship agreement included Heirs Energies’ $750 million dual-tranche reserve-based lending facility – arranged by the African Export-Import Bank.