A high-level delegation led by Hon. Tom Alweendo, Namibia’s Minister of Mines and Energy, is conducting a diplomatic visit to regional gas leader, Equatorial Guinea, this week with the aim of strengthening energy ties and expanding dialogue between the two nations.
The delegation conducted a site visit to Equatorial Guinea’s Punta Europa Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) complex (EG LNG), gaining insights into facility operations.
Bilateral meetings discussed the role NOCs play in driving oil and gas developments in Africa; the training and development of nationals; and the role gas plays in boosting the local and regional economies, with both SONAGAS and GEPetrol providing key insight into strategies for gas monetisation as well as the rapid developments of resources.
Having made two sizeable oil and gas discoveries this year, Namibia is committed to seeing these developments come online as soon as possible.
In May 2007, EG LNG’s first cargo was delivered, making it one of the fastest LNG projects in terms of the timeline it took from final investment decision to first cargo – and Namibia’s Minister Alweendo is hoping to replicate the project’s development.
A group of Namibian engineers will stay on in Equatorial Guinea for the next four months, training and working closely with Equatorial Guinean nationals.
Minister Alweendo said, “This way, it will accelerate the process for us to build the skills. It is a new industry for us so we need to start building those skills and this agreement will really help us and we are thankful for that. As Africa, we need to start increasing collaboration among ourselves.”
He said Namibia has very recently had two discoveries in February and it is time to engage and collaborate with Equatorial Guinea so that it can embark on the next phase in the industry’s development, learn lessons it can tap into and see what Equatorial Guinea has done already, especially in terms of local content, human development and industry on the ground.
Following the visit to Equatorial Guinea, Minister Alweendo is set to depart for Senegal, where he will join other West African energy ministers at the 2022 edition of the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power conference – taking place under the auspices of H.E. Macky Sall, Senegalese President and current Chairperson of the African Union.
During the conference, he will deliver a keynote address, engage in several high-level bilateral meetings while helping drive discussions around a just energy transition in Africa.
The visits come ahead of the Africa Energy Week (October 18-21), which is likely to place considerable focus on natural gas and LNG.
African leaders are being urged to ‘fast track’ projects amid escalating supply constraints.
Those underway include the 3.4Mtpa Coral Floating LNG project, the 12.8Mtpa Mozambique LNG project and the 1.2 Rovuma LNG project in Mozambique as well as the $4.8bn Grand Tortue Ahmeyim gas project co-developed by Senegal and Mauritania.
Currently operational terminals for the LNG exports in Africa have a combined capacity of 75m MT per year. Algeria presents the largest annual LNG export capacity in the continent, with 29.3m MT, followed by Nigeria with 22.2m MT.