- The AOP Big Five Energy Awards honor lifetime achievement in Africa’s energy industry. The awards were presented at Africa Oil & Power’s Gala Dinner on Wednesday evening by NJ Ayuk, Chairman of the African Energy Chamber and Centurion Law Group CEO.
- President of the Republic of Senegal, Macky Sall was honored as ‘Oil Man of the Year’ for the outstanding milestones the country has achieved under his leadership to build a sound and profitable oil and gas industry as a driver for economic growth.
- AOP 2019 is Africa Oil & Power’s fourth flagship event and Africa’s premier Energy Conference
Cape Town, Oct 10, 2019 —Africa Oil & Power (AOP) 2019’s Gala Dinner celebrated phenomenal achievements in the African energy space. Recipients of the prestigious Big Five Awards were: Nelisiwe Magubane, Chairperson of Matleng Energy Solutions; the United States Power Africa agency; the Gas Megahub project from Equatorial Guinea; Mozambique’s Standard Bank branch and Total E&P South Africa for the Brulpadda discovery.
The Elephant Award went to Nelisiwe Magubane, who is an inspiration for many women in the energy and oil and gas industry, showing that determination can make things happen despite remaining challenges. Upon receiving the award, Nelisiwe stated: “When I look at the number of projects that have been done and the exciting number of investments that are being made, I feel like the African story is being told.”
US-based Power Africa was awarded the Leopard Award for its achievements in providing power solutions to more than 50 percent of Africans who still do not have access to electricity. Power Africa’s goal is to increase access to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa by adding more than 30,000 megawatts of cleaner, more efficient electricity generation capacity and 60 million new home and business connections.
Equatorial Guinea’s Gas Megahub project received the Lion Award. The Gas Megahub is a first of its kind initiative in Africa as it aims to make Equatorial Guinea a natural gas powerhouse through a series of natural gas management infrastructure projects. While increasing the country’s natural gas production, the program will also create synergies with neighboring countries in line with Africa’s natural gas expansion strategy.
The Buffalo Award was bestowed upon Standard Bank in Mozambique. The financial institution played a crucial role in securing Mozambique’s mega-liquefied natural gas project, set to trigger $128 billion in capital expenditure over the next decade. Standard Bank’s work is a great testimony to the readiness of Africa’s financial sector and the increasing importance of the continent’s financial institutions in large-scale oil and gas deals.
Total E&P South Africa branch received the Rhino Award through its managing director Adewale Fayemi. Adewale led the team responsible for South Africa’s outstanding Brulpadda gasfield discovery. Adewale Fayemi stated: “We are very happy to have made this discovery and to have opened a new basin in South Africa. We will continue our exploration efforts and see what more lies there.”
His Excellency Macky Sall was honored ‘Oil Man Of The Year’. President Sall was represented by His Excellency Mouhamadou Makhtar Cissé, Minister of Petroleum and Energy of the Republic of Senegal. Sall has established a footprint for African nascent energy sectors through his initiatives to build petroleum and power industries in Senegal with a long term focus.
President Sall succeeded HE Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, who received the award in 2018. Cissé stated: “Senegal is young country when it comes to oil and gas exploration and production. Our major discoveries took place in 2014 and 2015 and are continuing today. Thanks to President Macky Sall’s leadership, we are able to pick up best practices from different oil and gas stories across Africa to build our own. Our goal is to create a sound, profitable and long-term oil and gas sector in Senegal.”
AOP 2019 is Africa Oil & Power’s fourth flagship event and Africa’s Energy Conference for three days of networking, keynotes and panels on upstream oil and gas, energy infrastructure and power, all under the theme #MakeEnergyWork.
