Congo Energy & Investment Forum (CEIF): Local Expertise Emerges at the Heart of Congo's Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Ambitions
As the Republic of Congo's LNG capacity accelerates following its first export in February 2024, African industry leaders have underscored the role of local and regional capability building in sustaining growth, driving domestic utilization and enhancing intra-African trade.
Panelists at the 'Building Local&Regional Capability' discussion at the Congo Energy&Investment Forum on Wednesday emphasized that the strength of Congo's LNG sector depends not just on advanced technology and capital, but on investing in local talent and scalable systems.
'In order for the industry to grow, we have to develop our skillsets. Our people are underutilized and underdeveloped,' said Yolanda Asumu, CEO&Founder of iCUBEFARM, calling for targeted industry training and scalable local content systems that meet the evolving needs of the private sector. 'I encourage organizations like APPO to create a platform that connects member states with statistics on the jobs available and the skills required, which can fuel the education system to know what kind of training is needed.'
Addressing the crucial role of local content in maximizing national benefits from LNG projects, Dr. Bi-Dia-Ayo Ibata, Head of Associations Division and Supervisory Relations at Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), highlighted the importance of aligning industrial growth with community development. She elaborated on how strategic initiatives are designed to enhance domestic capacity and promote technology transfer.
'SNPC has identified sectors for valorization, which is the local gas market for industries, cement plants and so forth, and the secondary market to export. While exports are a main pillar of the Congo LNG project to generate revenues for the government, the ultimate objective is to transfer competencies from IOCs to the local communities.'
Emphasizing the potential for regional synergies and capacity building in the gas sector, Oumar Semega, CEO&Founder of Imperatus Energy, detailed how integrating local markets with cross-border cooperation and innovative technology can unlock substantial opportunities in Africa's energy landscape.
'There are possibilities for synergies within the supply chain for Congo, as a gas exporting country, beyond what we can do in the local market… Collaboration and technology – all of this is possible."
'We must have a common vision. Competition is good, but we must share knowledge, support each other and bring our strengths together. If one business succeeds, then that knowledge can be transferred,' echoed Nosayaba Evbuomwan, Executive&Associate Director at Accenture.
The inaugural Congo Energy&Investment Forum, taking place March 24-26, 2025, in Brazzaville, under the highest patronage of President Denis Sassou Nguesso and supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo, brings together international investors and local stakeholders to explore national and regional energy and infrastructure opportunities.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
12 hours ago
- Zawya
Qatar holds talks with energy companies on risk of Israel-Iran conflict, sources say
Qatar held crisis talks this week with energy majors after Israeli strikes on Iran's huge gas field, which it shares with Qatar, an industry source and a diplomat in the region told Reuters. Saad Al Kaabi, CEO of state-owned QatarEnergy and the Gulf Arab state's energy minister urged companies to warn the U.S., British and European governments about the risks the conflict poses to gas exports from Qatar and the increasing threat to the global gas supply, they said. An interruption to Qatar's liquefied natural gas (LNG) operation could cut off around 20% of the global supply, which Doha exports from the world's largest gas reservoir. "QatarEnergy is making sure that foreign governments are fully aware of the implications and repercussions the situation and further escalation pose to gas production from Qatar,' said the diplomat, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. QatarEnergy did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Kaabi also met this week in Doha with ambassadors representing countries whose companies are involved in QatarEnergy's North Field expansion project, the diplomat said. U.S. majors ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, Britain's Shell, Italy's Eni and France's TotalEnergies all have stakes in the expansion, which is set to boost exports from Qatar by around 82% in the coming years. So far, there have been no disruptions to QatarEnergy's exports and cargo deliveries are on schedule. (Reporting by Andrew Mills and Marwa Rasahd Editing by Tomasz Janowski and Louise Heavens)
ME Construction
19 hours ago
- ME Construction
Fujairah Terminals and Fujairah Free Zone Authority sign MoU
Infrastructure Fujairah Terminals and Fujairah Free Zone Authority sign MoU By This collaborative effort will enable the firms to establish a seamless and efficient environment that caters to the evolving needs of global shipping lines, logistics providers, and maritime service companies Fujairah Terminals, a subsidiary of AD Ports Group, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Fujairah Free Zone Authority (FFZA). This collaborative partnership aims to enhance Fujairah's standing as a pivotal hub in the global maritime industry. By combining the unique strengths of Fujairah Terminals and the FFZA, the MoU seeks to attract further investment, streamline operations, and foster sustainable growth within Fujairah's maritime ecosystem. Furthermore, the MoU aims to explore collaboration that would encompass the exchange of statistical data, business forecasts, and other information regarding container movement by road and sea, as well as joint participation in events and roadshows, a statement outlined. Captain Mohamed Al Yahyaei, CEO of Fujairah Terminals said, 'Fujairah Terminals is strategically located to serve as the premier gateway to the Indian Subcontinent, African trade lanes, and global markets. This MoU paves the way to further collaboration with the Fujairah Free Zone Authority, that will unlock new growth opportunities, enhance service offerings, and deliver greater value to our customers and stakeholders, solidifying Fujairah's position as a leading maritime hub.' Mohamed Sharief Habib Al Awadhi, Director General Fujairah Free Zone Authority added, 'The Fujairah Free Zone Authority plays a crucial role in attracting foreign investment and fostering a vibrant business community. This MoU with Fujairah Terminals, part of AD Ports Group, creates a powerful synergy, enabling us to offer a compelling value proposition to maritime businesses. Together, we can enhance competitiveness, drive economic diversification, and strengthen Fujairah's global maritime standing.' Fujairah Terminals, located on the UAE's eastern coast, serves as a premier gateway for trade with the Indian Subcontinent, African trade lanes, and global markets. Established in 2017, this multi-purpose terminal boasts a quay wall extending to 1000m and a depth of 15m, enabling it to handle larger vessels, the statement noted.
Zawya
20 hours ago
- Zawya
‘LNG from Oman': Unified brand for Oman's LNG
MUSCAT- With two more LNG projects currently under development and construction, the Sultanate is seeking to leverage this significant expansion of its LNG industry to build a new brand around the global sales of LNG from Oman. Stylised as 'LNG from Oman', this brand will encompass exports from Oman LNG's three-train complex at Qalhat, future production from the under-construction Marsa LNG bunkering project at Sohar Port, and the proposed fourth LNG train project, dubbed 'Sur LNG', which is currently under deliberation. According to Hamed al Naamany, CEO of Oman LNG, the branding initiative aims to capitalise on the strong foundations of trust, reliability, and flexibility that have characterised Oman's LNG exports over the past two decades. 'We're delivering 'LNG from Oman' because that is the brand the global market recognises and trusts,' Al Naamany said. 'This includes Sur LNG, our planned fourth train, and Marsa LNG in Sohar, a dedicated bunkering facility being built in partnership with TotalEnergies and our sister company OQ. Oman's market positioning is not about who operates the plant but the reliability and flexibility of the product from the country,' he added in an interview with The Energy Year (formerly The Oil & Gas Year). Elaborating on this point, Al Naamany described LNG from Oman as a brand offering a 'differentiated value proposition.' He explained: 'We work closely with different types of buyers – whether in Europe, Asia, or among portfolio players – to tailor commercial flexibility to their needs and ours. We are known as one of the most agile producers globally. We listen to our customers while meeting the expectations of our government. That dual responsiveness resulted in the successful signing of long-term agreements in record time.' Majority government-owned Oman LNG will play a pivotal role in this new brand positioning, the CEO noted. To this end, the company plans to build on its recent debottlenecking efforts, which enabled it to produce a record 12 million tonnes of LNG in 2024, surpassing its nameplate capacity of 11.4 million tonnes. This additional capacity, he added, has enhanced the company's ability to respond to spot-market demand and seasonal fluctuations. He further noted that nearly 85% of Oman LNG's volumes are now secured through term contracts ranging from three to ten years, offering a balance of stability and flexibility. Marsa LNG, meanwhile, will serve as a 'differentiator,' said Al Naamany. 'Marsa is the world's first purpose-built LNG bunkering facility. The location is fantastic, and we're all for it. Global shipping is shifting to LNG-fuelled vessels, and Oman sits on a key trade route. The government's decision to develop Marsa sends a powerful message: Oman will participate in every LNG market segment – power, transport, bunkering – as part of its growth and diversification agenda.' Also integral to the new branding is the Sur LNG project – a fourth train with a planned capacity of 3.8 million tonnes per annum, slated for launch by 2029, subject to a Final Investment Decision (FID). 'Sur LNG aims to be ready this year with a full proposal,' said Al Naamany. 'The final decision will rest with the government and the partners. The market clearly wants the product, and with a compelling value proposition, we could see delivery in less than four years from approval.' Feedstock for Oman LNG, Qalhat LNG and the proposed Sur LNG project is expected to come from a variety of sources, Al Naamany noted. 'We've always been flexible. When Khazzan came on line in 2018, we adapted. Our facilities at Oman LNG, Qalhat LNG, and Sur LNG are designed to process various gas compositions. We don't rely on specific fields; we adjust to what the government assigns. Our competitive edge lies in modifying plants cost-effectively while maintaining output.' Another pillar of Oman LNG's competitive edge in the global market is its 'commercial agility', he said, adding that the use of advanced optimisation tools – such as swapping, diverting, and re-trading – has contributed significantly to this strength. 'That's why energy traders and large portfolio players are partnering with us. We now have 14 Sales and Purchase Agreements (SPAs) with companies such as Botas, Shell, BP, TotalEnergies, Jera, Mitsui, Vitol, Mercuria, Kansai Electric Power, PTT, SEFE, OQT, and Sinopec, delivering volumes from 2025 to 2034. And there's more to come,' Al Naamany concluded. 2022 © All right reserved for Oman Establishment for Press, Publication and Advertising (OEPPA) Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
