Sahara Group, a leading global energy and infrastructure conglomerate, will spotlight “cooperation, innovation and sustainability” as crucial elements for Africa’s energy transition during the 2025 Africa Energy Week (AEW) in Cape Town.

For three decades, Sahara Group has powered growth and broadened access to energy across Africa and will through its delegation to the AEW urge the continent’s stakeholders, policy makers, and governments to join forces towards driving Africa-centric solutions for all sectors in the energy value chain. 

The 2025 Africa Energy Week (AEW), scheduled for Cape Town, South Africa, from September 29 to October 3, will focus on the theme: “Invest in African Energies: Positioning Africa as the Global Energy Champion.”

Speaking ahead of the event, Ade Odunsi, Executive Director, Sahara Group, said “Sahara Group believes Africa can shape a future that secures energy access for Africans safely, reliably, and sustainably by leveraging technology, innovation, and collaborating on policies to drive affordable, reliable, and cleaner energy across the continent.”

Sahara Group’s delegation to AEW 2025 include Leste Aihevba, Chief Technical Officer, Asharami Energy, a Sahara Group Upstream Company, Bethel Obioma, Head Corporate Communications, Sahara Group, Dr. Tosin Etomi, Head of Commercial and Planning, Asharami Energy, and Mariah Lucciano-Gabriel, Head of Integrated Gas Ventures, Asharami Energy.

Aihevba, who is leading the charge for advancing digital oilfield technologies to drive triple digit growth ambitions, will showcase how domestication of international best practices can help shape the local capacity building narrative to deliver significant improvements in operational efficiency and climate conscious sustainability initiatives in Africa.

“Asharami Energy is aligning global best practices with local realities, building capacity, and driving operational excellence across our portfolio. This synergy of innovation and responsibility is what ensures we deliver value today while safeguarding the energy future of tomorrow.”

Etomi will highlight the critical role data should play in harnessing opportunities for growing the energy sector in Africa. “Data has become the most powerful currency in building efficiency and resilience. By applying advanced analytics to our operations across Africa, we are improving asset performance, enhancing transparency, and unlocking financing pathways that ensure African energy projects compete on a global stage.”

Lucciano-Gabriel will speak on gas commercialisation, highlighting Gas as Africa’s bridge to a cleaner energy future. “With projects focused on capturing and monetizing flare gas, Asharami Energy is at the helm of efforts that are not only boosting domestic energy availability and driving the Nigerian Decade of Gas strategy but also curbing emissions and accelerating sustainable growth across the continent.”

Obioma, who will moderate the AEW 2025 session on “Rethinking Utility Models to Build Resilient and Affordable Electricity Markets,” said “The future of electricity in Africa will be defined by models that support a mix of micro grids, mini grids, national grids and renewable solutions, designed to serve communities and industries sustainably.”

With an integrated energy model spanning upstream, midstream, downstream, power, and infrastructure in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, Sahara Group remains committed to delivering value across the energy value chain.

The embattled President and General Secretary of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrades Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, have taken fresh swipe from Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) just as the Branch stakeholders called for the duo’s immediate resignation in order to give room for fresh air and stability in the union.

The latest call was contained in a statement signed by Comrade Preye Odede-Graham on Sunday, September 21, 2025, on behalf of PTD elders and stakeholders, Comrades (Alhaji) Tajudeen Abubakar (Kaduna Zone), Chief (Comrade.) Edafe Osas (Warri Zone), Comrade Joseph Dagogo-Jack (JP) (Port Harcourt Zone) and Comrade Kolade Fadahunsi-Ojelabi (Lagos Zone).

This latest onslaught came on the heels of ongoing industrial disputes between Dangote Refinery, NUPENG, the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), and other industry Associations. 

PTD blamed the recent woes befalling NUPENG on the lacklustre attitude of the union’s President as well as intimidation, victimization and harassment of the members of PTD by the General Secretary which is at variance with the extant rules of the union as well as human dignity.

PTD maintained that they no longer wanted to be used as attack dogs against the federal government especially President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other players in the industrial ecosystem.

They lampooned leaders of NUPENG over their failure to hail the tenacity of Dangote Refinery for standing against all odds to defeat the process pressure and market disruption with the 650,000 bpd capacity alongside with the 4000 CNG trucks tankers and 6000 truck cargoes totalling 10000 trucks costing N2 trillion to move the products to the consumers at no cost, with value added of over 40,000 jobs. 

They also begged President Tinubu to ensure high tariffs increase to discourage fuel importation and add increased crude supply to Dangote Refinery with licence for oil exploration. They further advised Mr. President to nationalise oil well so as to allow for proper dredging which majority licensed sites were desolate and moribund.

They begged law enforcement agencies, anti-graft agents, industry regulators, Federal government, stakeholders in trade union, media, civil society, legal profession, etc, to support them to commence the re-engineering of NUPENG by showing Afolabi and Williams the exit doors from the union so that the petroleum industry could get the much anticipated liberation. 

“On this note, we therefore appeal to all our members in PTD and others in various branches not to be despaired, let us join hands together and win the battle against these common enemies and stop them once and for all, these multidimensional nonsense and slavery in the union must be hurriedly put to stop. United, we stand against every economic saboteurs and enemies of progress in Nigeria’s economic powerhouse” the statement said.

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) said it has observed with deep concern the rising tension within the downstream oil and gas industry and the possibility of an industrial action that could disrupt national petroleum supply and distribution.

As responsible stakeholders in this vital sector of the Nigerian economy, Olufemi Adewole, executive secretary, DAPPMAN, said they recognize the central importance of industrial harmony to the stability of the industry, the protection of jobs, and the sustenance of revenues accruable to the nation.

He said that the potential impact of any strike on ordinary Nigerians, businesses, and government finances cannot be overstated.

“DAPPMAN therefore appeals to all parties involved to exercise utmost restraint and embrace constructive dialogue as the most effective means of resolving disagreements.

“In particular, DAPPMAN calls for the urgent intervention of the Federal Government in addressing the concerns of all aggrieved persons.

“We firmly believe that engagement at the roundtable will yield lasting solutions and prevent avoidable disruptions in the sector.

“Our Association’s consistent position has always been to collaborate with government, labour unions, investors, and other critical stakeholders to create a win-win situation that sustains investment, protects workers’ rights, and guarantees an uninterrupted supply of petroleum products nationwide.

“We humbly urge all parties to sheath their swords, avoid actions that could escalate the situation, and allow room for negotiations that will address concerns in a fair, balanced, and sustainable manner. “The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria remains committed to playing a constructive role in facilitating peace, cooperation, and progress in the oil and gas sector for the ultimate benefit of Nigeria and her citizens.’