WeeklySA_AdminDYNAMIC: The initiative spotlights key leaders driving transformative change in Africa’s energy sector, with a focus on sustainable development, investment mobilisation and energy sovereignty…
By Own Correspondent
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) yesterday announced its highly anticipated list of “Africa’s Top 40 Movers and Shakers to Watch” in 2025.
This year’s line-up features a dynamic mix of leaders, policymakers, innovators and corporate executives driving transformative change across the continent’s oil, gas and energy industries.
The list, an annual benchmark of influence and innovation, celebrates those at the forefront of moves to advance Africa’s energy potential. These individuals are reshaping narratives, overcoming challenges and championing investment and sustainability in their respective domains.
Leading this year’s list is United States’ President Donald Trump, whose influence on American foreign policy, is poised to impact Africa’s energy sector.
His stance on fossil fuels and support for American companies could reshape the relationship between the US and Africa, fostering strategic opportunities for energy investment and challenging global policies on financing oil and gas projects.
Other heads of state on the list include Mozambique President Daniel Francisco Chapo, who is tasked with advancing the country’s LNG projects, including Coral Norte FLNG, Mozambique LNG and Rovuma LNG, while ensuring Mozambican companies benefit from the energy boom. It includes newly elected Ghana President John Mahama, who will work to reshape perceptions, attract investment and position the country for sustainable energy growth through reform and innovation as new oil blocks are opened.
The only South African who made the list is Godfrey Moagi, CEO of SA National PetroleumCompany (SANPC). Heading up the newly-formed SANPC, Moagi is tasked with unlocking the full potential of South Africa’s vast oil and gas resources.
With significant discoveries like Brulpadda and Luiperd by TotalEnergies on the table, the question is whether Moagi can lead SANPC to successfully develop these giant finds and make them commercially viable. Simultaneously, Moagi faces the challenge of advancing the country’s ambitious gas-to-power projects, including those at Saldanha Bay, Richards Bay and the Coega LNG terminal.
Can he balance these high-stake initiatives while stream lining operations and securing investment to position SANPC as a key player in South Africa’s energy transformation? Time will tell.
Meanwhile, South Sudan’s Minister of Petroleum, Puot Kang Chol, faces a critical test in revitalising the country’s oil production, navigating sanctions and attracting international investment to restore output and drive economic recovery.
In Uganda, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu is tasked with steering the $6 billion Tilenga and Kingfisher projects to first oil by 2025 while managing challenges surrounding the East African crude oil pipeline and balancing international scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas, Diamantino Azevedo, continues to position the country as a leading oil and gas market through reforms, and executing transformative plans in 2025 under close watch.
North Africa’s energy landscape also takes centre stage on the list. Khalifa Abdulsadek, Libya’s Minister of Oil and Gas, is leading efforts to reinvigorate the country’s oil sector through a new licensing round and ambitious $17-$18 billion project pipeline aimed at boosting production to two million barrels per day.
Similarly, Rachid Hachichi, CEO of Algeria’s Sonatrach, is expanding gas production through a partnership with TotalEnergies, renewing exploration agreements with Libya’s National Oil Corporation and strengthening energy ties with Europe and Turkey.
Together, these efforts underscore North Africa’s strategic importance in meeting global energy demands and advancing the region’s energy security and market influence.
Championing the private sector, Claudio Descalzi, CEO of Eni, is leading efforts to advance the Baleine field offshore Ivory Coast, Congo LNG project in the Republic of Congo and Structures A&E development in Libya, among others, setting a benchmark for low-carbon oil and gas projects.
In Angola, Katrina Fisher, managing director of ExxonMobil, is recognised for driving new exploration, yielding high-profile discoveries and balancing production growth with local empowerment in a competitive sector.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jean-Michel Jacoulot, CEO of Trident Energy, is spearheading key offshore acquisitions in that country, aiming to revitalise mature fields and maximise production.
Senegal’s Meg O’Neill, CEO of Woodside Energy, has played a pivotal role in bringing Sangomar oil field to its first production phase, with her strategic decisions set to shape Senegal and West Africa’s energy future.
Other private sector leaders highlighted include Ahonsi Unuigbe of Petralon Energy, who is driving the company’s expansion across Africa through strategic acquisitions, including stakes in Nigeria’s OML 127 and OML 130.
Meanwhile, Nosa Omorodion leads SLB Nigeria’s push to leverage its new regional office in Lagos to drive decarbonization and innovation across West Africa, navigating Nigeria’s vast energy potential to redefine its role in the continent’s energy transition.
In Angola, Edson dos Santos of Etu Energias is steering the company toward its 2030 production goals and a pivotal 2026 IPO, which could set a new standard for Angola’s private energy firms.
At the same time, Philippe Labonne’s Africa Global Logistics is enhancing Africa’s logistics infrastructure, with key projects in Namibia, Nigeria and Angola.
In the financing arena, Benedict Oramah, president of the African Export-Import Bank, is leading the establishment of the Africa Energy Bank, in partnership with APPO, to bridge Africa’s energy investment gap and deliver sustainable energy project financing led by African member states.
Elsewhere, Rene Awambeng, founder and managing partner of Premier Invest, aims to redefine Africa’s energy financing landscape in 2025 by structuring high-impact deal rooms and mobilizing transformative investments across energy, infrastructure, and commodities.
The AEC’s annual list, not only highlights leadership, but also reflects the sector’s evolving priorities, from fostering local content and addressing financing gaps to balancing environmental and industrial objectives. As Africa’s energy market grows more complex, the featured individuals serve as beacons of progress, inspiring confidence among investors, stakeholders and communities alike.
“This list represents Africa’s brightest minds and boldest leaders. From driving infrastructure projects to creating enabling policies, these figures embody the resilience and innovation required to propel Africa’s energy transformation,” says NJ Ayuk, executive chairman of the AEC.
“The accomplishments and strategies of the 40 Movers and Shakers will be critical to addressing industry challenges and harnessing opportunities for the continent’s growth.
This is not an award. This duty call is more relevant than ever for everyday Africans looking at these leaders. They have numerous responsibilities and obligations we must encourage them to deliver on their various initiatives that will create jobs, develop Africa, ensure our energy security and Make Energy Poverty History”
Africa’s energy landscape is at a crossroads, with increasing demand for sustainable development, investment mobilisation and energy sovereignty. As the continent navigates these challenges, platforms like African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies, taking place in Cape Town on September 29 to October 3, provide a critical forum for dialogue, deal-making and collaboration.
The conference will bring together many of “the 40 Movers and Shakers”, offering delegates the chance to engage directly with the visionaries shaping Africa’s energy future.
