UK engineering and technical know-how could play a significant role in accelerating Africa’s next phase of energy development, speakers said on Tuesday at the Wider African Energy Summit (WAES) in Aberdeen.
Industry leaders said the North Sea’s mature ecosystem, spanning offshore engineering, project management and workforce training, offers skills that African producers need as they work to speed up gas monetisation, improve emissions performance and deliver projects more efficiently.
Nigerian independent Seplat Energy said targeted investment and technical capability are already reshaping production at home. The company cited the revival of OML 40, a previously shut-in field, as an example of how domestic players can restore output while opening space for global service firms. “Our ambition is to be the cornerstone producer of gas in Nigeria,” said Jason White, General Manager for Exploration.
African Energy Chamber Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk said North Sea expertise has influenced many African projects and remains important as the continent seeks to scale output. “What you have developed here [in Aberdeen] can transform our continent,” he said, adding that Africa intends to develop all viable hydrocarbon resources as part of a “just, orderly and fair” energy transition.
Technical delivery models were also highlighted. Stig Bøtker, Director of Business Development at Altera Infrastructure, said lease-and-operate FPSO structures allow earlier first oil while supporting local training. He pointed to the Baleine project in Ivory Coast, delivered 18 months after FID, as evidence of what standardised systems and experienced partners can achieve.
Speakers said the UK’s strengths in engineering education, safety standards and offshore operations position it for expanded collaboration with African markets. AFBE-UK Co-Founder Ollie Folayan described it as a “symbiotic relationship” between a mature industry and emerging markets seeking reliable partners.
WAES was held in partnership with the African Energy Chamber, the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the Energy Industries Council, the Scottish African Business Association, the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce and the Global Underwater Hub.
