At the upcoming 2025 Africa Energy Week (AEW) in Cape Town, Sahara Group, a prominent global powerhouse in energy and infrastructure, will emphasize the vital roles of collaboration, innovation, and sustainability in Africa’s energy transformation.
For over 30 years, Sahara Group has been instrumental in driving economic progress and expanding energy accessibility throughout Africa. During AEW 2025, the company’s representatives will call on governments, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to unite in crafting Africa-focused solutions that span the entire energy value chain. The event, taking place from September 29 to October 3 in Cape Town, will revolve around the theme: “Invest in African Energies: Positioning Africa as the Global Energy Champion.”
In anticipation of the conference, Ade Odunsi, Executive Director at Sahara Group, remarked, “We are confident that Africa can secure a future where energy is accessible, dependable, and sustainable for all its people by harnessing cutting-edge technology, fostering innovation, and aligning policies that promote affordable and cleaner energy solutions across the continent.”
The Sahara Group delegation attending AEW 2025 includes Leste Aihevba, Chief Technical Officer of Asharami Energy (a Sahara Group upstream subsidiary); Bethel Obioma, Head of Corporate Communications; Dr. Tosin Etomi, Head of Commercial and Planning at Asharami Energy; and Mariah Lucciano-Gabriel, Head of Integrated Gas Ventures at Asharami Energy.
Leading the push for digital transformation in oilfield operations, Aihevba will demonstrate how adapting global best practices to local contexts can enhance capacity building and operational efficiency while advancing environmentally responsible initiatives across Africa. “At Asharami Energy, we blend international standards with regional insights to foster operational excellence and sustainable growth, ensuring we create value today and protect the energy landscape for future generations,” he explained.
Etomi will focus on the indispensable role of data in unlocking growth opportunities within Africa’s energy sector. “Data has emerged as a critical asset for boosting efficiency and resilience. By leveraging sophisticated analytics, we optimize asset performance, increase transparency, and open new financing avenues that enable African energy projects to compete globally,” he stated.
Lucciano-Gabriel will address the commercialization of natural gas, positioning it as a key transitional fuel toward a cleaner energy future for Africa. “Through initiatives that capture and monetize flare gas, Asharami Energy is spearheading efforts that enhance local energy supply, support Nigeria’s Decade of Gas strategy, reduce emissions, and promote sustainable development continent-wide,” she noted.
Obioma, who will facilitate the AEW 2025 panel on “Rethinking Utility Models to Build Resilient and Affordable Electricity Markets,” emphasized, “Africa’s electricity future will be shaped by hybrid models integrating microgrids, minigrids, national grids, and renewable energy systems, all tailored to sustainably meet the needs of communities and industries.”
With a comprehensive energy portfolio encompassing upstream, midstream, downstream, power generation, and infrastructure across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, Sahara Group remains dedicated to delivering impactful value throughout the energy ecosystem.
