Energy
Sahara Group Champions Energy Security, Collaboration at NIES 2026
Sahara Group, a leading energy and infrastructure conglomerate, will promote energy security, collaboration, and innovation tailored to Africa at the 9th Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2026, scheduled for February 2–5 in Abuja.
Biztellers reports that the Summit brings together global leaders and policymakers under the theme “Energy for Peace and Prosperity: Securing Our Shared Future.”
With more than three decades of shaping Africa’s energy landscape, Sahara Group’s participation reflects its long‑standing commitment to expanding access to cleaner, reliable energy while advancing innovation, operational excellence, and competitiveness across the continent.
Bethel Obioma, Head, Corporate Communications, Sahara Group, said Sahara will use the platform to reinforce the continent’s need for a stronger, agile, and resilient energy sector. ”Africa can utilise platforms such as the NIES to accelerate dialogue and coordinated actions aimed at transforming and guiding the continent’s energy sector towards global competitiveness, sustainability, and shared prosperity.”
ALSO READ: SERAP Sues NNPC Ltd Over Missing N22.3bn, $49.7m, £14.3m, €5.2m Oil Money
He stated that Sahara’s delegation at the Summit will also highlight the alignment of regulations, the scaling of local enterprises, and investment in human capital, particularly within the Upstream sector where Sahara continues to demonstrate leadership through responsible exploration and production practices.
Sahara’s senior technical and commercial leaders will feature on high‑level panels covering local content, policy harmonisation, and gas‑driven industrialisation.
Leste Aihevba, Chief Technical Officer, Asharami Energy (A Sahara Group Upstream Company), joins the panel “Empowering Local Services, African Entrepreneurs & Multinational Partnerships,” where he will emphasise the need to scale indigenous capacity, strengthen local service ecosystems, and deepen partnerships that reduce operational bottlenecks and support resilience.
Dr. Tosin Etomi, Head of Commercial & Planning, Asharami Energy will speak on “One Africa, One Regulatory Voice: Aligning Policies for Continental Prosperity and Investment,” advocating seamless regulatory coordination, predictable fiscal regimes, and regional integration to attract capital and enable cross‑border energy growth.
Mariah Lucciano‑Gabriel, Head of Integrated Gas Ventures at Asharami Energy, will contribute to “Gas for Growth: Milestones, Momentum and the Road Ahead,” highlighting gas as a catalyst for Africa’s industrialisation, energy access expansion, and balanced transition pathways.
Together, these contributions will underline Sahara’s long‑standing advocacy for collaboration as the cornerstone of Africa’s energy future. Strengthened alliances among operators, regulators, investors, and technology partners will be vital for achieving responsible development, security of supply, and enhanced competitiveness across regional value chains.
With operations spanning upstream, midstream, downstream, power, trading, and infrastructure across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, Sahara Group remains committed to bringing energy to life responsibly while championing Africa‑centric solutions grounded in innovation and impact.
The Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) has completed the turnaround maintenance on the Bonga Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, leading to resumption of production at Nigeria’s premier deepwater field on March 6, 2026.
Biztellers reports that the project was delivered 11 days ahead of schedule and without any safety incident, reinforcing SNEPCo’s longstanding commitment to operational excellence and asset integrity.
“Completing the turnaround safely and ahead of schedule is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our Nigerian workforce and the helpful support of our partners,” SNEPCo Managing Director Ronald Adams said. “The achievement not only secures the long‑term integrity of the Bonga FPSO but also positions us strongly for the successful delivery of the Bonga North project, which will leverage the improved reliability of the FPSO.”
The exercise which began on February 1, 2026, highlights SNEPCo’s leading role in advancing deep‑water expertise in Nigeria. Of the 55 companies involved in the execution, 43 were wholly Nigerian. Additionally, eight of the 12 international service providers maintain operational bases in Nigeria, contributing to knowledge transfer and increased local investments.
More than 1,000 personnel worked offshore during the turnaround, with over 95% being Nigerians involved in maintenance, engineering, operations, inspection and construction. Thousands more supported activities from onshore locations, reflecting the depth of Nigerian capability in offshore oil and gas operations.
Adams added: “We acknowledge the support of several stakeholders towards the successful execution of the exercise, including the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and our partners.”
Modupe Asudo
Sahara Group, a leading global energy and infrastructure conglomerate, has commissioned MT Asharami Ghana, a 40,000‑cubic‑metre Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) carrier, expanding its fleet capacity, while strengthening Ghana’s clean energy supply chain and LPG distribution network.
The dual‑fuel vessel improves operational efficiency, enhances supply reliability, and supports lower‑emission LPG logistics as consumption grows across Ghana and the wider sub‑region.
Ghanaian President Mahama and Sahara Executive Directors
Speaking at the commissioning in Ulsan, South Korea, President John Dramani Mahama described the vessel as “a significant milestone in strengthening the infrastructure that underpins the global LPG supply chain,” noting that expanded shipping capacity is critical to improving supply security, reliability and efficiency for countries that rely partly on LPG imports.
He commended Sahara Group, WAGL Energy and all partners involved for their “leadership, technical expertise and strategic foresight,” adding that the project reflects “the power of partnership” in advancing safe, efficient, and responsible energy distribution.
President Mahama wished the MT Asharami Ghana safe sails, expressing confidence that the vessel would inspire further investment and collaboration across Africa’s energy value chain.
According to Wale Ajibade, Executive Director, Sahara Group, the vessel supports Ghana’s clean energy ambitions through integrated infrastructure.
“MT Asharami Ghana is more than a vessel; it is part of a deliberate strategy to strengthen LPG supply security and support Ghana’s clean energy ambitions. It secures an additional 25,000-Metric-tonne stock security for the Ghana economy, alongside the soon to be commissioned 6000-metric-tonee of 12.000-metric-tonne land storage in Tema,” he said.
With the addition of Asharami Ghana, Sahara Group’s LPG carrier fleet now comprises six delivered vessels with a combined capacity of 202,000 cubic metres. Supported by partnerships with WAGL Energy, NNPC Limited and other stakeholders, an additional 270,000 cubic metres of capacity is under construction and due for delivery by September 2028.
Temitope Shonubi, Executive Director, Sahara Group, said Asharami Ghana is part of Sahara’s integrated LPG infrastructure strategy spanning shipping, storage, and downstream distribution globally, including the development of a 12,000‑metric‑tonne land‑based LPG storage terminal in Tema, with a 6,000‑metric‑tonne first phase scheduled for completion in May 2026.
He thanked Yaa Serwaa Alifo, MD of Asharami Ghana, for her resilience and insistence to dedicate a ship of “this magnitude solely to the Ghana Market and its landlocked neighbours.”
Ghana is targeting LPG adoption of 50 per cent of households by 2030, up from about 30 per cent today. Sahara’s investments will support clean energy access for more than 35 million people, while strengthening Ghana’s role in regional LPG trade to neighbouring and landlocked West African markets.
The commissioning comes in Sahara Group’s 30th anniversary year, guided by the Sahara Beyond XXX milestone, underscoring Sahara’s focus on building an enduring enterprise that delivers responsible growth, shared prosperity and long‑term impact across its markets.
Nigeria’s crude oil production dropped to 1.31 million barrels per day in February, even as local refineries continue to grapple with inadequate domestic crude supply needed to sustain operations.
The development shows that Nigeria again failed to meet its crude oil production quota of 1.5 million barrels per day approved by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), as output declined sharply in February 2026.
Data from OPEC’s latest Monthly Oil Market Report, based on direct communication from member countries, showed that Nigeria produced 1.314 million barrels per day in February, down from 1.459 mbpd recorded in January.
ALSO READ: Chevron Reiterates Commitment to Niger Delta Development
The figures indicate a month-on-month decline of 146,000 barrels per day, widening the country’s shortfall from its OPEC production allocation.
Nigeria’s inability to meet its OPEC production quota is not only affecting its oil export earnings but also adversely impacting domestic refineries that are starved of feedstock for their operations.
Airfares Likely to Rise as Aviation Fuel Price Spikes by 80%
Shell Completes Turnaround Maintenance on FPSO, Resumes Production at Bonga
Sahara Group expands fleet with new 40,000 cbm LPG Carrier
NATO Shoots Down Third Iranian Missile in Turkey
Inside Tinubu’s Closed-Door Meeting With Opposition Leaders – SDP, IPAC Reveal Details
Defections Won’t Break PDP in Sokoto, Says Former Senator Gada
Trump’s Family Unveils New Cryptocurrency Platform
Reps Recommend 3-year Jail Term For Aviation minister
Dangote Cement Lights Up Benue Host Communities With CSR Initiatives
Senate Denies Receiving Petitions Against Tinubu’s Ambassadorial Nominees
Tems Sets New Record On Billboard Hot 100 Chart
