The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and other African national oil companies will gather for the NNPC Cape Town forum on October 12, aiming to advance plans for regional refining, energy financing and cross-border petroleum trade.
The meeting, the eighth African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) NOC-CEO Forum, will take place alongside African Energy Week 2026. The South African National Petroleum Company will host the event in Cape Town, South Africa.
Who Will Attend the NNPC Cape Town Forum
NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer Bashir Bayo Ojulari is expected to join heads of national oil companies from Algeria, Angola, Ghana, Libya, Senegal, Namibia, Cameroon, Gabon, Egypt and other APPO member states. Delegates will discuss strategies for expanding Africa’s energy value chain.
A key focus of the forum will be boosting local refining capacity to reduce the continent’s dependence on imported petroleum products. Despite Africa’s vast crude oil and gas reserves, many countries still rely heavily on imported refined fuels due to limited refining and storage infrastructure.
Regional Trade and Financing on the Agenda
Delegates will also consider proposals for a regional petroleum products exchange. The proposal aims to harmonise fuel standards, customs procedures and regulations, facilitating cross-border trade and strengthening energy security.
Another major item on the agenda is the Africa Energy Bank, APPO’s flagship financing initiative designed to mobilise African capital for oil, gas and energy infrastructure projects, as international funding for hydrocarbon investments declines. Participants are expected to explore partnerships with Afreximbank and identify bankable upstream, midstream and downstream projects for implementation from 2027.
Gas Development and Nigeria’s Role
Natural gas development will feature prominently at the forum, with discussions focusing on regional LNG cooperation, gas-to-power projects, liquefied petroleum gas expansion, and measures to commercialise stranded gas resources while reducing routine gas flaring. Nigeria, which holds one of Africa’s largest gas reserves, is expected to play a leading role in these deliberations.
The forum will also review opportunities for joint investments, shared infrastructure, technology transfer and technical collaboration among African national oil companies. In addition, APPO is expected to unveil digital platforms connecting suppliers, investors, researchers and training institutions, creating new opportunities for African service companies to participate in projects across the continent.
Forum to Adopt 2027 Roadmap
The meeting will conclude with the adoption of a 2027 roadmap outlining priority projects, financing strategies and performance targets. This comes as African oil producers seek to accelerate domestic refining, strengthen regional energy cooperation and retain more value from the continent’s petroleum resources.
