Sahara Group champions bold energy reforms for Africa at ARDA Conference

Onome Amuge

Global energy and infrastructure conglomerate Sahara Group has called for bold and immediate interventions powered by innovation, collaboration, and equity to accelerate Africa’s journey towards energy security and sustainable development.

Speaking ahead of the African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA) Week 2025, Wale Ajibade, Sahara Group executive director, emphasised the urgent need for actionable strategies to enable Africa to achieve universal energy access, bridge critical infrastructure deficits, and drive an energy transition that aligns with the continent’s specific developmental objectives.

A high-level delegation from Sahara Group, led by Ajibade, will participate in the African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA) Week 2025, taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, from April 7th to 11th, 2025. The delegation includes Alex Cole, Director, Sahara Group; Nomnso Dike, CEO, Asharami Synergy (Sahara Group’s downstream arm); and Tolu Fadipe, Sahara Group General Counsel, among other key figures.

ARDA 2025, the premier African downstream oil industry event, is set to convene over 500 delegates. Attendees will include key African and international players, government representatives, financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and global development agencies.

Bethel Obioma, head of corporate communications at Sahara Group, stated that the conference, themed “Africa First: Delivering Our Energy Future,” will provide Sahara and other industry stakeholders with a crucial platform to “galvanise action towards bringing energy to life responsibly to all Africans, leaving no one behind.”

According to Obioma, Sahara Group’s speaking delegation at ARDA Week will emphasise the critical need for Africa to take a leading role in securing its energy future.

“Reports indicate that the universal energy access target by 2030 will require annual investments of about $25 billion. To drive this, Africa needs strong partnerships between governments, private sector players, and development agencies. Sahara Group is already promoting and supporting such partnerships that will help Africa unlock the benefits of infrastructure development,” he stated.

Jerome Espinasse, head of trading at Sahara Energy International Geneva, is slated to deliver a keynote speech on the conference theme, “Africa First: Delivering Our Energy Future.” Drawing on over two decades of experience in energy trading and infrastructure development, Espinasse will underscore the importance of an inclusive and equitable energy framework to tackle the current reality where over 600 million Africans lack access to electricity.

Nathalie Musson-Genon, head of trade finance at Sahara Energy, will participate in a panel discussion on “The Africa Infrastructure Challenge: Critical Investments to Meet Future Energy Demand.” With the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasting a more than 70 percent increase in Africa’s energy consumption over the next two decades, Musson-Genon is expected to advocate strongly for collaboration as Africa’s most effective solution to address its infrastructure deficit and meet rising energy demand.

Jessica Akintade, regional HR manager at Sahara Group, will contribute to the panel on “Investing in Human Capital – Empowering the Next Generation of Industry Leaders.” Akintade, a beneficiary of Sahara’s comprehensive leadership development programmes, is expected to champion strategies for the deliberate development of young African talent to align with the evolving landscape of the energy sector.