SAIPEC 2026 Conversations: Tony Attah On Africa’s Energy Growth Agenda

Africa’s push for energy-led growth reaches a defining moment this week as SAIPEC 2026 begins in Lagos, convening leaders across the sector to focus on capital, collaboration and delivery. 

Now in its milestone 10th year, the Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) runs from 10–12 February at the Eko Convention Centre of Eko Hotels and Suites, convening governments, regulators, financiers and operators from across Sub-Saharan Africa. This year’s event is expected to draw more than 1,400 conference delegates from over 50 participating countries, and more than 5,100 exhibition visitors. The event is hosted by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), NNPC Ltd, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and AOS Orwell, including more than 30 national oil companies, regulators and government agencies. The exhibition floor features 139 exhibitors showcasing technologies, services and solutions across the energy value chain.

This anniversary edition features an expanded programme aimed at supporting deal-making and project execution, with new additions introduced for 2026. These include in-country roundtables, a Local Content Pitching Session and an expanded technical conference focused on engineering delivery, project execution and emerging technology trends.

SAIPEC also follows the Local Content–AfCFTA Energy Summit held on 9 February as part of the wider anniversary week, where stakeholders explored how the African Continental Free Trade Agreement could strengthen intra-African energy trade and deepen local content participation across markets.

One of the headline sessions at SAIPEC this week is the CEO forum, Energy CEOs Talk: Navigating Opportunity Amid Transition, bringing together leaders from Africa’s leading indigenous energy companies to examine how they are balancing oil and gas development with gas-to-power, renewables and emerging low-carbon opportunities.

Among the participating executives is Tony Attah, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, a headline sponsor of SAIPEC 2026. He said forums like SAIPEC are increasingly critical as African energy companies confront shared constraints while navigating a fast-changing global energy landscape.

“SAIPEC provides an essential platform for collaboration in an industry that influences every part of Africa’s development,” Attah said, adding: “Despite operating in different markets, the challenges we face — from infrastructure gaps to financing constraints and the need to develop local capacity — are common across the continent.”

Looking ahead, Attah said the most important capability African energy companies must build is the ability to translate local insight into operational excellence. “Africa’s energy landscape is unique,” he said, citing infrastructure realities, regulatory environments and community expectations. “Companies that succeed will be those that can combine global best practices with deep local capability.”

That, he said, requires sustained investment in talent development, stronger supply chains, partnerships with host communities and the adoption of technologies that improve safety, reliability and efficiency. He also highlighted the need for agility as market conditions and financing trends evolve.

For Renaissance, Attah noted that building Nigerian capacity is not simply a compliance requirement, but a strategic investment. “A resilient African energy company grows with its people, operates efficiently at all times, and delivers value to every stakeholder — from shareholders to communities,” he said.

As discussions continue in Lagos this week, SAIPEC is reaffirming its importance in shaping Africa’s energy agenda, as attention turns from broad ambition to mobilising capital and delivering investable projects at scale.