AEC, SPE Africa sign two-year deal to advance energy skills, innovation

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) has signed a two-year agreement with SPE Africa to strengthen technical capacity, promote innovation and support talent development across Africa’s energy industry.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishes a strategic partnership between the continent’s leading energy advocacy organisation and the African arm of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), a global professional body with more than 127,000 members in 145 countries.

NJ Ayuk, executive chairman of the African Energy Chamber, said the collaboration would help improve the quality of technical dialogue across the continent’s energy industry while supporting long-term capacity development.

“By bringing SPE Africa’s global technical expertise into closer alignment with the Chamber’s platforms and advocacy, we are ensuring that Africa is not only attracting investment, but also delivering projects that are efficient, competitive and built to last,” Ayuk said.

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“This collaboration will strengthen the quality of technical dialogue across the industry while advancing capacity building and STEM development, creating space where innovation, practical solutions and meaningful collaboration can move the sector forward.”

The partnership comes as African countries seek to accelerate energy development, attract investment and improve project execution amid a rapidly evolving global energy landscape.

Under the terms of the agreement, SPE Africa will provide technical expertise, advisory support and industry insights to support the Chamber’s conferences, policy initiatives and strategic engagements. The organisation will also contribute technical content, expert participation and sector-specific guidance across AEC platforms.

To coordinate implementation, both parties will establish a Joint Working Group tasked with identifying priority areas and overseeing collaborative activities.

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A major focus of the collaboration will be talent development and capacity building. Through SPE Africa’s extensive network of students and young professionals, the initiative aims to expand opportunities for early-career engineers to engage with industry leaders, gain practical experience and develop skills relevant to the sector.

The partnership will also support efforts to strengthen science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and encourage greater participation of women in engineering and energy-related careers.

The conference serves as a platform for showcasing emerging technologies, engineering solutions and sustainable practices while addressing technical and operational challenges facing the industry.

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Riverson Oppong, president of SPE Africa, said the partnership would create new opportunities for knowledge sharing and professional development.

“SPE Africa is proud to partner with the African Energy Chamber to support the advancement of Africa’s energy sector through technical excellence and professional collaboration,” Oppong said.

“By connecting our global expertise with AEC’s influential platforms, we are creating new opportunities to strengthen capacity, share knowledge and accelerate innovation.”

The agreement will also reinforce SPE Africa’s role in convening key industry platforms, including the Africa Technology Conference (ATC), which brings together engineers, technical experts and energy executives from across the continent and international markets.

The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration over the next two years, with specific projects and deliverables expected to be defined through subsequent agreements.