Sahara Group, a leading African energy and infrastructure conglomerate, has unveiled plans to significantly ramp up its upstream crude oil production to 350,000 barrels per day (bpd) within the next five years.
This ambitious target will be achieved through a major upgrade of its exploration and production (E&P) services, enhanced execution capacity, and the acquisition of seven new drilling rigs to accelerate production efficiency.
Speaking at a strategic investors’ meeting during the recent Africa Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa, Leste Aihevba, Chief Technical Officer of Asharami Energy, Sahara Group’s upstream subsidiary, stated that the expansion plan reflects the company’s commitment to unlocking Africa’s full energy potential.
Aihevba emphasized the need for stronger local collaboration and regional partnerships to position Africa as a global energy powerhouse. “The journey towards a secure and sustainable energy future for Africa cannot be travelled in silos. Every refinery upgrade, every gas commercialization project, and every power reform must be part of a broader continental blueprint,” he said.
He noted that Sahara Group’s massive infrastructure drive is already strengthening its competitiveness and deepening local content in the energy industry. “We continue to invest in the infrastructure needed to responsibly unlock Africa’s resources across our upstream, midstream, power, and infrastructure businesses,” Aihevba stated.
The new rig acquisitions are expected to significantly expand Sahara’s reserves development and production capacity.
Two of the rigs are already in Nigeria, with two more expected before the end of the year. The rigs will be managed by Arahas Global Oilfield Services, a Sahara Group company, and are crucial to hitting the target of 350,000 bpd of oil and one billion standard cubic feet per day (1,000 MMScf/d) of gas across its Nigerian and regional assets within five years.
One of the new state-of-the-art 2000 HP Land Rigs, named L-Buba, has already commenced operations by spudding a gas development well, while another is being mobilized for an oil development well.
Aihevba added that by combining infrastructure investments with exceptional human capital, cross-border partnerships, and technology adoption, “Sahara Group is making measurable contributions to Africa’s energy transition, ensuring no community is left behind.”