Trafigura Brings Capital, Market Access and Supply Chain Expertise to AEW 2026 as Silver Sponsor
Commodity trading company Trafigura will participate as a Silver Sponsor at the African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, scheduled to take place from October 12–16 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Its participation highlights the increasingly important role of international commodity traders in Africa’s energy sector — not only as buyers of resources, but increasingly as providers of financing, logistics, market access, and commercial expertise that strengthen energy security and unlock investment.
In April 2026, Trafigura signed a $1 billion oil prepayment agreement with Gabon, providing upfront financing to support the country’s upstream sector expansion strategy.
The financing is expected to help sustain national oil production above 220,000 barrels per day, while also supporting plans to triple refining capacity by 2030.
Beyond upstream financing, Trafigura is expanding its presence in Africa’s downstream energy sector, with the aim of strengthening regional refining capacity and fuel supply security.
The company is among the bidders for a minority stake in South Africa’s Natref Refinery.
Through its subsidiary Puma Energy, Trafigura also operates fuel storage, distribution, and retail infrastructure in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, Ghana, and Mozambique, enhancing regional fuel security and the reliable distribution of petroleum products.
The company is also strengthening Africa’s role in global energy transition supply chains. In May 2026, Trafigura signed an agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Entreprise Générale du Cobalt (EGC) and EVelution Energy to establish a long-term supply chain for Congolese cobalt to the United States, supporting battery manufacturing and clean energy industries. The company also serves as an offtaker for copper produced from the Kamoa-Kakula complex operated by Ivanhoe Mines, supporting mineral exports through the Lobito Corridor — a strategic transport route linking Central African mineral production to international markets.
Trafigura’s energy transition portfolio extends beyond critical minerals. Through the Miombo Restoration Alliance, the company is supporting a $1 billion carbon removal and ecosystem restoration initiative covering Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, and Malawi.
The programme aims to restore approximately 675,000 hectares of forest while generating high-quality carbon credits.
In Angola, Trafigura has also partnered with engineering company ProMarks to support the development of up to 2 GW of renewable energy capacity, contributing to the country’s long-term energy diversification strategy.
“Trafigura has demonstrated how commodity trading companies can serve as strategic partners in Africa’s energy development — not only connecting producers to global markets, but also providing the financing, logistics, and commercial expertise required to enable new projects and strengthen regional energy security,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.
“As African countries pursue industrialisation and greater value addition, partners capable of mobilising capital, strengthening supply chains, and expanding market access will become increasingly important.”
At AEW 2026, Trafigura executives are expected to participate in discussions on commodity financing, energy security, supply chain resilience, and the evolving role of trading companies in Africa’s industrialisation agenda.
The conference will provide policymakers, investors, and industry leaders with an opportunity to engage directly with one of the trading partners helping transform Africa’s energy resources into long-term economic growth.
