AfrOil: ExxonMobil keen to ramp up operations in Africa

ExxonMobil’s head of global exploration John Ardill has said that his company is determined to ramp up its operations in Africa.

Ardill made note of the huge oil discoveries made since early 2022 offshore Namibia by TotalEnergies (France) and Shell (UK), describing these finds as a harbinger of the African continent’s importance for the petroleum industry. “Africa is going to unlock a lot more hydrocarbons in the future, and ExxonMobil is absolutely going to be part of that,” he told S&P Global.

The US super-major already has a substantial presence in Africa, and its portfolio includes projects in multiple African countries, including Nigeria, Angola and Equatorial Guinea. But Ardill said the company is also interested in the vast potential of Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique and even Somalia. ExxonMobil also recognises, though, that security concerns in Mozambique pose a significant challenge, he said.