The African Energy Chamber (AEC) has announced the opening of a new office in Shanghai, China, in what it describes as a strategic step to deepen cooperation between African governments, energy companies and Chinese investors. The move comes at a time when the continent faces mounting pressure to expand energy access and close a financing gap estimated at between $31 billion and $50 billion each year.
The Shanghai office will be headed by Dr. Bieni Da, appointed as the Chamber’s Chief Representative in China. His role will be to coordinate engagements with Chinese government agencies, financiers and energy companies while connecting them to opportunities in African markets. The AEC says the office will operate as both a financial and diplomatic bridge, designed to make African projects more visible to Chinese investors while helping governments structure partnerships that deliver capital and technical expertise.
Speaking during the announcement, AEC Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk said the Chamber wants to ensure that Africa approaches China with clear priorities. “China offers significant expertise across the entire energy value chain. This office will help direct that capacity into African projects,” he said. Ayuk stressed that the Chamber is pushing for collaboration not only in oil and gas, but also in renewables, power infrastructure, and emerging technologies.
The announcement comes just weeks before the start of African Energy Week (AEW) 2025, which will take place in Cape Town from September 29 to October 3. AEW is widely regarded as the continent’s most important annual energy gathering, bringing together governments, companies, and financiers from across Africa and abroad. This year’s edition is expected to be particularly significant, with more than $43 billion in projected capital expenditure across African energy projects on the table. According to the AEC, the new Shanghai office will play an important role in preparing for the event by connecting African stakeholders with potential Chinese partners ahead of time, ensuring projects are presented in Cape Town with financing prospects already under discussion.
The establishment of a permanent office in Shanghai formalises a relationship that has already been deepening for years. Chinese companies are now among the largest foreign players in Africa’s energy sector. Wing Wah, a Chinese exploration and production company, is leading a $2 billion development in the Republic of Congo aimed at monetising gas that would otherwise be flared.
State-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) is in discussions for deep-water exploration in Angola, is advancing the East African Crude Oil Pipeline linking Uganda to Tanzania’s coast, and holds exploration blocks in Mozambique. Another state-owned enterprise, the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), is a partner in Mozambique’s Coral South floating LNG project, the first of its kind in Africa, and has also secured crude supply agreements in West Africa.
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These examples illustrate the scale and diversity of Chinese involvement, which extends from upstream exploration to downstream infrastructure and power projects. By placing a permanent office in Shanghai, the AEC is betting that Africa can better coordinate how these investments are channeled, ensuring they align with national energy strategies and regional development plans. The office is also expected to convene regular forums and roundtables in Shanghai, offering African leaders and companies a consistent platform to present opportunities directly to Chinese financiers and policymakers.
The decision also highlights broader geopolitical shifts in Africa’s external partnerships. As Europe reorients toward green energy and the United States re-engages selectively, China has steadily increased its stake in the continent’s oil, gas and renewable projects. For African countries still grappling with energy poverty, with more than 600 million people lacking electricity, the attraction lies in China’s ability to move quickly on financing and infrastructure delivery. But the relationship is not without controversy. Critics point to risks of debt dependency, opaque contracts, and questions about environmental safeguards.
For the AEC, the Shanghai office is intended to ensure Africa is not a passive recipient of investment but an active negotiator shaping the terms of engagement. By providing a central point of coordination, the Chamber hopes African governments and companies will be able to present a more unified front, improve transparency in dealings, and leverage China’s capital and expertise for long-term development.
The opening of the Shanghai office underscores the growing recognition that Africa’s path to energy security and industrial growth will depend heavily on external partnerships. The key test, observers note, will be whether such initiatives translate into concrete improvements in access to electricity, stronger domestic capacity and more resilient energy systems across the continent.
