Heirs Energies CEO Called for Expanded African Investment
Energy executives must prioritize grid integration and infrastructure to support businesses constrained by power deficits.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Oil and Gas
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Should developing nations prioritize immediate expansion of fossil fuel production to close energy gaps?
Heirs Energies CEO Osayande Igiehon advocated for increased energy investment at Gastech 2026 to address the 600 million Africans currently lacking reliable power. The call highlighted the operational necessity of integrating gas, renewables, and electricity grids to stabilize supply.
Why it matters
African businesses frequently divert essential capital into backup power systems rather than core production, a trend that hinders regional productivity. Closing this gap requires stable policy frameworks and credible offtake agreements to attract necessary infrastructure capital.
Heirs Energies increased output at OML 17 to 135 million standard cubic feet per day, up from 50 million previously, supporting five power plants. This expansion addresses a regional deficit where 600 million people lack reliable access to electricity.
The players
Osayande Igiehon
The CEO of Heirs Energies, an integrated energy company focused on unlocking Africa's energy potential through gas and power assets.
Heirs Energies
An African energy firm that manages assets including OML 17 and invests in power generation infrastructure.
The details
To overcome existing energy constraints, Igiehon emphasized the need to optimize brownfield capacity while simultaneously building new, connected infrastructure. This operational strategy mandates the integration of gas production, renewable energy, and storage capabilities into unified electricity grids. For industrial operators, this shift is intended to move energy supply away from fragmented, self-funded backup solutions toward reliable, grid-level power.
Timeline
September 2026: Gastech 2026 was held at BITEC in Bangkok, Thailand.
Market Landscape
This call for investment follows discussions at Gastech 2026 regarding the path toward regional energy security. It tracks with the broader trend of energy producers seeking to move beyond raw extraction toward integrated power delivery in developing markets.
Operators in power-constrained regions should monitor shifts toward integrated energy grids as a proxy for long-term production stability. Businesses currently relying on internal backup power should evaluate the cost-benefit of moving to grid-provided utilities if new infrastructure projects materialize.
The takeaway
Reliable energy access remains the primary bottleneck for operational efficiency across African markets. Owners should track the development of new connected power infrastructure, as successful integration will significantly reduce the capital expenditure currently allocated to independent backup systems.
Further reading
For more on the current state of sector expansion, visit our /business/industry/oil-gas/ section.
Live Poll
Should developing nations prioritize immediate expansion of fossil fuel production to close energy gaps?
