At the 2025 edition of African Energy Week (AEW), BP reaffirmed its commitment to promoting women in the African energy sector. Through its Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project, located on the maritime border between Mauritania and Senegal, the oil company emphasised the integration of women into the decision-making and operational processes, a key lever for ensuring energy security and equitable growth in Africa.
At a roundtable organised by the African Women Business Energy Network, entitled Energy security in Africa: Why women's participation in resource governance is essential, Taelo Mojapelo, CEO of bp South Africa, stressed the importance of reflecting the diversity of beneficiaries in the supply chain. "In many segments of the energy sector, women make up a significant proportion of the customer base. On the GTA project, we trained women engineers, because 65% of the beneficiaries are women. This creates inspiring role models for the industry", she said.
The session brought together leaders from the public and private sectors to discuss solutions for increasing women's participation in energy. Dr Tina Unachukwu, CEO of One Titanium Tubulars Ltd, stressed the transformative impact of training: "Training a woman is training a generation. To exclude women from decision-making bodies is to deprive Africa of half its potential. Their presence guarantees an essential diversity of opinion.
Stephanie Comardelle, Director of Customer Experience at S&P Global Commodity Insights, focused on education as a pillar of progress: "Leadership is also about resilience. Education is crucial to promoting the participation of women in the energy sector. NGOs and the private sector have a decisive role to play in this change.
In terms of public policy, Adam Sow, Chief Financial Officer of Petroci Holding, shared the example of Côte d'Ivoire: "We have a policy to promote parity in the workplace. Such initiatives, combined with public campaigns, can bring about concrete change. Women are the hardest hit by energy insecurity, and they must be at the heart of the solutions.
Marieme Sav Sow, Vice President for Engagement and Advocacy at Total Energies, addressed the issue of funding: "It is imperative to devote a specific part of budgets to initiatives for women. Supporting women-led SMEs is a logical and strategic move. She also praised women's ability to innovate: "Women are exceptional strategists. Their ingenuity, like that of millions of women who manage limited budgets on a daily basis, could transform energy projects."
The commitment of BP and other stakeholders to AEW 2025 underlines a collective desire to advance the inclusion of women in the African energy sector. Through initiatives such as the GTA project, gender policies, and a focus on training and financing, the energy industry is moving towards an inclusive transformation, essential to meeting the challenges of energy security and sustainable development in Africa.
