Senior energy professionals from West Africa will travel to Aberdeen in September 2026 for an exclusive four-day programme centred on the Energy Exports Conference. The Scottish Africa Business Association (SABA) is coordinating the delegation to connect decision-makers from across the region with Scotland's oil, gas, and renewables expertise.
The initiative began with a focus on Nigeria but has expanded significantly. Strong interest from energy professionals across multiple African nations broadened the scope to include the wider continent, according to SABA.
The programme runs from September 1 to 4, 2026, with the Energy Exports Conference itself taking place on September 2 and 3. It goes far beyond typical conference attendance, offering structured access to Scottish energy expertise spanning oil and gas, renewables, and energy transition technologies.
Delegates will attend pre-arranged private meetings with Scottish energy companies and participate in closed-door roundtables with senior industry figures. Site visits to key facilities, including Aberdeen Harbour, and a private VIP dinner round out the itinerary.
Every interaction is planned in advance to match each delegate's priorities with appropriate Scottish counterparts. "Too often, international visits rely on chance encounters and missed opportunities.
This delegation removes that uncertainty. Every meeting is prequalified, every introduction is purposeful and every moment is designed to deliver value and results," Frazer Lang, CEO of SABA, said.
Africa's energy sector stands at a critical moment, with governments and private operators working to maximise existing hydrocarbon resources, expand energy access, and accelerate the shift to low-carbon systems. Scotland possesses the expertise to guide this transition at scale, officials noted.
The country has earned international standing across the entire energy lifecycle. This includes complex deepwater oil and gas operations, subsea engineering, asset integrity management, offshore wind development, hydrogen production, and carbon capture and storage.
These capabilities directly address the needs of African energy markets seeking to boost output from mature fields, develop new low-carbon capacity, and strengthen local technical skills. For Scottish energy firms, the African continent represents one of the world's most promising growth opportunities.
"This delegation creates a structured, bilateral platform for both sides to explore partnerships, joint ventures, local content development and investment pathways," officials said. The programme highlights include two full days at the Energy Exports Conference with dedicated networking opportunities alongside UK and international energy professionals.
