By Ajong Mbapndah L
We totally adhere to the African Energy Week moto of “making energy poverty history by 2030” and we work to that goal, says Perenco Group General Manager Benoît de la Fouchardiere. Speaking to PAV at the end of the recent AEW in Cape Town, South Africa, where Perenco scooped the Operational Excellence Leader Award for 2023, Benoît de la Fouchardiere highlighted the sustained and significant contribution that his company was making in helping the continent meet its energy priorities.
“For over two decades, Perenco has been a significant developer of natural gas in Africa and today, gas accounts for one quarter of our overall production. The gas we produce is making a meaningful contribution across the continent, as it is developed firstly to generate electricity, then to power developing industrial economies, to feed the market with LPG and when possible, to transition vehicles and small diesel generators to this lower carbon emission product,” Benoît de la Fouchardiere said.
While Perenco understands the need to decarbonise and has been playing its part in energy transition and helping host countries fulfil their climate change pledges, Benoît de la Fouchardiere also expresses the strong believe that Africa has the right to develop and prosper through this period of transition.
“We are working to help African countries balance the very real energy and economic development needs with their climate change objectives,” says Benoît de la Fouchardiere in the interview which gives insights into diverse facets of Perenco’s operations in Africa.
May we start with an introduction to Perenco and its operational presence in Africa?
Benoît de la Fouchardiere: We are an independent, innovative oil and gas producer, and are involved in the entire lifecycle of projects, from exploration to decommissioning. We have recently celebrated our thirtieth anniversary in Gabon, which was a key milestone. Today we produce 500,000 BOE of oil and gas per day and have a team of about 7,000 employees delivering safe and environmentally aware solutions to oil and gas fields in 14 countries around the world. We are based in the UK. Africa is at the heart of our operations with more than 300,000 BOE of oil and gas per day produced there. We are present in Tunisia, Chad, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, and DRC.
Perenco had a strong presence at the African Energy Week 2023. What message did you seek to highlight and what major points did you take from the event?
Benoît de la Fouchardiere: Perenco took the opportunity of the African Energy Week 2023 to highlight our key projects which are ongoing in Central Africa in the shape of the further development of our gas strategy. We totally adhere to the AEW motto “making energy poverty history by 2030” and we work to that goal.
For over two decades Perenco, has been a significant developer of natural gas in Africa and today, gas accounts for one quarter of our overall production. The gas we produce is making a meaningful contribution across the continent, as it is developed firstly to generate electricity, then to power developing industrial economies, to feed the market with LPG and when possible, to transition vehicles and small diesel generators to this lower carbon emission product. We play a key role in helping our host countries achieve their energy goals, driving forward a gas strategy that facilitates industrial development and the associated economic and social benefits. We export gas only when the local market is saturated, enabling increased State revenues and extracting more LPG for the country.
Perhaps the best-case study is Cameroon where in 2013 we initially powered the 230MW KPDC power plant (30% of the national grid) and then, in 2018, as part of a gas liquefaction plan, we brought into production the first floating liquefaction plant in Africa, the FLNG Hilli Episeyo, a converted LNG carrier now installed off Kribi. We have just announced the unloading of the 100th cargo of liquefied natural gas since it began operations five years ago. The project has helped Cameroon to reduce its LPG imports by almost 40%.
We have extended our gas expertise to other African countries and are delivering significant Gas to Power (GTP) and Gas to Industry (GTI) developments like Chad and DRC, supporting countries in their drive for energy independence while reducing carbon emissions.
The Operational Excellence Leader Award for 2023 was given to Perenco at AEW, what did this award mean to you and your team?
Benoît de la Fouchardiere: We were very proud and honoured to have received the “Leader in Operational Excellence Award” at African Energy Week, for the second year running. The award is in recognition of our outstanding achievements in Central Africa, in terms of operational performance and support for the development of the countries in which we operate. In particular, the organisers were eager to highlight our involvement in “taking major projects form the local to the international level.” The award is down to our bold and committed employees who have made this success possible.
Perenco has a lot of projects in the Central Africa Sub Region. How is the investment climate there and any recommendations to make it better?
Benoît de la Fouchardiere: We have been in the region for many years and as a result have a good understanding of the investment climate. I would encourage other independents to invest in projects and support the important task of providing energy for the economic and social development of these countries. They need more investment to achieve the goal of eliminating energy poverty.
What is the position of Perenco when it comes to the debate on fossil fuels?
Benoît de la Fouchardiere: The need to decarbonise is clear, and we are playing our part in the energy transition, helping our host countries fulfil their climate change pledges. We also believe that Africa has the right to develop and prosper through this period of transition. We are working to help African countries balance the very real energy and economic development needs with their climate change objectives. In practical terms, we are actively supporting the switch from fuel to gas for many power plants, including in Tunisia, Cameroon, Chad, DRC and Gabon. It is also beyond Africa as we are playing a leading role in ensuring energy security with ambitious gas developments in countries including, the UK, Trinidad & Tobago and Vietnam.
How has the military coup or change of leadership in Gabon affected your operations in the country?
Benoît de la Fouchardiere: We do not get drawn into the politics of our host countries, but work as a partner, making significant and regular investment, as well as being a key employer. In Gabon, Perenco has reached FID on a $1B LNG project at Cap Lopez that will be accompany by a massive gas flaring reduction project. This is fundamental to the country’s future, generating extra revenues and resulting in much lower emissions from current and future Oil & gas projects operated by Perenco in Gabon.
In the face of competition from rival companies or competing interests, what makes Perenco stand out? How do you make the case for African countries to keep faith with Perenco?
Benoît de la Fouchardiere: First and foremost, I am an engineer and I think it is our innovative solutions that make me most proud. For example, for operations offshore DRC we developed a special platform called the “Fololo”, which comprises lightweight 22m x 22m floating pontoons and legs that can be self-elevated to the required height in a super simple, genuine and smart concept developed in-house, removing the need for a drilling rig or Heavy Lift Barge. It’s more cost effective and lower impact from design to execution and ensures better maintenance of the wells later on as we continue to create reserves from what already exists. It allows us to drill new exploration prospects nearby that would not have been economic otherwise, like the promising Hylia SW discovery we just made in Gabon. This is just one example of a disruptive technology. It’s these innovative solutions that in my mind make Perenco stand out.
I believe our host countries see us as a responsible and committed partner, working together to achieve their energy needs in today’s world. If you deliver what you say will, safely and responsibly, as we do, people will not lose their faith in you.
May we know how Perenco gives back to the community?
Benoît de la Fouchardiere: Making a positive contribution where you operate is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do. We take our corporate social responsibility very seriously and commit a significant amount of resource to intelligent and sustainable, far reaching community programmes. These involve supplying local communities, in a tripartite relationship with the authorities, with some of the tools they need to create development opportunities. Those include, but are not limited to: access to energy, healthcare, and larger scale projects such as fish farming or agroforestry, as well as offering support to local entrepreneurs. For example, we have just received the “exemplary” award from Ending Workplace TB (EWTB). The award recognises a company’s “outstanding performance” in implementing workplace TB programmes that help protect workers, their families and their communities.
The dates of the 2024 African Energy Week have already been announced. Will Perenco attend?
Benoît de la Fouchardiere: We look forward to it. We want the prize for a third time in a row! We will work hard for that.
*Culled from November Issue of PAV Magazine
