Driving Progress through Partnership: Africa’s Maritime Momentum in 2025
2025 marked a milestone year for Africa’s maritime and bunkering community, as it strengthened its regional presence through new leadership, collaboration, and dynamic events
Africa’s maritime and bunkering landscape continues to evolve with energy, resilience, and purpose.
This year, IBIA’s activities across the region reflected not only growth but also a shared determination to drive progress through partnership. From new appointments to powerful industry gatherings, 2025 underscored Africa’s voice as one of innovation, inclusion, and collaboration.
In October, our IBIA Africa Chair, Jon Hughes (Managing Director, Dan-Bunkering Africa Ltd), warmly welcomed two outstanding new Board Members whose experience and vision will help guide our regional priorities. Abdelrahman Tharwat, Regional Supply Manager for Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian Subcontinent at Sing Fuels, brings over 20 years of expertise in bunkering and vessel operations. Based in Dubai, his career has spanned leadership roles across the region, earning recognition for performance excellence – including Sing Fuels’ “Olympian of the Year” in 2024. Momoh–Jimah Oyarekhua, Chairman of OPAC Refineries and Founder of OMSA Integrated Services in Nigeria, joins with more than three decades of experience in refining, petroleum products trading, and marine transport. A respected leader and advocate for local capacity building, he continues to play an instrumental role in strengthening Nigeria’s oil and gas landscape through his leadership within BTAN and CORAN. Their appointments mark a significant step forward in strengthening IBIA Africa’s representation and diversity of expertise across the continent.
The year also saw IBIA Africa’s continued engagement in thought leadership and advocacy. During London International Shipping Week, I joined the Africa Maritime and Shipping Assembly (AfMASA) session at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), where industry and policy leaders gathered to discuss unlocking Africa’s maritime potential. The session, supported by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, explored practical pathways for developing African maritime capacity from expanding sea-time and training for cadets to improving transparency through mass flow metering and electronic bunker delivery notes.
The discussions reinforced the importance of collaboration between shipowners, educators, and regulators to ensure Africa benefits fully from the growth in intra-African trade under the AfCFTA framework. IBIA remains committed to contributing to these initiatives by strengthening curricula, supporting capacity building, and connecting finance with opportunity.
In August, the spirit of collaboration and inclusion came vividly to life at the WISTA South Africa Women’s Month Gathering at the Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town. As Programme Director and MC, I was honoured to guide an afternoon celebrating women’s leadership in maritime – and the progress still to be made. The event, supported by Tshwani Automotive Special Economic Zone, brought together industry, academia, and associations including WOMESA, MaritimeEMpowerher, and IBIA, alongside the IMO. Inspiring addresses by Amsha Gengan, Chair of WISTA South Africa, and Mariana Noceti of the IMO’s Women in Maritime Programme, highlighted how empowerment drives innovation and sustainability. What stood out most was the shared purpose – a recognition that true transformation requires everyone’s participation, and that South Africa is leading by example in building an inclusive industry.
IBIA is delighted to support key initiatives shaping Africa’s maritime future.
The Bunker Africa Conference, taking place from 17–18 November 2025 in Gqeberha, which coincides with the IBIA Annual Convention in Hong Kong and will be supported by our dedicated IBIA members in South Africa. The event will focus on youth empowerment and entrepreneurial development across the maritime and renewable energy sectors, further strengthening the region’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable growth. Early in the new year, Maritime Week Africa 2026 in Cape Town will spotlight regional regulatory frameworks and the opportunities emerging from Africa’s rapidly diversifying bunker markets, with IBIA planning to participate through focused panel discussions and collaborative roundtables on compliance, policy alignment, and regional advancement.
At the time you are reading this, we are gathered in Hong Kong for the IBIA Annual Convention 2025, our flagship global event and an official part of Hong Kong Maritime Week. It’s inspiring to see so many of our Africa members joining us here, a testament to the strength and engagement of our regional community. The Convention brings together hundreds of delegates from across the world for a three-day programme of insight, dialogue, and collaboration on critical themes such as market outlooks, regulation, alternative fuels, and digital transformation. It is a global forum that reflects IBIA’s unique ability to connect regional perspectives with international strategy and Africa’s growing participation is a source of great pride.
To our members and partners across
Africa, thank you for the incredible support and engagement throughout 2025.
Your participation, ideas, and commitment continue to shape the strength of our community. I encourage every member to make full use of your IBIA membership benefits: access to global events, working groups, and training opportunities that connect you directly with industry developments and decision-makers.
As we close another successful year, the sense of momentum across Africa is undeniable. The conversations we began in 2025 are paving the way for action in 2026 – a year that promises to be defined by continued collaboration, innovation, and growth. Together, we are building not just participation in the maritime sector, but leadership that truly reflects Africa’s place in the global industry.
Tahra Sergeant
Regional Manager (Africa) & Global Head, Events
tahra.sergeant@ibia.net