By joshua Lee Engineering, Britannia-U, Waltersmith, Transoceanic, African Energy Research, Iron Capital, Join Regulators for Nigeria–China Country Focused Session at CDYPE 2026
Nigeria’s oil and gas operators, regulators, technical institutions and financial advisers are coming together in a coordinated effort to reposition the country’s energy sector for stronger international participation, investment and long-term strategic partnerships.
A statement by Tuoyo Memuduaghan, a member of the CDYPE Organizing committee, indicated that “The initiative will take centre stage at the Nigeria–China Country Focused Session, being held as part of the China (Dongying) International Petroleum and Petrochemical Equipment & Technology Exhibition (CDYPE 2026), scheduled for 28–30 September 2026 in Dongying, Shandong Province, China. The Country Focused Session is designed to provide a dedicated platform for Nigerian operators, regulators and project owners to engage directly with Chinese financiers, engineering companies, petroleum equipment manufacturers, technology providers and potential strategic partners.
“The choice of Dongying is particularly significant. Dongying is not simply another Chinese exhibition city. Located in Shandong Province and developed around the Shengli Oilfield, the city has emerged as one of the most concentrated petroleum technology, equipment manufacturing and oilfield service centres in China.
“Dongying has been described as China’s largest petroleum equipment manufacturing base, with the sector historically accounting for approximately one-third of the country’s petroleum equipment manufacturing output. Its High Tech Industrial Development Zone alone is home to more than 500 businesses focused on petroleum technology services, petroleum equipment and offshore engineering, with the cluster accounting for roughly 30 per cent of the Chinese market.
“This makes Dongying a strategic location for the Nigerian delegation: Nigerian companies will be engaging potential partners within an industrial ecosystem where petroleum equipment manufacturers, engineering companies, technology developers and oilfield service providers are concentrated in one location.”
The statement noted that “At the heart of the initiative is a growing recognition that Nigeria’s energy sector can compete more effectively internationally when operators, regulators, technical institutions and financial advisers work in cohesion.
“Leading this industry driven effort are prominent Nigerian oil, gas and engineering companies including Lee Engineering, Britannia-U, Waltersmith, Transoceanic and other participating operators, working alongside the country’s regulatory and institutional stakeholders.
“The delegation represents more than attendance at an international exhibition. It reflects a broader effort by Nigerian industry leaders to collectively improve the country’s investment positioning, establish stronger relationships with international energy companies and create a more structured pathway through which Nigerian projects can access capital, engineering expertise, equipment, technology and strategic joint ventures.
“The participating organisations recognise that the sector must become increasingly structured for serious international participation. Nigeria has projects. Nigeria has resources. Nigeria has experienced operators. The next step is ensuring that these opportunities are presented internationally through a coordinated framework that gives potential partners confidence in their technical credibility, regulatory standing and commercial viability.
The CDYPE Organizing Committee members said: “A critical component of the initiative will therefore be the review of projects being presented for international partnerships. The relevant Nigerian regulatory institutions will work alongside African Energy Research (AER) and Iron Capital to support the assessment and structuring of participating projects before they progress into deeper discussions with international counterparties.
“African Energy Research is a pan-African research initiative producing independent, technically informed and evidence-based analysis of Africa’s energy systems. Its work spans upstream and gas systems, power, infrastructure, energy access, regulation, economics and project finance, with research structured around strengthening the quality of information available for decision-making across African energy markets. (African Energy Research).
“AER will bring a technical and research-driven perspective to the process, supporting a framework in which projects are considered not simply according to how much financing they require, but according to their technical foundations, developmental relevance and ability to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s energy sector.
“Iron Capital, meanwhile, brings the financial and transaction structuring dimension. The Africa-focused investment banking group operates across financial advisory, capital markets and investment management and has experience providing capital-raising and transaction advisory solutions to corporations, governments and institutions.
“The objective is to create a stronger connection between technical credibility, regulatory compliance, project bankability and international capital.”
He said: “Nigeria’s success should not be measured only by the amount of foreign capital attracted or the number of agreements signed. It must also be measured by the knowledge transferred into the country, the Nigerian engineers and technical professionals developed, the specialist capabilities retained locally and the ability of Nigerian companies to assume greater responsibility across engineering, project development, operations, technology and asset management.”
According to him, “Engineering partnerships should create more than infrastructure. They should transfer knowledge.
“Technology partnerships should provide more than equipment. They should build the Nigerian expertise required to operate, maintain and eventually develop those technologies independently.
“The long-term objective is therefore not simply to finance Nigerian oil and gas projects, but to ensure that international participation contributes to building a stronger and increasingly technically self-sufficient Nigerian energy industry.
“The Country Focused Session is the:refore intended to create an environment where both sides can clarify expectations, identify challenges and establish practical pathways for stronger partnerships.
“Through greater transparency and direct dialogue, Nigerian and Chinese institutions can develop partnerships based on clearer commercial expectations, mutual respect and shared economic interests.”