Johannesburg, South Africa, Mar 13: Energy supermajor Chevron has appointed Emmanuelle Garinet as Director of Exploration for the Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa, placing one of the upstream industry’s most experienced geophysicists at the helm of its discovery strategy across two of the world’s most critical hydrocarbon regions.
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) welcomes the appointment, noting that Garinet’s extensive experience in African exploration signals renewed opportunities for investment, strengthens geological understanding, and fosters collaboration between operators and host governments.
Expanding Exploration in Sub-Saharan Africa
Chevron’s African portfolio is entering a new phase of exploration-led growth. Key initiatives include:
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Namibia: Following major deepwater discoveries in the Orange Basin, Chevron is evaluating prospects in the Walvis Basin and plans a new exploration well in PEL 82 between 2026 and 2027.
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Nigeria: Chevron is expanding its deepwater presence after acquiring a 40% stake in offshore licenses PPL 2000 and PPL 2001 from TotalEnergies, with drilling operations expected in late 2026 near the Agbami field.
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Angola: Chevron achieved first oil at the South N’dola platform in Block 0 in December 2025, producing approximately 25,000 barrels per day and routing associated gas to the Angola LNG plant, supporting the country’s gas monetization strategy.
“These developments underscore the importance of exploration in unlocking Africa’s energy resources while supporting regional economic growth and energy security,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC.
Americas Portfolio Provides Additional Growth
Chevron’s upstream operations in the Americas remain a key growth driver:
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United States: Expansion continues in the Permian Basin, with output projected to reach one million barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2026. Deepwater developments in the Gulf of Mexico also remain critical to long-term production.
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South America: Chevron continues development in Guyana’s Stabroek Block and Argentina’s Vaca Muerta formation, supporting production growth in the region.
A Career Built on Global Exploration
Garinet brings more than three decades of experience in exploration geology, subsurface interpretation, and upstream leadership. Her career spans senior exploration roles across Africa, South America, and Europe, including leadership positions at TotalEnergies. Notably, she led the exploration team behind the Venus discovery offshore Namibia, one of the largest deepwater oil finds in recent years.
“Exploration leadership with deep technical expertise and real experience in Africa’s basins is critical as the continent seeks to unlock new resources,” said NJ Ayuk. “Emmanuelle Garinet brings decades of geological insight and international exploration leadership. Her appointment at Chevron signals the continued importance of African energy development.”
Garinet has also been an advocate for African energy development, speaking at forums such as African Energy Week in Cape Town, where she emphasized the role of advanced seismic data, frontier exploration, and efficient permitting in unlocking opportunities across the continent.
