Photo caption: Chairman of Heirs Energies, Tony Elumelu.
By Emeka Ugwuanyi
Heirs Energies, an indigenous integrated energy company, has acquired the entire 20.07% equity shareholding of 120.4 million ordinary shares previously held by Maurel & Prom S.A. in Seplat Energy Plc at a price of GBP3.05 pence per share, valuing the transaction at approximately US500 million.
This acquisition marks a significant milestone in our long-term strategy and further reinforces our commitment to building scale, resilience, and sustainable value across Africa’s energy landscape.
The acquisition represents a further milestone in Heirs Energies’ long-term strategy to strengthen indigenous participation in strategic assets and accelerate sustainable energy development and security for Nigeria and Africa.
The transaction aligns with Heirs Energies’ strategic objective to deepen indigenous participation in critical energy assets and to strengthen Africa’s capacity to own, develop, and responsibly manage its natural resources. Seplat Energy has established a resilient, well-governed operating platform with strong fundamentals and compelling long-term growth prospects, and we are pleased to support its continued value creation journey.
This landmark acquisition was supported by leading African financial institutions, Afreximbank and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), underscoring the growing capacity of African capital to finance large-scale, strategic investments on the continent. It reflects confidence in our strategy, our governance framework, and our disciplined approach to capital deployment.
For Heirs Energies, this transaction is a clear affirmation of our long-term vision to drive energy security, industrialisation, and shared prosperity, while operating with the highest standards of safety, governance, and stakeholder responsibility.
As we look ahead, our priorities remain clear: to continue delivering reliable energy, protect long-term value, deepen partnerships, and execute responsibly across all aspects of our operations.
We value your continued partnership and trust, and we look forward to engaging with you as we build the next phase of growth at Heirs Energies.
Commenting on the transaction, Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Energies, said: “This acquisition reflects our strong belief in Africa’s ability to own, develop, and responsibly manage its strategic resources. It is a long-term investment in Nigeria’s and Africa’s energy future, and aligns with our mission to drive energy security, industrialization, and shared prosperity. Seplat Energy has built a resilient, well-governed platform with compelling long-term prospects, and we are pleased to support its continued growth and value creation for all stakeholders.”
Heirs Energies Limited is Africa’s leading indigenous-owned integrated energy company, committed to meeting Africa’s unique energy needs, while aligning with global sustainability goals. Having a strong focus on safe operations, innovation driven growth, environmental responsibility, and creating shared prosperity for all stakeholders, Heirs Energies leads in the evolving energy landscape and contributes to a more prosperous Africa. Heirs Energies operates OML 17 in the Niger Delta, producing over 50 thousand barrels of oil per day (50 kbopd) and 120 million cubic feet of gas per day (120 mmcfd), with reserves base of over 1.5 billion barrels of oil (MMBo) and 2.5 trillion cubic feet of gas (Tcf). Since its debut in 2021, Heirs Energies has established itself as the brownfield excellence leader, having successfully addressed all the challenges that confronted onshore operations in Nigeria and has been a critical catalyst for the rejuvenation of safe and reliable onshore operations in the Niger Delta. Heirs Energies is a leading gas producer and supplier into Nigeria’s domestic gas market, providing fuel for over 400 megawatts of electricity generation, powering millions of homes, businesses and factories.
Seplat Energy Plc is a Nigerian independent energy company focused on oil and gas exploration, production, and gas processing, primarily in the Niger Delta. It is listed on both the Nigerian Exchange and the London Stock Exchange and is as a key player in Nigeria’s energy transition. Seplat Energy has, as at 31 December 2024, 2P reserves of 1.043 billion barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoe) and working interest production 135.6 kboepd as at 31 October 2025.
