Filippo Bof, who leads business development across Africa and Latin America for Shell Trading, has been confirmed as a speaker at Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2027 in Paris. Alongside its core crude and products business, Shell’s trading arm provides financing and logistics support to oil producers, and in 2026 it became the lender behind two acquisitions offshore Angola. Once both deals close, an Angolan company will hold the largest stake in one of the country’s longest-producing deepwater blocks. Bof’s participation brings a major source of production-backed finance to the forum, which will focus on directing international capital to African energy assets.

The first deal came in February, when Shell Western Supply and Trading committed up to $170 million in acquisition financing, repayable through future crude cargoes, for Etu Energias’ purchase of Azule Energy’s 20% stake in Block 14 and 10% stake in Block 14K offshore Cabinda. Etu Energias, a wholly Angolan-owned E&P company, signed the purchase agreement in March. Independent operator Chariot contributed $12 million in deposit funding, while the Shell financing will cover the balance due at completion.

Shell Trading is also funding Etu Energias’ second acquisition in the block. Signed in August, the deal covers Chevron’s 31% stake in Block 14 and 15.5% stake in Block 14K and carries a base price of $260 million. Completion is expected in early 2027, after which Etu Energias will become the block’s largest stakeholder and plans to take over as operator. “It’s about more than production and reserves; it’s about building enduring capabilities in Angola and developing deepwater operating expertise,” said Edson R. dos Santos, Chairman and CEO of Etu Energias.

Block 14 has produced more than 900 million barrels since first oil in 1999 and currently yields approximately 40,000 bpd, with its license extended to 2038. Lending against future production gives African independents the capital to buy mature deepwater assets from majors, while lenders like Shell Trading secure a long-term supply of crude.

Commodities & Capital Allocation is one of four focus areas at IAE 2027, where African governments, national oil companies, independents and financiers will convene in Paris to negotiate and finance energy projects. Shell Trading’s role in Angola links the sale of crude to localized asset ownership, and Bof’s confirmation positions a lender active across Africa and Latin America in direct conversation with the producers and regulators behind the continent’s next wave of upstream acquisitions.

Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2027 takes place May 11–13 in Paris. Organized by Energy Capital & Power, the event convenes African governments, international investors, DFIs, project developers and energy companies for three days of capital allocation, deal-making and government-to-business engagement. For more information, visit www.invest-africa-energy.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.