Sahara Group

What Sahara Group does

Sahara Group is a privately held international energy and infrastructure conglomerate founded in 1996 and headquartered in Dubai, with primary operating presence in Lagos, Nigeria and offices across 17+ countries spanning West Africa, East Africa, North Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. The company operates across the full energy value chain through four segments: Upstream (Asharami Energy — 8 oil and gas assets across African basins, joint operator of OML 18 and the FSO Cawthorne terminal with NNPCL), Midstream (FSO vessel operations, bunkering in Mauritania, LPG shipping via MT Asharami Ghana), Downstream (petroleum product trading, depot networks, jet fuel supply to airlines), and Power (Sahara Power Group including Egbin Power Plc at 2.7GW capacity and Ikeja Electric distribution, contributing approximately 19% of Nigeria's total power generation).

Sahara generates revenue primarily through transaction-fee models on commodity trading (oil, gas, LPG, marine bunker fuels) and through managed services on midstream infrastructure, complemented by subscription-like recurring revenue from power generation and distribution. Its customer base is enterprise- and government-anchored: NNPCL and Eroton E&P on crude offtake, Government of Ghana on clean energy infrastructure, national utilities on power, and international airlines on jet fuel, with last-mile LPG distribution extending into household and SMB segments. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales driven by C-suite engagement with governments, regulators (NNPCL, NBET, AfDB, World Bank), and large industrial customers.

Technology deployment is concentrated in physical asset infrastructure — a 2.2 million-barrel FSO, a 40,000 CBM dual-fuel LPG carrier, 2.7GW of generation capacity, depot networks, and AI-enabled monitoring on the FSO Cawthorne. Supporting operations are ESG initiatives including OGMP 2.0 methane partnership membership, COP30 nature-based commitments (1 million trees), and reforestation projects in Ghana and Nigeria. The conglomerate employs 6,000+ professionals across 50+ nationalities and runs structured talent programmes (Graduate Management Trainee with 20+ cohorts) to sustain its pan-African footprint.

Name

Sahara Group

Legal name

Sahara Group Limited

Website

https://sahara-group.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Sahara Group is a privately held Dubai-headquartered energy conglomerate operating across upstream, midstream, downstream, and power across 17+ countries in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. It serves governments, national utilities, and industrial customers through Asharami Energy, Sahara Power Group, Egbin Power, Ikeja Electric, and LPG/maritime subsidiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Integrated Energy Services

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Electric Power Generation (22111)

akta.pro primary industry

Utility-Scale PV EPC (Engineering, Procurement & Construction) (EUACAGAB)

Keywords

• Energy trading
• Oil and gas exploration
• Power generation
• LPG distribution
• Maritime bunkering

Headquarters

HQ city

Ikeja

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices19 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Power Generation and Distribution: Sahara Power Group operates power generation assets (Egbin Power Plant) and distribution through Ikeja Electric, contributing approximately 19% of Nigeria's total power generation
2. Maritime/Bunkering Services: Bunkering operations supplying ISO 8217:2022 compliant Marine Gasoil and Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil to international vessels in Mauritania and West Africa
3. LPG Trading and Distribution: Integrated LPG strategy spanning trading, shipping, storage, and last-mile distribution across West Africa with over 6 million cubic meters delivered since 2017
4. Upstream Oil and Gas: Oil and gas exploration and production through Asharami Energy with 8 oil and gas assets across Africa; participation in OML 18 joint venture operations
5. Downstream Petroleum Products: Trading and distribution of refined petroleum products across Africa with global distribution for local and international airlines
6. Midstream Infrastructure: FSO vessel operations, storage facilities, and infrastructure development including industrial parks and real estate projects

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sahara Group is a vertically integrated energy conglomerate operating across the full energy value chain. Its upstream division (Asharami Energy) explores and produces oil and gas across 8 African assets; midstream operations include the FSO Cawthorne floating storage terminal, bunkering services, and the MT Asharami Ghana LPG carrier; downstream operations trade and distribute refined petroleum products including jet fuel to international airlines; and the power division (Sahara Power Group) generates 2.7GW of electricity (notably through Egbin Power Plc) and distributes power via Ikeja Electric, contributing approximately 19% of Nigeria's total power generation.

Product overview

Sahara Group is an international energy and infrastructure conglomerate operating across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The company's product portfolio spans the entire energy value chain through distinct divisions and subsidiaries: Upstream operations through Asharami Energy (oil and gas exploration and production with 8 assets); Power operations through Sahara Power Group including Egbin Power Plc and Ikeja Electric (responsible for ~19% of Nigeria's power generation); Midstream services including bunkering operations and LPG logistics; and Downstream operations for petroleum product trading and distribution. Supporting the core energy business are strategic initiatives including Asharami Square thought leadership platform, Sahara Foundation for CSR activities, Ujana Hub for youth innovation, and various talent development programs. The company serves over 6,000 employees across 50+ nationalities and has deployed 2.7GW of installed generation capacity while supplying electricity to over 1.5 million households.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Asharami Square: Sahara Group's thought leadership platform featuring the Asharami Square Energy Reporting Fellowship and other initiatives.
• Asharami
• M.A.D

Products and services

• Upstream Oil and Gas Exploration and Production (Asharami Energy) Sahara Group's upstream subsidiary Asharami Energy operates 8 oil and gas assets in prolific basins across Africa, providing exploration, production, and joint venture partnership services to oil and gas producers and national oil companies.
• Power Generation (Egbin Power Plc and First Independent Power Ltd.) Power generation services through Egbin Power Plc (Ikorodu, Lagos) and First Independent Power Ltd. (Port Harcourt), contributing approximately 19% of Nigeria's total power generation with 2.7GW of installed capacity.
• Electricity Distribution (Ikeja Electric) Electricity distribution services through Ikeja Electric, serving approximately 1.5 million households and commercial customers in the Ikeja area of Lagos, Nigeria, as part of Sahara Power Group's downstream electricity operations.
• LPG Trading, Shipping, Storage, and Distribution Integrated LPG services spanning trading, shipping, storage, and last-mile distribution across West Africa, supporting clean cooking adoption in households, communities, and commercial customers. Includes the MT Asharami Ghana 40,000 CBM dual-fuel LPG carrier serving the West Africa Gas Limited (WAGL) Energy initiative.
• Maritime Bunkering Services (Mauritania and West Africa) Supply of ISO 8217:2022 compliant Marine Gasoil and Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil to international vessels through chartered bunker tankers (FT NERVI, 7,600 DWT) positioned offshore in strategic maritime hubs including Nouadhibou, Mauritania.
• FSO Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offtake Terminal Floating storage and offtake services for crude oil with 2.2 million barrel capacity, featuring AI-enabled monitoring systems, providing critical storage and offtake capabilities for OML 18 and nearby Nigerian crude oil assets.
• Downstream Petroleum Products Trading and Distribution Trading and distribution of refined petroleum products (including jet fuel and aviation products) across Africa through depot and storage infrastructure in Nigeria (Ijora, Ikeja), Ghana, Cameroon, and other African countries, supplying local and international airlines and commercial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.7GW of installed generation capacity
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Babalakin & CominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 June 2026Sahara Group featured as a speaker at the ESG Governance Colloquium hosted by Babalakin & Co., bringing together regulators, corporate executives, policymakers, and industry experts on ESG integration.
• MTN NigeriaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026MTN Nigeria participated as a speaker organization at the ESG Governance Colloquium alongside Sahara Group.
• Deloitte NigeriaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 June 2026Deloitte Nigeria featured as a speaker at the ESG Governance Colloquium alongside Sahara Group.
• Mission 300 Private Sector CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Sahara Power Group joined the Mission 300 Private Sector Council launched by World Bank Group, African Development Bank, and The Rockefeller Foundation to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. The initiative has connected 44 million people since 2024, with 30 countries signing national energy compacts. Kola Adesina, Group Managing Director, was appointed to the Council.
• World Bank GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026World Bank Group co-launched Mission 300 with AfDB and Rockefeller Foundation, pledging $5 billion through IFC and MIGA for private investment mobilization in Africa's electricity infrastructure.
• African Development Bank (AfDB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026AfDB co-launched Mission 300 with World Bank and Rockefeller Foundation to accelerate energy access for 300 million Africans by 2030.
• The Rockefeller FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Rockefeller Foundation co-launched Mission 300 to mobilize private sector investment for connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030.
• Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2026NBET issued a N501.02 billion bond under the N4 trillion Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme to settle legacy arrears owed to generation companies including Sahara Power Group.
• Ghana Forestry CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2025Partnership to restore 15 hectares of degraded forest in Juaso District as part of Ghana's reforestation efforts, involving planting 6,000 trees in the first year with plans for expansion.
• Gelegele Forest ReserveminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2025Sahara Group partnered with Gelegele Forest Reserve in Nigeria to plant 20,000 trees as part of its Adopt-A-Forest Initiative to restore degraded ecosystems and promote climate resilience.
• NNPC LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 October 2025Nigeria's NNPC Limited partnered with Sahara Group, Eroton E&P, and Bilton Energy Ltd to unveil Nigeria's first fully owned 2.2 million-barrel capacity FSO Cawthorne vessel, Nigeria's first new crude oil terminal in 50 years.
• Eroton E&PcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2025Eroton E&P joint partner in OML 18 and co-operator of the FSO Cawthorne floating storage and offtake vessel with Sahara Group.
• Bilton Energy LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2025Bilton Energy Ltd participated as joint venture partner in the FSO Cawthorne vessel commissioning for Nigeria's crude oil export and production capacity.
• UNEP Oil and Gas Methane Partnership (OGMP 2.0)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 March 2025Asharami Energy, Sahara Group's upstream subsidiary, became the first indigenous Nigerian oil and gas operator to join UNEP's OGMP 2.0 methane emissions reduction partnership, aligning with the Global Methane Pledge for 30% reduction by 2030.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Oando plc: Nigeria-listed integrated energy group with upstream, midstream, and downstream operations across West Africa; the closest like-for-like African indigenous competitor to Sahara across the full value chain.
• Seplat Energy: Nigerian upstream operator with material gas business and growing power ambitions; comparable to Asharami Energy's OML 18 footprint and to Sahara's integrated gas-to-power strategy.
• Aiteo Group: Nigerian independent E&P operating OML 29 and downstream logistics assets; overlaps with Asharami Energy's upstream and midstream positioning in West African basins.
• Vivo Energy: Pan-African downstream fuel marketer and Shell-licensed distributor across 20+ African markets; comparable to Sahara Trade West Africa's depot network and aviation/lubricants distribution.
• Oryx Energies: Switzerland-based downstream and LPG distributor focused on West and Central Africa; directly comparable to Sahara's Asharami Synergy LPG and downstream trading operations.

Regional players

• Engen: South Africa-headquartered downstream and lubricants player with extensive sub-Saharan retail footprint; comparable as a regional fuel distribution peer serving adjacent geographies to Sahara.

Broad incumbents

• Sasol: Integrated chemicals and energy major with significant gas-to-liquids and African upstream operations; comparable as a broader incumbent competing for African gas, LNG, and downstream opportunities.
• TotalEnergies: Global integrated supermajor with deep Nigerian and West African LNG, upstream, and renewables exposure; overlaps with Sahara across the value chain as an international incumbent and counterparty.
• Vitol Group: World's largest independent energy trader with significant African trading, bunkering, and downstream footprint; comparable to Sahara Energy Resources DMCC's trading and bunkering business.

Others

• NNPC Limited: Nigeria's national oil company and Sahara's joint-venture partner on OML 18 and the FSO Cawthorne; the dominant upstream and refining counterparty shaping Sahara's operating economics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iamsaharagroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5Q8MA-2U9g_z6MTYcOyUZw
• Facebookweb.facebook.com/iamsaharagroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sahara-group_374981
• Instagraminstagram.com/iamsaharagroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sahara Group