What Petrolin does

Petrolin Group is a Geneva-headquartered, founder-controlled international petroleum group established in 1992 by Samuel Dossou-Aworet. The company operates across hydrocarbons, mines, and infrastructure with activities concentrated in Africa and the Middle East — spanning more than 10 countries including Nigeria, DRC, Malawi, Zambia, Yemen, Benin, Gabon, Cameroon, Congo, and Angola. Its core upstream portfolio comprises 11 licenses covering approximately 90,000 sq km of acreage and 4 producing fields yielding roughly 16,300 barrels of oil equivalent per day; an OML 34 stake acquired in 2012 via the ND Western consortium (with Niger Delta Petroleum Resources) contributes 300 MMcf/d of gas and 15,000 b/d of oil and condensate, alongside Yemen Block 53 (10% participating interest through Dove Energy) which has cumulatively produced 50 million barrels from the Sharyoof and Bayoot fields.

The group's business model is multi-streamed: crude oil and refined products trading via international tenders (full cargoes of 900,000–1,000,000 barrels), exploration and production licensing, professional data management services via the proprietary PSApphire platform (an Oracle-based upstream EDM co-developed with Stephenson and Associates), aviation logistics through Comfort Jet, broadcast media via Eden TV and Diaspora FM (serving Benin's 3 million diaspora), and large-scale infrastructure development through the Epine Dorsale / Backbone Project — an integrated deep-water port at Sèmè-Podji (1,006 ha) and the Cotonou-Parakou-Dosso-Niamey railway corridor pursued under PPP agreements. Revenue is generated through transaction fees on oil trades, hydrocarbon sales from licensed production, advertising on media properties, and negotiated enterprise contracts with African governments, IOCs, NOCs, and refiners such as Addax, BP, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Glencore, Hess, Reliance, Shell, Sinochem, Sun, and Vitol. Distribution is anchored in direct enterprise field sales and international tendering; the go-to-market leverages founder-level relationships with African political and financial institutions, including leadership roles at the African Business Roundtable and PAFTRAC. In January 2024, Petrolin participated in the Renaissance Africa Energy consortium that announced the acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria from Shell International, a deal that would materially expand the group's Nigerian upstream footprint.

Name

Petrolin

Legal name

Petrolin Group

Website

https://petrolingroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Petrolin Group is a Geneva-headquartered, privately held international petroleum group founded in 1992, active in oil and gas exploration, production, trading, and infrastructure development across more than 10 African and Middle Eastern countries including Nigeria, Yemen, and Benin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oil and Gas Services

SIC

Crude Petroleum & Natural Gas (1311), Wholesale-Petroleum Bulk Stations & Terminals (5171), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)

akta.pro primary industry

Unbranded/Spot Fuels Distribution (Rack Sales) (EUALAIAC)

Keywords

• Oil and gas exploration
• Crude oil trading
• Petroleum data management
• Infrastructure development
• Aviation charter services

Headquarters

HQ city

Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Exploration & Production: Oil and gas exploration and production across African countries including Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Zambia, and Yemen Block 53. The company holds licenses and produces from producing fields, generating revenue from hydrocarbon sales.
2. Crude Oil and Refined Products Trading: Petrolin has been active since 1992 in the trading of crude oil and refined products from Africa and the Middle East (Yemen). The company organizes joint loading of crude oil batches to create full cargoes of 900,000 to 1,000,000 barrels, marketed via international invitations to tender. Revenue derives from margins on crude oil transactions conducted on behalf of producers and states.
3. Data Management Services: Specialized petroleum data management team assisting African oil-producing countries and private oil companies in acquiring data management tools, digitizing documentation, archiving, and performing advanced searches using the PSApphire platform.
4. Aviation Services: Premium aviation fleet for businessmen and officials departing from Africa, available 24/7, including medical evacuations.
5. Media Broadcasting: Television (Eden TV) and radio (Diaspora FM) broadcasting operations serving Benin and the Beninese diaspora, generating revenue through programming and advertising.
6. Infrastructure Development: Large-scale infrastructure projects including the Epine Dorsale (Backbone Project) in Benin, encompassing a deep-water port at Sèmè-Podji and railway corridor development, pursued under public-private partnership agreements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Petrolin Group is an international petroleum group engaged in hydrocarbon exploration and production, crude oil trading, petroleum data management services (PSApphire), large-scale infrastructure development (deep-water ports, railway corridors), premium aviation services (Comfort Jet), and media broadcasting (Eden TV, Diaspora FM). The company operates across Africa and the Middle East, primarily Nigeria, DRC, Malawi, Zambia, Yemen, and Benin, producing 16.3K BOEPD from 4 producing fields across 11 licenses.

Product overview

Petrolin is an international petroleum group offering a diversified portfolio of products and services across the energy and infrastructure sectors. The company's offerings span oil and gas exploration and production, crude oil trading, data management solutions (PSApphire), aviation services (Comfort Jet), media broadcasting (Eden TV and Diaspora FM), and large-scale infrastructure development (Epine Dorsale/Backbone Project including deep-water port and railway corridor). The core offerings are organized around hydrocarbons, mines, and infrastructure with a focus on African development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Epine Dorsale: Integrated infrastructure project and backbone project for development of Benin and the sub-region, including deep-water port at Sèmè-Podji
• Backbone Project
• PSApphire
• Comfort Jet

Products and services

• Exploration & Production Oil and gas exploration and production across African countries including Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Zambia, and Yemen Block 53. The company holds 11 licenses across approximately 90,000 sq km of acreage and produces 16.3K BOEPD from 4 producing fields, generating revenue from hydrocarbon sales.
• Crude Oil and Refined Products Trading Trading of crude oil and refined products from Africa and the Middle East (Yemen), organizing joint loading of crude oil batches to create full cargoes of 900,000 to 1,000,000 barrels marketed via international invitations to tender. Revenue derives from margins on crude oil transactions conducted on behalf of producers and states.
• PSApphire Electronic Data Management System Electronic Data Management (EDM) solution developed by Petrolin Group in partnership with Stephenson and Associates, adapted to the upstream oil sector. Covers the entire spectrum of oil sector upstream activities, runs on PC with Oracle database management system and GIS based on web techniques. Allows instant access to data on intranet and via the Internet using secure connections.
• Comfort Jet Aviation Services Premium aviation fleet service that transports businessmen and officials departing from Africa worldwide. Available 24/7 with medical evacuation capabilities. Operates as a subscription/recurring service.
• Eden TV Television broadcasting station in Benin creating programs including news, televised journals, magazines and documentaries, with programming in French and local languages targeting Benin and the African diaspora audience.
• Diaspora FM Radio station broadcasting 24 hours per day, seven days per week via terrestrial wavelength and satellite, targeting Benin residents and 3 million Benin citizens in the diaspora, with programs in French and local languages Aizo and Fon.
• Epine Dorsale (Backbone Project) Infrastructure Development Integrated infrastructure project including deep-water port at Sèmè-Podji, Benin (oil, mineral and commercial port covering 1,006 hectares) and railway corridor from Cotonou to Niamey. Key component for development of Benin and the sub-region, pursued under public-private partnership agreements.
• Petroleum Data Management Services Specialized petroleum data management team assisting African oil-producing countries and private oil companies in acquiring data management tools, digitizing documentation, archiving, and performing advanced searches using the PSApphire platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• 16.3K BOEPD production from 4 producing fields across 10 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Renaissance Africa Energy ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 January 2024Renaissance Africa Energy is a consortium comprising ND Western Limited, Aradel Holdings Plc, the Petrolin Group, FIRS Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited, and Waltersmith Group. The consortium acquired Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) from Shell International PLC in a landmark transaction. The consortium members have demonstrable and proven operational capabilities in Nigeria.
• ND Western LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2012ND Western Limited is a joint venture between Petrolin Trading Ltd. and Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Ltd. The consortium acquired a 45% participating interest in OML 34 from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Total E&P Nigeria Ltd, and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Ltd. OML 34 covers 950 sq km in Delta State, Nigeria, producing approximately 300 MMcf/d of gas and 15,000 b/d oil and condensate.
• Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC)minorOthersShell SPDC divested its stake in OML 34 onshore Nigeria to ND Western Limited consortium. The transaction also involved Total E&P Nigeria Ltd and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Ltd divesting their respective interests.
• Surestream Petroleum LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSurestream Petroleum Limited was awarded new exploration licences in Malawi, securing Blocks 2 and 3 with a combined area of 20,000 square kilometres located on Lake Malawi. This represents a separate venture beyond Petrolin's core operations.
• Niger Delta Petroleum Resources Ltd (NDPR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNDPR, a subsidiary of Niger Delta Exploration & Production (NDEP), is a long-standing partner of Petrolin Group. Through the ND Western joint venture, NDPR and Petrolin have partnered on Nigerian upstream assets including OML 34. NDPR has also built 100 MMscfd gas processing capacity at Ogbele.
• Dove Energy LimitedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDove Energy Limited operates Yemen Block 53 Production Sharing Agreement on behalf of joint venture partners including Dove Energy Limited (24.45%), The Yemen Company (25%), DNO ASA (24.45%), MOE Oil & Gas Yemen Limited (16.1%), and Petrolin Trading Limited (10%).
• African Development Bank (ADB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Africa Investment Forum was launched under the aegis of the African Development Bank. Petrolin Group participated as sponsor and speaker at AIF 2018. ADB President Akinwumi Adesina thanked Samuel Dossou-Aworet for support granted to the institution.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Trafigura: Global commodity trader with significant African oil marketing and infrastructure investments (including ports and tank farms). Comparable as a co-participant in African crude tenders and a relevant incumbent for the trading and infrastructure franchises.
• Vitol: World's largest independent energy trader, regularly participating in Petrolin's crude tenders. Comparable as a buyer/counterparty in African crude trading and a benchmark for the trading franchise's economics.
• Glencore: Swiss-listed global commodity trader with a large African upstream and trading presence. Comparable as a Geneva-based trading counterparty participating in Petrolin's tenders and a relevant broader incumbent for both oil marketing and infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Orca Exploration Group: Small-cap African E&P focused on Tanzania (Songo Songo gas field). Comparable as a privately strategic, small-headcount, gas-focused independent operating in Sub-Saharan Africa with similar stakeholder/host-government dynamics.
• Oando PLC: Nigerian integrated energy company with upstream operations (OML 56, 60, 62) and trading/marketing. Comparable as an Africa-listed conglomerate combining independent E&P, trading, and downstream operations.
• Aiteo Group: Nigerian independent E&P operating OML 29 (Nembe Creek) and gas-processing/storage assets. Comparable as a Nigerian-focused independent producer with similar Niger Delta exposure and a broad parallel infrastructure play.
• Africa Oil Corp: Canadian-listed pure-play African E&P with producing assets in Nigeria and exploration in South Africa, Namibia, and Kenya. Comparable as a small-cap African upstream consolidator with a similar license-count and asset-spread profile.
• Sahara Group: Nigerian energy conglomerate spanning upstream, midstream, trading, and power. Closely comparable as an African-rooted, privately held integrated energy company with trading, E&P, and infrastructure activities across the continent.
• Kosmos Energy: NYSE-listed independent E&P with producing assets offshore Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritania, Senegal, and Côte d'Ivoire. Comparable as a West/Sub-Saharan African-focused international upstream operator with a similar producing-field footprint.
• Tullow Oil: UK-listed independent E&P with a long-standing West and East African upstream portfolio (Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Uganda). Highly comparable as a mid-cap African-focused producer with similar asset mix and exposure to francophone and anglophone African jurisdictions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

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 Petrolin