German engineering group showcases its growing African footprint, local service partnerships and industrial expertise as Dr. Rus makes a compelling case for greater African participation in the energy value chain.
By Ajong Mbapndah L
Africa must move beyond owning its vast oil and gas resources to developing the technical expertise, industrial infrastructure and local companies needed to turn those resources into lasting economic benefits, says Dr. Jiří Rus, Sales Director Africa at German engineering group NEUMAN & ESSER.
Speaking during the panel discussion, “Africa’s Oil & Gas Services Opportunity,” at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, Rus made a strong case for African countries to invest more deliberately in the skills, technologies and industrial capabilities required to sustain their energy industries.
“Africa needs to move from resource ownership to capability ownership,” Rus said, delivering one of the central messages of his contribution to the discussion. The real opportunity, he explained, lies in strengthening local expertise and ensuring the efficient use of both existing and future oil, gas and energy infrastructure.
The discussion brought together leading executives from the international energy services industry, including Dietsmann CEO Cesare Canevese, Westpaq International CEO Samuel Diminas, Heráclito Alfredo of SBM Offshore Angola and Sana Donald of Halliburton. Moderated by Elliot Radley of Argus Media, the panel examined the opportunities available to service companies as African energy markets expand, including the challenges of protecting margins, entering new markets and developing competitive local operations.
For Rus, the debate was particularly relevant to NEUMAN & ESSER’s expanding business across Africa, where the company has been strengthening its relationships with energy operators, developing technical service partnerships and promoting solutions designed to improve the performance and reliability of industrial equipment.
Reflecting on the opening day of the conference, Rus described it as a productive and intensive experience, expressing appreciation for the perspectives shared by fellow panelists. His contribution placed particular emphasis on the importance of African countries developing the capacity to manage and maintain the infrastructure on which their energy industries depend.
The message was consistent with NEUMAN & ESSER’s growing emphasis on local service capabilities, technical training and long-term industrial partnerships across the continent.
NEUMAN & ESSER Expands Its African Footprint
With an engineering history dating back to 1830, NEUMAN & ESSER has built an international reputation in compressor technology, gas processing, industrial services and hydrogen solutions. Its equipment and technical expertise serve oil and gas operations, petrochemical facilities, power generation, manufacturing and other industries where operational reliability is critical.
Africa has become an increasingly important market for the company, with Dr. Rus playing a prominent role in strengthening its commercial relationships and identifying opportunities for growth.
Rather than approaching the continent exclusively as a market for equipment sales, NEUMAN & ESSER has been working to bring technical services closer to its customers through local partnerships, training and regional support arrangements.
One notable development is the establishment of an Authorized Service Center in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, in partnership with MILAT Nigeria. The initiative is designed to improve access to compressor maintenance, repairs, refurbishment and technical support while strengthening the capabilities of Nigerian engineers and technicians.
The Port Harcourt facility represents an important addition to Nigeria’s industrial services landscape, particularly as the country seeks to improve the performance of existing oil and gas infrastructure, expand domestic gas utilization and encourage greater local participation in the energy sector.
NEUMAN & ESSER has also developed a service relationship with ROTAMECH in South Africa, supporting the development of technical capabilities and strengthening its ability to respond to customer requirements within the region.
For operators, access to qualified technical personnel and service facilities closer to their installations can reduce maintenance delays, improve equipment availability and limit dependence on overseas support. For local companies, such partnerships provide opportunities to acquire specialized skills and participate more competitively in the industrial services market.
These initiatives give practical expression to the argument advanced by Rus in Cape Town. Africa’s energy industries require more than new discoveries and production facilities. They also need the engineers, technicians, service companies and industrial institutions capable of keeping those facilities operating efficiently.
Building on a Growing Network of African Partnerships
NEUMAN & ESSER’s African operations extend beyond Nigeria and South Africa. The company has maintained a presence in Egypt for more than two decades, supplying compressor technology and engineering services to industrial customers, including those in the refining and energy sectors.
Its activities and commercial engagements also extend into West Africa, where countries such as Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal are attracting growing attention from international energy companies and industrial service providers.
Dr. Rus has been active in developing relationships with operators and prospective partners across these markets, promoting NEUMAN & ESSER’s technical capabilities and exploring opportunities for long-term collaboration.
In previous engagements with Pan African Visions, Rus has emphasized the importance of understanding the requirements of African customers and developing partnerships capable of providing dependable technical support throughout the operating life of industrial equipment.
That approach has become increasingly relevant as African governments place greater emphasis on local content and seek to ensure that investments in oil, gas and other energy infrastructure create opportunities for domestic businesses and skilled workers.
For NEUMAN & ESSER, the opportunities extend from maintaining and modernizing existing compressor installations to supplying equipment for new gas developments, industrial processing facilities and emerging energy projects.
The company’s experience in gas compression, equipment modernization and industrial services places it in a position to support operators seeking to improve efficiency, reduce downtime and extend the useful life of existing assets.
Strong Presence at African Energy Week 2026
NEUMAN & ESSER’s participation at AEW 2026 reflects its determination to deepen relationships with African governments, national oil companies, international operators and industrial partners.
The company joined the Cape Town gathering as a Bronze Sponsor, using the event to showcase its engineering expertise and engage with decision-makers from across Africa’s energy industry.
Its participation was welcomed by the African Energy Chamber, whose Executive Chairman, NJ Ayuk, has repeatedly emphasized the importance of international partnerships, investment and technical expertise in helping African countries develop their energy resources.
NEUMAN & ESSER’s capabilities in gas compression, flare-gas recovery and hydrogen technologies are particularly relevant to the continent’s efforts to improve energy efficiency, reduce gas flaring and expand the commercial use of natural gas.
Beyond Rus’ contribution to the oil and gas services panel, the company’s conference program also includes Nmesoma Okereke, Flare Gas Recovery Specialist at NEUMAN & ESSER, scheduled to participate in the October 15 discussion, “From Flares to Fuel: Methane Reduction and Gas Monetization Strategies for Low-Carbon Production.”
The session addresses a challenge facing several African oil and gas producers, where substantial volumes of associated gas continue to be flared despite growing domestic demand for electricity, industrial fuel and other gas-based products.
NEUMAN & ESSER sees opportunities to apply its engineering expertise to projects that capture and process gas that would otherwise be wasted, helping operators improve efficiency while creating additional commercial value.
Its involvement in both discussions illustrates the range of opportunities the company is pursuing in Africa, from conventional oil and gas services to technologies that support more efficient and environmentally responsible energy production.
A Long-Term Commitment to Africa’s Industrial Development
Dr. Rus’ message at AEW 2026 comes at a time when African governments are placing renewed emphasis on local content, industrial development and the need to secure greater economic benefits from natural resources.
Although the continent possesses substantial oil and gas reserves, many energy projects continue to depend heavily on imported equipment, foreign technical expertise and specialized services provided from outside Africa.
Reducing that dependence will require sustained investment in technical education, professional training, engineering businesses and industrial service facilities capable of meeting international operating standards.
NEUMAN & ESSER’s partnerships in Nigeria and South Africa offer examples of how international engineering companies can contribute to that effort while developing commercially sustainable businesses.
For Rus, who has become a familiar figure in the company’s engagements across African energy markets, building local capabilities is also essential to the long-term success of international companies operating on the continent.
The ability to provide timely technical support, develop trusted local partnerships and understand the operating conditions of different markets can make an important difference in an industry where equipment reliability and operational efficiency directly affect profitability.
His intervention in Cape Town also highlighted an important consideration for Africa’s energy future. As governments pursue new exploration projects, gas infrastructure, refineries and industrial facilities, attention must also be given to the companies and professionals that will operate and maintain those investments over the coming decades.
For NEUMAN & ESSER, whose African ambitions continue to grow, the objective is to remain part of that process through its engineering technologies, local partnerships and expanding technical service network.
As African Energy Week 2026 brings together governments, investors and industry leaders in Cape Town, Dr. Rus has put forward a message that speaks to one of the continent’s enduring industrial challenges: owning natural resources is important, but developing the expertise and capabilities to turn them into lasting economic value is what will ultimately make the difference.