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Our ambidexterity and capacity for creating the extra-ordinary from the mundane unlock tailored solutions for all markets.

With continuing investment in people, technology, strategic acquisitions and expansion programs, Sahara continues to explore new frontiers to replicate its passion for creative ways of being the provider of choice wherever energy is consumed. In keeping with its policy on good corporate citizenship, Sahara promotes global sustainable development and transparency in business in collaboration with multilateral organisations and other key stakeholders across the globe.

Our business operation has since expanded to sectors including upstream, midstream, downstream, power and infrastructure development with ground-breaking investments in key markets across the globe.

1996
IN THE BEGINNING...
Sahara Energy Resource Limited, the first Sahara Group company was established with initial focus of trading petroleum products – flagging off our phenomenal journey towards bringing energy to life
1998
THE BIRTH OF SAHARA TRADE
Our Group’s trading hub was relocated from Lagos, Nigeria to Geneva, Switzerland – unleashing our global vision
2000
AKWAABA SAHARA
Extended our West Africa frontier to Accra, Ghana – with a resounding Akwaaba from the good people of Ghana
2001
BIENVENUE SAHARA
Expanded our African footprint to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire – Vive le Sahara!
2002
AFRICAN EXPANSION
Expanded our footprint in West Africa by commencing operations in Senegal and in 2005, expanded business operations in Southern Africa with the establishment of the Angola office
2003
BULK STORAGE TRANSFORMATION
Built and commissioned one of the first “non-IOC” operated storage depots in West Africa – imposing icons!
2003
UPSTREAM GLORY
Acquired major stake in an onshore marginal field located in the oil producing Niger Delta region. This would be followed by the acquisition of 2 deep water Niger delta assets (OPL 284 and 286) and OPL 228 in the acumen-custom-year 2005. In 2007, we acquired OPL 274 which was successfully converted to OML 148 – upstream glory beckons.
2007
ENERGISING AFRICA
Made bold entry into the power sector via acquisition of equity stake in Egbin Power Plc; the largest privately owned thermal power plant in Sub Saharan Africa. Expanded our power generation capacity in 2013 through acquisition of equity stake in First Independent Power Ltd, a thermal power plant located in Nigeria.
2009
TRANSFORMATION RELOADED
Rebranded our corporate identity to reinforce our dynamism, vibrancy, innovativeness, and unwavering brand promise of bringing energy to life
2009
NEW FRONTIERS
Expanded operations into Asia and became the first non-major company to establish a trading company in Singapore
2009
DISTINCTION IN SAFETY
Became the first indigenous aviation fuel marketing company to receive International Air Transport Association (IATA) certification in Nigeria.
2010
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Increased our stake in the energy value chain through strategic crude refining partnership with Société Ivoirienne de R nage (SIR) in Cote d’Ivoire
2011
FOOTPRINTS IN THE DESERT
Expanded our business into the Middle East and North Africa through trading and storage operations in the United Arab Emirates.
2012
A GLOBAL PHENOMENOM
Sealed our status as a multinational energy conglomerate after crossing the 11-digit (USD) revenue mark.
2013
EMPOWERING LIVES
Acquired majority equity stake in Ikeja Electric Plc, the largest power distribution company in Nigeria
2013
ENERGY IN DIVERSITY
Grew our operational presence across Africa, Asia Europe, and the Middle East, ramping up employee numbers from 300 to 4,000 comprising exceptional professionals from over 50 nationalities
2014
OUR FIRST OIL
Achieved “first oil” from Oki- Oziengbe Field, OML 148 – feat delivered with distinction in operational, environmental sustainability, health, and safety standards
2015
AFRICAN EXPANSION
Commenced expansion into East Africa by establishing a trading office in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Further expansion of business operations in 2016 into Zambia and the Republic of South Sudan.
2016
ART FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Celebrated Sahara’s 20th anniversary with the rendition of a short movie ‘Hanatu,’ to demonstrate our support for the Arts as a vehicle for promoting sustainable development and reinforce our commitment to energising aspirations through Sahara Foundation
2017
POWERING CLEAN ENERGY
Commissioned two LPG Vessels in keeping with commitment to enhance access to clean energy across Africa
2017
SUSTAINABILITY FOOTPRINT
Sahara Foundation, our corporate citizenship vehicle achieved feat of supporting 2,000,000 beneficiaries through sustainable development projects across Africa. In 2020, Sahara Foundation set up the Sahara Impact Fund, providing access to over $100,000 in grants and funding, to support entrepreneurs, social innovators – promoting the SGDs in Africa.
2019
PARTNERING FOR CHANGE
Signed MoU with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to kickstart partnership aimed at promoting access to sustainable energy in Sub-Saharan Africa.
2019
IMPECCABLE QUALITY
Asharami Synergy, a Sahara Group downstream company; product of consolidation of our petroleum trading, marketing, distribution, and storage businesses was awarded the ISO 9001:2015 Certification for its world class quality management.
2020
ENERYGY TO LIVE
Spearheaded and supported major Covid-19 interventions in Africa including delivery of the 300-bed Thisday Dome Isolation and Treatment Centre alongside other stakeholders, donation of medical equipment as well as the provision of sanitisers, oxygen to support ICU operations, personal protective equipment and translation of Covid-19 awareness literature to local languages.
2020
DECARBONISING THE ENVIRONMENT
Egbin Power boosts environmental sustainability with introduction of electric buggies and bicycles to tackle carbon emission and promote healthy living.

OUR BRAND

Creed & Culture

The Sahara experience is unique not just because of the rich human resources that constitute our workforce, but also the spirit and the ethos of commitment, resourcefulness and disruptive creativity that underscores how we deliver on our value proposition and achieve shared goals.

We freely admit to loving who we are and what we do. The pride we take in our organization and the common knowledge that we are telling an African success story to an international audience is one of our greatest strengths and the secret sauce in our recipe for global expansion and transformative change.

The elliptical Sunsplash symbol harnesses the energy and dynamism which encapsulate the essence of our brand

BRAND PROMISE

We transform; through creativity, determination and relationship building. We will continually seek ways to generate value. We will go the extra distance in the pursuit of value. We will turn the mundane into the extraordinary.

MISSION

To transform through creativity, determination, and relationship building while continually seeking ways to generate value.

VISION

To be the provider of choice wherever energy is consumed.

Core Practices

Our ambidexterity and capacity for creating the extra-ordinary from the mundane unlock tailored solutions for all markets.

With continuing investment in people, technology, strategic acquisitions and expansion programs, Sahara continues to explore new frontiers to replicate its passion for creative ways of being the provider of choice wherever energy is consumed. In keeping with its policy on good corporate citizenship, Sahara promotes global sustainable development and transparency in business in collaboration with multilateral organisations and other key stakeholders across the globe.

Our business operation has since expanded to sectors including upstream, midstream, downstream, power and infrastructure development with ground-breaking investments in key markets across the globe.