JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — Energy supermajor Chevron has named Emmanuelle Garinet as Director of Exploration for the Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa, elevating a seasoned exploration geophysicist to oversee discovery efforts across two strategically important global energy regions.
The African Energy Chamber (AEC), representing the continent’s energy industry, welcomed the appointment, noting that Garinet’s leadership could help stimulate new exploration investment across Africa. The Chamber believes that placing an executive with decades of African exploration experience at the helm of a major international oil company’s discovery strategy could accelerate geological understanding, unlock frontier basins and strengthen collaboration between operators and host governments.
Expanding exploration across Sub-Saharan Africa
Chevron’s African portfolio is entering a new phase of exploration-driven growth as international energy companies continue to pursue discoveries in both frontier basins and established producing regions.
Namibia has emerged as one of the world’s most closely watched exploration hotspots following a series of major deepwater discoveries in the Orange Basin. Chevron is currently evaluating prospects in the Walvis Basin and plans to drill a new exploration well in PEL 82 between 2026 and 2027.
The campaign follows earlier drilling activity in the Orange Basin, underscoring the company’s ongoing interest in Namibia’s evolving offshore petroleum system.
In Nigeria, Chevron is expanding its deepwater presence after acquiring a 40% stake from TotalEnergies in offshore licenses PPL 2000 and PPL 2001. The company is expected to deploy a drilling rig in late 2026 targeting resources near the Agbami field as part of its broader deepwater growth strategy.
Angola remains a cornerstone of Chevron’s African portfolio. In December 2025, the company achieved first oil at the South N’dola platform in Block 0, producing approximately 25,000 barrels of oil per day using existing infrastructure. Associated gas from the project is transported to the Angola LNG plant, supporting the country’s gas monetization strategy while helping reduce flaring.
According to the AEC, these developments highlight the continued importance of exploration in unlocking new energy resources across the continent while supporting economic growth and long-term energy security.
Americas portfolio adds further growth opportunities
Beyond Africa, Chevron maintains a substantial upstream footprint across the Americas.
In the United States, production continues to expand in the Permian Basin, where output is projected to reach around one million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2026. Deepwater developments in the Gulf of Mexico also remain a key component of the company’s portfolio, contributing to sustained production growth.
In South America, Chevron’s position in Guyana’s prolific Stabroek Block—acquired through the company’s purchase of Hess Corporation—places it within one of the fastest-growing offshore petroleum provinces globally. Meanwhile, unconventional development in Argentina’s Vaca Muerta formation continues to support production expansion across the region.
A career built on global exploration leadership
Garinet brings more than three decades of experience in exploration geology, subsurface interpretation and international upstream leadership.
She began her career as a geophysicist, focusing on seismic analysis and subsurface evaluation before transitioning into management roles overseeing large exploration portfolios. Over the years, she has held senior leadership positions across multiple continents, including managing exploration programs in Nigeria, Gabon and South America.
Her tenure at TotalEnergies spanned the company’s evolution from Elf Aquitaine to TotalFinaElf and ultimately TotalEnergies.
One of Garinet’s most notable achievements was leading the exploration team behind the Venus discovery offshore Namibia—one of the largest deepwater oil finds in recent years and a project expected to move toward a final investment decision in 2026.
“Exploration leadership with deep technical expertise and real experience in Africa’s basins is critical as the continent seeks to unlock new resources and attract global investment,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Emmanuelle Garinet brings decades of geological insight and international exploration leadership. Her appointment at Chevron sends a strong signal about the continued importance of African energy development.”
Garinet has also been a prominent advocate for African energy development and frequently participates in African Energy Week in Cape Town, where she has highlighted the importance of advanced seismic data, frontier exploration and efficient permitting systems in unlocking new opportunities across the continent.
