CEO of Afentra Paul McDade
Ex-Tullow CEO sees fresh African opportunities
Paul McDade sees big opportunities among stranded assets in West Africa for his new company
Former Tullow Oil CEO Paul McDade recently led a buyout of management and significant shareholders at UK upstream independent Sterling Energy, which has since been renamed Afentra. McDade spoke to Petroleum Economist about the relaunched company’s priorities, its African ambitions and the takeaways from his time as Tullow CEO. Afentra—short for African Energy Transition—will employ an acquire and build model focused on producing assets and discovered resources rather than greenfield developments, he explains. The firm will look at asset quality and potential, for instance whether a field’s productive life could be extended in a cost-effective manner, and is “agnostic” about whether particula
Also in this section
4 December 2025
Time is running out for Lukoil and Rosneft to divest international assets that will be mostly rendered useless to them when the US sanctions deadline arrives in mid-December
3 December 2025
Aramco’s pursuit of $30b in US gas partnerships marks a strategic pivot. The US gains capital and certainty; Saudi Arabia gains access, flexibility and a new export future
2 December 2025
The interplay between OPEC+, China and the US will define oil markets throughout 2026
1 December 2025
The North African producer’s first bidding round in almost two decades is an important milestone but the recent extension suggests a degree of trepidation
