A surprise move by Dubai’s Sheikh Ahmed bin Dalmook Juma al-Maktoum last month to acquire a personal stake in Nigeria-focused junior MX Oil has triggered hopes that Persian Gulf players may help plug a funding gap in African energy infrastructure projects.
In an exclusive interview with Upstream, Sheikh Ahmed insisted the decision to take a 29.86% equity share in MX — a partner in the producing Aje field off Nigeria — was his first investment in a public company and that he "currently has no intention to invest in another".
