Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)
Petrochemical Engineer
Oil and gas processing — highly relevant in Nigeria
What this life looks like
You unlock the value hidden in Africa's oil and gas reserves. Petrochemical Engineers work on the extraction, processing, and refining of petroleum products — turning crude oil into fuel, plastics, fertilisers, and hundreds of other industrial products. In oil-rich African nations, this career sits at the centre of economic development.
What she actually does
You work on drilling and production operations, design and optimize refining processes, manage pipeline systems, conduct reservoir analysis, ensure environmental compliance, oversee safety systems, and work on projects that increase the value extracted from oil and gas fields. You may work offshore on platforms or onshore at refineries and processing facilities.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| International Oil Companies | Shell, TotalEnergies, Chevron, ExxonMobil — Nigeria, Angola, Mozambique operations |
| National Oil Companies | NNPC (Nigeria), Sonangol (Angola), GNPC (Ghana), ENH (Mozambique) |
| Refineries | Dangote Refinery Lagos, Port Harcourt Refinery, SAPREF South Africa |
| Oilfield Services | SLB (Schlumberger), Halliburton, Baker Hughes — Africa operations |
Why it matters in Africa
Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, Ghana, and Mozambique are among Africa's significant oil and gas producers. The Dangote Refinery — the world's largest single-train refinery when at full capacity — and growing liquefied natural gas plants across Africa create immediate demand for petrochemical engineers on the continent.
Your pathway in
- Study Chemical Engineering or Petroleum Engineering at university
- Complete industrial training with a petroleum company during your degree
- Pursue professional membership with bodies such as the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)
- Develop expertise in reservoir simulation, refinery operations, or offshore systems
- Consider postgraduate specialisation in petroleum engineering for senior roles
Skills you will need
- Petroleum reservoir engineering
- Refinery process design
- Drilling operations knowledge
- Safety and environmental management
- Project management
- Chemical process simulation
A woman in this field
Amy Jadesimi
Nigeria
Amy is the CEO of LADOL (Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base), a major integrated free zone and logistics company serving the Nigerian oil and gas industry. She studied medicine at Oxford and then pursued finance before leading LADOL to become one of Nigeria's most significant oil services enterprises. She has been recognised by the BBC, Forbes, and the World Economic Forum as a leading voice in Nigerian industrial development.
Take your first step
- Study Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics intensively at school
- Research petroleum engineering or chemical engineering programmes at the University of Lagos, University of Port Harcourt, or University of Benin
- Join the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) student programme online at spe.org
- Learn about the Nigerian oil industry through the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission website at nuprc.gov.ng