Frequently Asked Questions
ABOUT AER
What is African Energy Research (AER)?
African Energy Research (AER) is a research-led, non-profit platform producing decision-grade insights on Africa’s oil, gas, and wider energy systems.
We translate technical complexity into credible evidence, reproducible models, and clear intelligence that supports better energy decisions.
What is AER’s mission?
African Energy Research (AER) is a research-led, non-profit platform producing decision-grade insights on Africa’s oil, gas, and wider energy systems. We translate technical complexity into credible evidence, reproducible models, and clear intelligence that supports better energy decisions.
Is AER a consultancy?
AER is a research lab with industry-grade deliverables. We may collaborate with companies and institutions on defined research scopes, but our baseline is research integrity, independence, and documented limitations.
Which countries and sectors does AER cover?
AER is pan-African. We begin with Nigeria and expand across priority basins and markets as data access and partnerships mature.
Our coverage spans upstream, midstream, downstream, gas monetization, infrastructure, and transition pathways.
WHAT WE DO?
What types of research does AER produce?
AER produces basin and block intelligence, subsurface studies (where data rights allow), production and economics modeling, market and infrastructure analysis, fiscal and regulatory reviews, and emissions and methane analytics.
Do you publish reports publicly?
Some outputs are public, including thematic briefs and selected indices. Others are restricted to partners or sponsors, governed by clear publication and usage terms agreed before work begins.
Do you provide investment advice?
No. AER provides research and analysis. Decisions and outcomes remain the responsibility of end users, and our outputs include scope boundaries and limitations.
Can AER support asset evaluation, bid preparation, or project planning?
Yes, where it aligns with AER’s governance and independence framework. Typical support includes basin intelligence, analog screening, economics modeling, infrastructure mapping, and risk framing, subject to data rights and conflict-of-interest controls.
DATA, QUALITY, AND INTEGRITY
Where does AER get its data?
AER uses public-domain sources, partner-provided datasets under agreement, and licensed data where permissible. We do not publish or redistribute restricted data without explicit rights.
How does AER ensure research quality?
Quality is enforced through standardized templates, peer review, assumption reQuality is enforced through standardized templates, peer review, assumption registers, uncertainty handling, and traceability. Deliverables clearly separate facts, interpretations, and recommendations.gisters, uncertainty handling, and traceability. Deliverables clearly separate facts, interpretations, and recommendations.
Quality is enforced through standardized templates, peer review, assumption registers, uncertainty handling, and traceability. Deliverables clearly separate facts, interpretations, and recommendations.
Yes, responsibly. AI may support literature triage, document parsing, data normalization, and workflow acceleration. Conclusions must remain technically defensible, reviewable, and anchored to verifiable sources.
How does AER manage conflicts of interest?
AER requires disclosure and applies controls such as reviewer independence, project separation, and transparency statements. Where independence cannot be protected, AER may decline the engagement.
MEMBERSHIP AND VOLUNTEERING
Who can join AER?
AER welcomes contributors across geology, geophysics, petrophysics, reservoir and production engineering, facilities/process engineering, economics, finance, law, policy, data science, and technical writing.
Is membership paid or free?
Core volunteer participation is typically unpaid and structured around defined scopes and recognition. Some programs may include stipends, honoraria, or grants depending on funding and project requirements.
How do volunteers work within AER?
Volunteers operate in research squads with a technical lead, scoped tasks, peer review, and standardized deliverable templates. Work is modular, auditable, and designed for continuity.
Will contributors be credited for their work?
Yes, where appropriate. Attribution is part of AER’s culture, subject to confidentiality constraints and publication rights.
Can students and early-career professionals participate?
Yes, through supervised tracks focused on reproducibility, ethics, and skill-building.
PARTNERSHIPS AND FUNDING
How can organizations partner with AER?
Partnerships can include joint research, sponsorship of thematic outputs, data collaboration, capacity building, internships, and knowledge exchange. Each partnership is governed by scope, data rights, ethics, and publication terms.
How is AER funded?
AER is funded through grants, sponsorships, donations, and commissioned research that aligns with our governance framework and safeguards independence.
Does AER offer grants or research funding?
Where funding permits, AER supports targeted research grants and research sprints. Calls for proposals define themes, eligibility, milestones, and evaluation criteria.
LEGAL, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND IP
How does AER handle confidentiality?
Confidential information is governed by NDAs, access controls, and data handling protocols. Projects are compartmentalized on a need-to-know basis.
Confidential information is governed by NDAs, access controls, and data handling protocols. Projects are compartmentalized on a need-to-know basis.
IP terms are defined per contributor and project agreements. AER typically retains rights to internal frameworks and reusable methods, while project deliverables may grant usage rights to partners or sponsors under agreed terms.
Getting Started
How can I propose a research topic?
Submit a short proposal with: problem statement, why it matters, available data, intended methodology, expected outputs, and decision use-case. AER prioritizes high-impact topics that are data-feasible and scalable.
How can I support AER?
Support AER by volunteering expertise, sponsoring a research theme, funding a grant, donating, or providing datasets and archives under lawful terms. We value trust, time, and shared standards.
How do I contact AER?
Use the contact form on our website or email our official address listed on AER channels. For partnership requests, include the problem scope, timeline, and data constraints for faster alignment.