By Ajong Mbapndah L*
For decades, Dietsmann has been a familiar presence across Africa’s energy industry, working behind the scenes to keep some of the continent’s most important oil and gas facilities, power stations and industrial assets running safely and efficiently. Africa now accounts for the largest share of the company’s activities, with thousands of employees supporting operations and maintenance across the continent. As investment in new energy projects gathers pace, Dietsmann is equally focused on helping operators extract greater value from existing infrastructure through improved reliability, efficiency and asset performance.
Under CEO Cesare Canevese, the company is building on its longstanding relationships with international operators such as TotalEnergies, Eni, ExxonMobil and Trident Energy, while expanding its engagement with national energy companies. Its growing capabilities in artificial intelligence, predictive maintenance, robotic inspection and digital asset management are changing how industrial facilities are maintained. For Canevese, however, technology must serve a practical purpose: reducing downtime, improving safety and delivering measurable results for clients.
People remain central to that strategy. With national employees making up the vast majority of its African workforce, Dietsmann continues to invest in technical training, knowledge transfer and leadership development. Its decision to join the African Energy Chamber earlier this year further reflects its intention to play a more active role in industry dialogue, bringing decades of operational experience to discussions on local content, investment and Africa’s industrial future.
As African Energy Week enters its sixth edition in Cape Town, Dietsmann sees opportunities to deepen existing partnerships and develop new business in brownfield optimisation, power generation, rotating equipment services and emerging energy projects. Canevese believes Africa’s energy future will depend not only on the development of new resources but also on how effectively the continent operates, maintains and modernises the vast infrastructure already in place.
In this exclusive interview with Pan African Visions, Canevese discusses Dietsmann’s growing African footprint, the technologies setting the company apart, its commitment to developing African expertise and the opportunities it hopes to pursue at African Energy Week 2026. He also reflects on the importance of long-term partnerships and the legacy he wants Dietsmann to leave on a continent where much of the company’s history has been written.
Dietsmann has built a strong global reputation. How is the company performing today, particularly across Africa? Which projects and partnerships best reflect Dietsmann’s growing footprint across the continent?
Africa is not simply one of Dietsmann’s markets—it is where much of our history has been written and where we continue to see some of our greatest opportunities.
For many decades, we have supported the safe and efficient operation of strategic energy assets across the continent. Today, Africa represents the largest share of our activities, with thousands of employees delivering operations and maintenance services in oil & gas production facilities, power stations and industrial infrastructure.
Our performance is built on long-term partnerships rather than short-term contracts. We continue to expand our relationships with international operators such as TotalEnergies, Eni, ExxonMobil and Trident Energy, while also working closely with national energy companies that are playing an increasingly important role in Africa’s energy future.
What makes us particularly proud is that many of these relationships have lasted for decades. In our business, trust is earned every day through operational performance, safety and reliability. Clients return because they know that Dietsmann consistently delivers, even in complex operating environments.
What are Dietsmann’s core services, and what sets the company apart in the operations and maintenance sector?
Dietsmann is one of the world’s few companies entirely dedicated to Operations & Maintenance.
Our mission is straightforward: to maximise the safety, availability, reliability and efficiency of industrial assets throughout their operational life.
Our expertise covers production operations, mechanical, electrical and instrumentation maintenance, shutdowns, rotating equipment services, commissioning, reliability engineering, predictive maintenance, digital asset management and increasingly engineering support for brownfield developments.
What differentiates Dietsmann is our independence. We are not an EPC contractor, nor are we tied to any equipment manufacturer. This allows us to recommend solutions based solely on what is technically and economically best for our clients.
Operational excellence is not a slogan for us—it is our business model.
How has Dietsmann evolved to meet the changing needs of Africa’s fast-growing energy industry?
Africa’s energy sector is becoming more sophisticated every year.
Operators today expect far more than traditional maintenance. They require digitalisation, predictive analytics, cost optimisation, environmental performance and increased local participation.
Dietsmann has evolved accordingly by investing in artificial intelligence, robotics, digital asset management, advanced maintenance methodologies and engineering capabilities.
At the same time, we continue strengthening our traditional operational expertise because technology only creates value when it improves day-to-day industrial performance.
We believe the future belongs to companies capable of combining operational experience with digital innovation.
How are your technologies and operational solutions helping clients improve safety, reliability, efficiency and asset performance?
Technology should never be adopted because it is fashionable—it should solve operational challenges.
Our digital maintenance platforms, predictive diagnostics and AI-driven analytics enable clients to detect anomalies before failures occur, optimise maintenance schedules and reduce unplanned shutdowns.
We are also investing in robotic inspection technologies capable of operating in hazardous or difficult-to-access environments, improving both safety and asset integrity.
Ultimately, technology allows maintenance to become predictive rather than reactive, reducing costs while increasing availability and operational confidence.
Local content is a major priority across Africa. How is Dietsmann investing in local talent, skills transfer and long-term capacity building?
For Dietsmann, local content is not simply a contractual requirement—it is a long-term business philosophy.
Sustainable industrial operations cannot depend indefinitely on expatriate expertise. They require competent local professionals capable of operating, maintaining and eventually leading complex industrial assets.
Across Africa, the vast majority of our workforce consists of national employees. Many of today’s supervisors, managers and technical specialists began their careers with us as junior technicians.
We invest continuously in technical training, mentoring, leadership development and knowledge transfer because we believe that developing people is the most sustainable investment any company can make.
When our people grow, our clients benefit and the countries where we operate do as well.
Dietsmann joined the African Energy Chamber at the beginning of this year. How has the experience been so far, and how do you intend to use your seat at the table to help shape Africa’s energy future?
Joining the African Energy Chamber was a natural step for Dietsmann. The Chamber provides an excellent platform to exchange ideas with governments, operators, investors and service companies that share a common objective: unlocking Africa’s extraordinary energy potential.
We intend to contribute practical operational experience rather than theoretical concepts.
Having worked in Africa for decades, we understand the realities of operating industrial assets on the continent. We hope to contribute to discussions on operational excellence, workforce development, local content and long-term industrial sustainability.
What policy or industry changes would most improve the operating environment for investors and energy service companies across Africa?
Investment thrives where there is confidence. Stable regulatory frameworks, transparent procurement processes, respect for contractual obligations and predictable payment mechanisms are essential to attract long-term investment.
Equally important is creating local content policies that encourage capability development while preserving competitiveness and operational excellence.
Africa has extraordinary natural resources. Unlocking their full potential requires equally strong institutional frameworks.
Why is African Energy Week such an important platform for Dietsmann?
African Energy Week has become one of the continent’s premier energy gatherings. It brings together decision-makers from governments, national oil companies, international operators, financial institutions and technology providers in one place.
For Dietsmann, it is an opportunity not only to strengthen existing partnerships but also to understand emerging trends and contribute to shaping the future of Africa’s energy industry.
What will be your key priorities at African Energy Week 2026, and what kinds of partnerships or business opportunities will you be looking to advance?
Our priority is to deepen relationships with our existing clients while building new partnerships across the continent.
We see significant opportunities in operational excellence, brownfield optimisation, rotating equipment services, commissioning, digital asset management and power generation.
At the same time, we are exploring how our expertise can support new energy developments, where reliable operations and maintenance will remain just as critical as in traditional oil and gas projects.
What message will Dietsmann be bringing to governments, operators, investors and industry leaders attending this year’s event?
Our message is one of partnership. Africa’s energy future will not be built by governments alone, nor by operators or contractors acting independently.
It will be built through long-term collaboration based on trust, technical excellence, investment in people and a shared commitment to sustainable industrial development.
Dietsmann is committed to being part of that journey for decades to come.
As your presence at African Energy Week continues to grow, how do you see the event fitting into Dietsmann’s long-term strategy for expanding its business and partnerships across Africa?
For us, African Energy Week is much more than a conference. It is a strategic forum where relationships are strengthened, new ideas emerge and long-term collaborations begin.
As Dietsmann continues expanding its African footprint, AEW provides an invaluable opportunity to engage with both existing partners and future clients while reinforcing our long-standing commitment to the continent.
Looking ahead, where do you see the biggest opportunities for Dietsmann as Africa unlocks new oil, gas and energy investments?
The greatest opportunities extend far beyond the development of new assets. Africa also possesses a vast installed base of production facilities that must operate more safely, more efficiently and with greater reliability than ever before.
We see increasing demand for digital maintenance, reliability engineering, brownfield engineering, life-extension projects, LNG, gas-to-power and industrial asset optimisation.
As investment grows, the importance of world-class operations and maintenance will grow with it.
Finally, what is your long-term vision for Dietsmann in Africa, and what legacy do you hope the company will leave on the continent’s energy industry?
My vision is that Dietsmann will continue to be recognised as Africa’s trusted partner for industrial operations and maintenance.
But commercial success alone is not enough.
I hope our legacy will be measured by the thousands of African professionals we have trained, the local capabilities we have helped develop, the industrial assets we have kept operating safely and efficiently, and the lasting partnerships we have built with governments, operators and communities.
Africa’s energy future is exceptionally promising. We are proud to contribute not only through our technical expertise, but also by helping build the skills, confidence and industrial capacity that will support the continent’s long-term development.
*Culled from October Edition of PAV Magazine. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about registration.
Source: panafricanvisions.com
