Connect with us
Anglostratits

Business

African Energy Week (AEW) 2024 to Foster Investment and Collaboration with Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)-Africa Roundtable

Published

2 years ago

on

African Energy Week

The OPEC-Africa Roundtable will showcase Africa’s readiness for new ventures with international investors to unlock the full potential of its oil industry for global energy security

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 23, 2024/APO Group/ — 

The upcoming African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy conference – Africa’s premier event for the energy sector, taking place from 4–8 November in Cape Town – will host an OPEC-Africa Roundtable, uniting key stakeholders from OPEC and African oil producers to engage in collaboration and strategic dialogue on best practices to stabilize the global oil market. The return of the OPEC-Africa Roundtable at this year’s event underscores the strengthening ties between OPEC and Africa and is underpinned by Africa’s growing importance in global market dynamics.

This June, OPEC and its allies, including African producers such as the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Algeria, Libya, Gabon and Nigeria, agreed to extend oil production cuts through to September 2025. The production cuts are designed to avoid oversupplying the global oil market, stabilize barrel prices, foster investment in both existing and new projects, and ensure revenue generation for producing countries. Efforts to maximize the stability of the global oil market by leveraging Africa’s 125 billion barrels of crude reserves will be unpacked during the roundtable.

AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

Global oil demand is expected to reach 116 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2045, according to OPEC. This highlights a strategic opportunity for both existing and emerging producers in Africa, and countries are already driving upstream developments to meet rising demand. In April 2024, Nigeria – Africa’s biggest oil producer – unveiled its 2024 Licensing Round, offering 12 blocks for exploration. The round aims to entice new investment into undeveloped blocks, specifically deep offshore assets. The launch followed the country starting operations at the TotalEnergies-operated Akpo West Field in February 2024, increasing daily output by 14,000 bpd.

OPEC is committed to not only stabilizing global oil markets but supporting investment and development in Africa

The continent’s second largest producer is Libya, an OPEC member since 1962, with production measuring 1.21 million bpd in April 2024. The country has been rehabilitating 36 oil wells in the Messla and Sarir fields and has commenced several exploration campaigns with Spanish energy firm Repsol, Algerian National Oil Company (NOC) Sonatrach and energy major TotalEnergies. Libya aims to produce two million bpd within the next two to three years and plans to launch a new licensing round by the end of 2024 or early 2025.

Meanwhile, the Republic of the Congo – which became an OPEC member in 2018 – is undertaking a series of measures to boost investments and infrastructure developments across its upstream sector. The country aims to increase output from the current 259,000 bpd to 500,000 bpd. Chinese energy company Wing Wah is developing the Banga Kayo block while energy major Eni is exploring conventional and deep offshore areas off the coast of Pointe-Noire. Eni inaugurated the Congo LNG project in 2023. Additionally, earlier this year, TotalEnergies announced plans to invest up to $600 million to strengthen E&P activities in the country, including operations at the Moho Nord field which accounts for roughly half of the country’s total production.

Gabon is also driving upstream projects, leveraging its OPEC membership and strategic vision to increase production to 220,000 bpd. E&P company BW Energy kickstarted production at the DHBSM-1H well in the Hibiscus South exploration prospect in March, only five months after the discovery was made. Independent oil and gas firms Perenco and VAALCO are implementing several drilling campaigns at the Hylia and Etame Marin fields. TotalEnergies is drilling in the Baudroie-Mérou Marine field and the China National Offshore Oil Company is exploring Blocks BC-9 and BCD-10.

In Equatorial Guinea, NOC GEPetrol signed a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) for Block EG-23 with independent E&P firm Panoro Energy, with plans to fast-track infrastructure development in the block and utilize the assets to drive the country’s oil market expansion. The company also signed PSCs with Chevron for Blocks EG-11 and EG-06.

“OPEC is committed to not only stabilizing global oil markets but supporting investment and development in Africa. For mature producers, the organization remains committed to strengthening supply-demand dynamics, while for emerging producers, stands ready to support as the industry grows. Going forward, OPEC will continue to play a crucial role in reinforcing Africa’s position in global energy matters,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

The OPEC-Africa Roundtable builds on these developments to foster a collaborative approach to addressing industry challenges and seizing new opportunities in African oil. The roundtable will feature high-level speakers and key decision-makers, including OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais, alongside African energy ministers, top executives from major oil companies and leading industry experts. The Secretary General is expected to highlight investment opportunities in the African oil market while delving into strategies for balancing supply-demand worldwide.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Energy

Building a Knowledge Hub for China-ASEAN Energy Cooperation

Published

3 hours ago

on

September 22, 2026

By

ASEAN

NANNING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 – During the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, China Southern Power Grid showcased a range of innovations designed to support energy cooperation between China and ASEAN. These included the DaWatt – Lao Language Large Language Model (LLM) for the Energy and Power Sector V2.0 and the Flexible Grayscale Intelligent Monitoring & Analysis Platform for power system cybersecurity, highlighting expanding opportunities for cooperation in digitalization, intelligent technologies and green energy.

The Lao-language LLM has been deployed at Electricité du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T), where it can automatically analyze thousands of inspection images within a short period of time. After its algorithms were optimized for Laos’ mountainous and rainforest terrain, the model completed intelligent inspection analysis for four transmission lines, processing 26,000 drone inspection images and identifying more than 3,600 equipment defects.

 




 
 

Liu Ying, general manager of the Digitalization Department at Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd., said the company has been building multilingual professional corpora for the power sector, covering ASEAN countries including Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia. Drawing on the capabilities of the DaWatt foundation model, the company is developing energy and power models tailored to ASEAN languages and real-world power industry applications.

Talent development is another focus of the cooperation. The China-ASEAN Institute of Energy, jointly established by Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. and Guangxi University, is exploring an industry-university training model with a strong emphasis on practical experience. So far, two cohorts totaling 53 students from ASEAN countries have enrolled.

Cooperation is also evolving from one-way training toward joint innovation. Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. and the Royal Academy of Cambodia have jointly established a laboratory for artificial intelligence and safety equipment, while the company has also launched peer-to-peer exchanges with Electricité du Laos on improving power supply reliability.

To address language barriers in cross-border technical exchanges, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. has developed an AI-powered translation platform backed by a specialized database containing terminology for more than 1,800 types of power equipment. The platform supports accurate translation between Chinese and English, Chinese and Lao, and Chinese and Vietnamese.

At a recent training program for Chinese and overseas engineers, the system supported one-click generation of bilingual course materials and real-time speech translation, helping participants navigate highly specialized power-sector terminology.

To support regular international exchanges, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. has also established an international talent pool covering management, technical and skilled personnel. It has developed 24 hours of courses on international affairs as well as 20 short-form video courses.

“This year, we will also explore joint postgraduate programs with universities in ASEAN countries,” said Sun Xiaohua, deputy director of the Human Resources Department at Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd.

Looking ahead, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. plans to further advance a development model featuring “R&D in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong, integration in Guangxi, and application in ASEAN.” The company will continue expanding its multilingual power-sector corpora and explore a “Token Goes Global” model for power-sector AI, with computing resources and models based in Guangxi while knowledge services are delivered overseas. The effort is aimed at creating new forms of China-ASEAN energy cooperation and supporting the green development of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0.
 




 

Continue Reading

Events

24th Sichuan Guangwu Mountain International Red Leaf Festival to Showcase Asia’s Spectacular Autumn Colors

Published

3 hours ago

on

September 22, 2026

By

Red Leaf Festival

BAZHONG, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 – The 24th Sichuan Guangwu Mountain International Red Leaf Festival will run from October 1 to November 18 at the Guangwu Mountain Tourism Area in Bazhong, Sichuan Province, China.

Located in southwest China, Guangwu Mountain boasts a forest coverage rate of 97%, earning its reputation as a “natural oxygen bar.” Each autumn, 680 square kilometers of mountain forests burst into a dazzling palette. Over 40 tree species, including Fagus pashanica, maples and lindens, weave the mountains into a stunning autumn landscape.

Known as “Asia’s longest natural red carpet,” the Mountain has become a top autumn destination for backpackers, photographers and travelers seeking immersive cultural and nature experiences, and is widely recognized as one of western China’s signature autumn attractions.

 




 
 

The tourism area caters to international visitors who prefer slower-paced, in-depth, off-the-beaten-path travel. The new Yanziling Loop Boardwalk, launched in May 2026, winds along mountain cliffs, with a sea of clouds rolling beneath visitors’ feet and brilliant foliage unfolding alongside the trail, creating the feeling of “stepping into a painting.”

Guangwu Mountain offers a wealth of outdoor attractions. Highlights include the 1,888-meter Red Leaf Coaster and a glass water slide certified by Guinness World Record, combining thrilling experiences with stunning natural scenery.

The large-scale immersive production “New Dream of Guangwu Mountain” integrates cutting-edge light and visual technology with Bashan folklore and traditions, transforming the forest into an atmospheric nighttime experience. Visitors can also enjoy welcome performances and interactive robot activities, which offer more ways to discover the mountain’s late-autumn charm.

A major highlight of this year’s festival is the newly completed Micang Avenue. Stretching 85 kilometers, the route connects seven core scenic spots, including Guangwu Mountain, Micang Mountain, and Nuoshui River, reducing a four-hour drive to just one hour. Lined with continuous stretches of colorful forest and layered peaks, the avenue brings brand-new travel experiences for autumn foliage enthusiasts.

The festival will also feature cultural, sports and international exchange activities, including the third season of the “Sending You a Red Leaf” campaign, the China Micang Avenue International Road Cycling Race, and the “World Red Leaf Landmark” global collection campaign.

In addition, 31 scenic attractions and 18 museums and cultural venues across Bazhong will provide special ticket offers and visitor benefits during the festival.

Across mountains and seas, Guangwu Mountain invites visitors from around the world to witness one of China’s most vibrant red-and-gold autumn displays.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
 
 




 

Continue Reading

Business

DHL Invests in Greater Middle East-Africa Connectivity with New Aviation Lane

Published

4 hours ago

on

September 22, 2026

By

DHL Express

The investment also reflects shifting global supply chains, as companies diversify sourcing, manufacturing and customer markets beyond traditional corridors

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, September 21, 2026/APO Group/ —

  • New weekly B767/F Bahrain-Johannesburg service strengthens Sub-Saharan Africa connectivity and supports growing trade flows between Africa, the Gulf and global markets

DHL Express (www.DHL.com) has marked an important milestone in its regional aviation network with the successful operation of the first direct DHL flight between Bahrain and South Africa.

The inaugural flight arrived at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, opening a new weekly aviation lane operated by a DHL Express B767/F freighter. The route reinforces DHL’s continued investment in strengthening Sub-Saharan Africa network connectivity, expanding heavier-weight capability, improving flexibility and supporting growing trade flows between the Middle East and Africa.

 




  

As trade between Africa and the Middle East develops, businesses need resilient, well-connected logistics networks. The new service provides greater inbound and outbound capacity for South Africa and neighbouring countries through the DHL Johannesburg Hub, one of the company’s key gateways on the continent.

 

The investment also reflects shifting global supply chains, as companies diversify sourcing, manufacturing and customer markets beyond traditional corridors. Bahrain’s position as a gateway between Africa, the Gulf and Asia make it an important link for businesses seeking faster access to international markets.

 

Every new connection we introduce is designed with our customers in mind

“Every new connection we introduce is designed with our customers in mind. As global trade routes diversify and economic ties between Africa and the Middle East continue to strengthen, we are seeing powerful geographical tailwinds creating new opportunities for businesses. Demand is growing across sectors such as healthcare, technology, manufacturing and cross-border e-commerce, all of which rely on fast, reliable international logistics,” said Anthony Beckley, Vice President of Operations and Aviation for DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

“While this first direct DHL flight between Bahrain and South Africa is a significant network milestone, its real value lies in the opportunities it creates for customers.”

 

 

South Africa is one of DHL’s Geographic Tailwinds markets, reflecting its growing role in global trade flows and its potential to drive future trade growth. And Johannesburg remains a critical gateway in DHL’s SSA network, linking South Africa and neighbouring markets to global opportunities through Bahrain and the wider DHL aviation network. Through continued investment in routes, aircraft capacity and hub connectivity, DHL is supporting customers across this dynamic lane.

 

“DHL Express is the only logistics provider operating a dedicated intra-regional air fleet across the Middle East, connecting customers through Bahrain with major global gateways including Hong Kong, Leipzig and Cincinnati,” said Richard Gale, Vice President of Aviation, DHL Express MENA.

 

“Bahrain’s position at the crossroads of Africa and the Middle East makes it an ideal hub for customers seeking faster, more reliable access across these growing trade corridors. We are pleased to add this direct Johannesburg connection as economic ties between Africa and the Gulf deepen.”

 

DHL remains committed to helping customers seize opportunities created by changing trade patterns and expanding economic relationships.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of DHL Express.

 

 




 

Continue Reading

Trending