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Libya’s Minister of Oil and Gas Joins Cape Town Energy Event as Latest Bid Round Piques Global Interest

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1 year ago

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Libya

Launched in March 2025, Libya’s latest licensing round has drawn interest from over 40 prospective bidders, signaling the country’s re-entry into the global energy stage

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, August 15, 2025/APO Group/ –Dr. Khalifa Abdulsadek, Minister of Oil and Gas of Libya, has joined this year’s African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference as a speaker. This year’s event will host a dedicated Invest in Libyan Oil & Gas Summit – highlighting Libya’s push to open up its sector for foreign investment. With Libya’s latest licensing round drawing interest from over 40 prospective applicants – including leading energy operators – the country is on track to meet its ambitious goal of producing two million barrels per day (bpd)

Minister Abdulsadek’s participation comes as Libya opens up the sector for foreign investment, with its latest licensing round piquing the interest of over 40 prospective applicants. With leading energy operators announcing that they are competing in the round, Libya is well-positioned to meet its goals of two million barrels per day (bpd).

Libya launched its 2025 licensing round in March as part of its 25-year strategy to add 8 billion barrels of crude oil to its proven reserves. The licensing round offers 22 exploration blocks – 11 onshore and 11 offshore – with contracts set to be signed by the end of 2025. Featuring newly-selected blocks based on geological viability and proximity to existing infrastructure, the licensing round represents a compelling opportunity for investors seeking early returns, given the blocks lower entry costs and quicker development timelines. Multinational energy corporation Chevron and integrated multi-energy company TotalEnergies have both announced that they are competing in the round, alongside energy majors ExxonMobil and Eni.

Libya is rapidly positioning itself as a major global supplier, targeting two million bpd through fresh investment in greenfield and brownfield block opportunities

Currently producing 1.4 million bpd, Libya’s latest licensing round is expected to play an instrumental part in enhancing national output. To support a transparent and streamlined bidding process, the country’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) introduced a dedicated online platform for managing the bid round. The platform offers secure, confidential access to technical, legal and financial data. The bid openings and announcement of successful applicants will take place on November 15, 2025, while the contract signings will take place between November 22-30. This clear and structured timeframe has boosted investor confidence in the sector.  Further enhancing confidence, Libya has introduced the fifth generation of its Exploration and Production Sharing Agreement (EPSA V). The agreement is a modernized contractual framework designed to attract international oil companies with more competitive fiscal terms, thereby transitioning the country from a concession-based system to state-partnered agreements. The EPSA V balances investor appeal with national interest, offering companies greater predictability and a stronger return on investment.

These developments come as Libya sees renewed interest by foreign operators in its oil and gas opportunities. ExxonMobil, for example, returned to the country after a decade-long hiatus, signing an MoU to carry out a technical study evaluating the hydrocarbon potential of four offshore blocks. The geological and geophysical surveys will be conducted along Libya’s northwest coast and within the Sirte Basin. Shell and bp entered into agreements with Libya’s NOC in July 2025 to carry out studies on hydrocarbon exploration and production at three oilfields in the country. Under the agreement with bp, the company will explore redevelopment opportunities at the Mature Darir and Messla oilfields. bp will also pursue exploration prospects in nearby areas. Meanwhile, the agreement with Shell will see the company conduct a detailed feasibility study for the development of the al-Atshan oilfield and other fields fully owned by the NOC.

Beyond greenfield opportunities, Libya is working to revitalize production at legacy assets. Notably, companies to the likes of Waha Oil Company and Mellitah Oil & Gas are breathing new life into mature assets, using advanced technology, well stimulation programs and upgrades to gathering systems and processing facilities. In the infrastructure space, the country is making significant strides towards modernizing projects with a view to bolster exports and reclaim its place as a major global supplier. Key projects include the Structures A&E development led by Eni. The project will transport gas from two offshore fields to the Mellitah complex for processing, with offshore drilling commencing in 2025. Other projects include the Sabratha Compression project and the Bouri Gas Utilization Project. During AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025, Minister Abdulsadek is expected to share further insight into the impact these projects play in Libya. His participation will facilitate new collaborations, support production growth and accelerate development across strategic basins.

“Libya is rapidly positioning itself as a major global supplier, targeting two million bpd through fresh investment in greenfield and brownfield block opportunities. This ambitious strategy has already begun to yield positive results, with a host of foreign operators committing to investing,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Energy

Building a Knowledge Hub for China-ASEAN Energy Cooperation

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4 hours ago

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September 22, 2026

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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.
 




 

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Events

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

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4 hours ago

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September 22, 2026

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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.
 
 




 

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Business

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

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5 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.

 

 




 

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