CARACAS, Venezuela, October 28, 2026/APO Group/ –Venezuela’s amended Organic Hydrocarbons Law has opened several distinct routes into the country’s oil and gas sector, each suited to a different type of asset and a different appetite for operational control. Heavy-oil acreage in the Orinoco Belt, mature onshore fields, offshore gas and refining are all available to international capital, and Venezuela Energy Week (VEW) 2027 will bring the companies weighing those options to Caracas to negotiate directly with PDVSA and the Ministry of Hydrocarbons.

 




 
 

The government made its pitch in Cape Town, South Africa last week, where Vice Minister of Commercial Policy Ricardo Gomez presented 303 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and 193 trillion cubic feet of natural gas at the Venezuela Global Investment Forum during African Energy Week (AEW) 2026. “The opportunities extend from upstream projects to downstream and refining,” he said, as PDVSA works toward its target of 105 definitive oil contracts by year-end.

Participation Contracts

The most direct route is the hydrocarbon productive participation contract (CPPH). Under it, a Venezuela-domiciled company operates a designated area at its own cost and risk for 25 years. With ministry approval, it can also market its share of production. Eni moved its Junín-5 heavy-oil field onto the model in September. The Italian company left its minority joint venture position to become exclusive operator of an asset holding 35 billion barrels of certified oil in place.

Joint Ventures

Companies preferring a partnership can enter a restructured joint venture with PDVSA. The state company keeps majority ownership, but can now hand operational management and marketing rights to its international partners. Mature fields are open through either structure, and their existing wells and infrastructure offer a quicker path to revenue. GeoPark took the contract route at the Bare field – a heavy-oil asset in the Orinoco Belt – under a 25-year agreement. It plans to reactivate up to 1,100 wells and lift output to around 90,000 barrels per day (bpd) by 2038.

Infrastructure Contracts

Direct ministerial contracts and strategic alliances cover oilfield services and infrastructure. Projects on offer include pipeline rehabilitation, export terminals and refinery upgrades. Domestic refineries currently process 350,000 bpd, and PDVSA aims to raise throughput to as much as 600,000 bpd in 2027.

Offshore Gas Follows Its Own Licensing Track

Offshore gas is awarded through a separate licensing process. bp, a Gold Sponsor of VEW 2027, operates the second phase of the cross-border Loran field. It holds the license in equal shares with Abu Dhabi’s XRG and Qatar’s UCC Oil and Gas Holding.

Tiered Fiscal Terms Support Investment Across the Value Chain

Each route to investment sits within a revised fiscal regime. Regulations published in July cap royalties at 30% and the integrated hydrocarbons tax at 15%, with combined rates of 20% for greenfield projects, 25% for extra-heavy oil, 30% for non-producing brownfields and 35% for producing brownfields. Qualifying offshore projects and developments incorporating upgrading or refining infrastructure may receive reductions of up to five percentage points.

“Venezuela is seeing a lot of interest as a result of aggressive fiscal and regulatory changes that are making the country more attractive,” Scott Gilbert, Non-Executive Chairman of Apertura Energy, told the AEW forum.

Companies entering through a CPPH will need a locally incorporated entity, and securing marketing authorization early gives operators greater control over revenue. U.S. companies also structure contracts around the conditions attached to Treasury general licenses, which govern how payments and contract law are handled in deals with PDVSA.

VEW 2027 will put those terms on the table in Caracas, with the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and PDVSA, both patrons of the event, meeting investors across two conference days and a day of site visits. By February, PDVSA’s year-end contracting drive is expected to have produced additional agreements, giving investors a clearer picture of how the revised contractual and fiscal frameworks are being applied in practice.

VEW 2027 takes place February 22–25 at the Simon Bolivar Convention Center in Caracas. Organized by Energy Capital & Power and taking place under the patronage of Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, PDVSA and the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, VEW is the country’s flagship oil and gas investment platform. To register or learn more about sponsorship and speaking opportunities, visit www.VenezuelaEnergyWeek.com.

CAIRO, Egypt, October 28, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has disbursed a landmark US$ 975 million financing facility to part-finance the Management Buy-Out of Oryx Energies SA (OESA), the holding company of Addax Energy SA, bringing one of the largest and longest-established independent providers of energy products and services in Africa under majority African ownership for the first time.

 




 
 

The transaction marks a major step in strengthening Africa’s energy security and demonstrates the growing capacity of African financial institutions to support Africa’s industrial future with African capital. The acquisition offers the continent an opportunity to retain economic value, pivot toward energy sovereignty, and align resources with Africa’s development agenda.

This financing also builds on Afreximbank’s broader support for Africa’s energy sector, including investments in upstream production and refining capacity. It reflects the Bank’s commitment to providing appropriately structured financing that enables African businesses to strengthen their operations, develop energy infrastructure and expand trade across the continent. Afreximbank acted as sole lender, facility agent, security trustee and escrow agent for the transaction.

Speaking on the Management Buy-Out, Mr. Moussa Diao, CEO of Oryx Energies SA, said:

“This management buy-out marks an important milestone in the history of Oryx Energies and the continuation of a journey that our management team has been part of for many years. It also reflects the strength of experienced African leadership and its ability to guide established businesses towards new opportunities. It provides an opportunity to build on the strong foundations of the business, drawing on our longstanding experience and deep understanding of African energy markets. Our ambition remains to strengthen our activities in energy trading and infrastructure development across Africa.”

Mr. Diao noted that the transaction would not have been possible without the confidence and support of Afreximbank, whose involvement reflects confidence not only in the management team and the business, but also in the opportunities that Africa continues to offer. It further demonstrates the increasingly important role of African financial institutions in supporting established African businesses and enabling their continued development.

Commenting on the transaction, Dr. George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, said:

“This transaction advances Afreximbank’s mandate to drive the structural transformation of African economies. Through the Management Buy-Out of Oryx Energies SA’s trading and distribution business, we have secured a strategic platform to deepen Africa’s energy industrial ecosystem, strengthen energy infrastructure and capture more value from the continent’s abundant natural resources. It will also promote greater African ownership and participation in development by empowering local entrepreneurs, expanding local value creation, building capacity, creating jobs and retaining more economic value on the continent.”

HOEDSPRUIT, South Africa, October 27, 2026/APO Group/ –Radisson Hotel Group (www.RadissonHotels.com) announces that Radisson Safari Hotel Hoedspruit (https://apo-opa.co/4yF9TGF) has become Africa’s first Verified Net Zero hotel, marking a significant milestone in the transition towards more sustainable hospitality on the continent. The achievement demonstrates how an existing safari hotel can significantly reduce its environmental impact through changes across energy, dining, waste management, water conservation and responsible procurement, while maintaining the comfort and service guests expect.

 




 
 

Radisson Hotel Group’s Verified Net Zero (VNZ) Hotels program addresses carbon emissions across all three scopes, virtually eliminating Scope 1 (direct emissions) and Scope 2 (purchased energy) emissions, significantly reducing Scope 3 (value chain) emissions, and addressing residual emissions through carbon removal credits. Verified Net Zero hotels operate on 100% renewable energy and incorporate low-carbon dining and waste minimization practices, with independent third-party verification by TÜV Rheinland.

Located in South Africa’s Limpopo province, close to Kruger National Park and Blyde River Canyon, the 138-room hotel brings the program to a destination where the natural environment is central to the travel experience. Its transformation reflects Radisson Hotel Group’s approach to embedding sustainability into everyday hotel operations, from renewable-energy-powered guest rooms to the food served in its restaurants and M&E.

Tim Cordon, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East, Africa and South East Asia Pacific at Radisson Hotel Group, said: “Bringing our Verified Net Zero program to Africa is an important step in making lower-carbon hospitality a practical choice across more destinations. At Hoedspruit, the natural surroundings are a defining part of why guests visit, making this a particularly meaningful place to introduce the program. The hotel demonstrates how investment in renewable electricity, electrification and everyday operational changes can reduce environmental impact while maintaining a compelling guest experience. It also gives our owners and teams across Africa a practical example of how existing hotels can contribute to the transition toward net zero.”

Renewable electricity and electrified operations

The hotel combines on-site solar generation with renewable electricity procured through renewable guarantees of origin and, as of 2027, a solar wheeling agreement. Under this arrangement, a renewable energy supplier feeds solar-generated electricity into the national grid, with an equivalent contracted volume allocated to the hotel’s electricity consumption.

Electrification extends across key areas of the property. The kitchen makes extensive use of electric equipment. Heat pumps provide hot water for guest rooms, while electric golf carts and three-wheel utility vehicles support daily operations, helping eliminate fossil fuels.

Reducing waste and conserving water

The hotel recycles 100% of its wastewater through its own treatment plant, integrating water recovery into its daily operations. Waste separation and specialist recycling partnerships support its ambition to divert all waste from landfill. Shodulla Recycling handles materials including plastic, glass and paper, while Egg Brothers processes food waste through composting and worm-farming initiatives.

To minimize waste, bulk bathroom amenities reduce plastic consumption with containers returned to the supplier through a closed-loop recycling system that ensures 100% recycling and zero waste to landfill. Glass water bottles further reduce packaging waste, while additional amenities are provided on request to avoid unnecessary consumption.

Guests are also encouraged to support these efforts through towel reuse and flexible housekeeping options, helping conserve water and energy while reducing the use of cleaning products. The STAY e-concierge app will bring hotel information and guest requests into one digital platform, reducing printed materials in bedrooms and supporting more direct communication with the hotel team.

Lower-carbon dining and responsible sourcing

Working with food sustainability platform Klimato, the hotel is introducing carbon-labeled menus that help guests understand the emissions associated with their dining choices. Carbon-footprint data also supports the culinary team in reviewing ingredients and recipes, developing lower-carbon options and managing the impact of its food offering. Low-carbon options are given priority on menus and buffets.

The approach extends to supplier partnerships. Through Zanetti Collection, used Hausbrandt coffee bags are upcycled into reusable shopping bags by a local community sewing project, supporting employment and social programs. Compostable coffee capsules and Ronnefeldt tea products with recyclable packaging and compostable tea bags further support waste reduction.

Staff training, energy monitoring and preventative maintenance underpin these initiatives, making resource efficiency part of everyday decisions across housekeeping, engineering, food and beverage, and front office.

Inge Huijbrechts, Chief Sustainability & Security Officer at Radisson Hotel Group, said: “Verified Net Zero requires us to look beyond a hotel’s energy supply and address the wider footprint of its operations. Independent verification by TÜV Rheinland provides a consistent framework and gives guests, owners and corporate customers greater confidence in the hotel’s credentials. Bringing the program to Africa is an exciting proof that Verified Net Zero can work everywhere and strengthens our understanding of how to apply this approach across different destinations as we work toward 100 Verified Net Zero hotels by 2030.”

The Verified Net Zero program

Staying at Radisson Safari Hoedspruit, a Verified Net Zero Hotel, allows guests to experience how comfort, innovation and sustainability can come together in a safari destination. The comprehensive program addresses the carbon footprint of the hotel’s energy use, covering Scopes 1 and 2 as defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, alongside its operational and supply chain footprint under Scope 3.

The program follows a reduction-first approach. Scope 1 and 2 emissions are near-eliminated through electrification and renewable energy. Operational Scope 3 emissions are reduced through targeted changes across food and beverage, waste, laundry, amenities, procurement and hotel operations. At Hoedspruit, these measures include renewable electricity, electrified equipment, lower-carbon menus, recycling and composting, reduced packaging and more efficient use of resources.

Residual emissions that cannot yet be eliminated are addressed as a final step through carbon credits procured via Greentrade from the South Africa-based GRASS project. Independent verification by TÜV Rheinland assesses the hotel’s compliance with the Net Zero Methodology for Hotels, providing transparency and credibility.

With views of the Drakensberg Mountains, 138 rooms and suites including options with private pools, dining venues, spa facilities and meeting spaces, Radisson Safari Hoedspruit, a Verified Net Zero hotel brings the program to both leisure stays and business gatherings. Guests can explore the region’s wildlife and landscapes while staying at a hotel that embeds emissions reduction and resource efficiency into its operations.

The launch supports Radisson Hotel Group’s ambition to reach 100 Verified Net Zero hotels by 2030, extending a program already operating across the UK and Nordic markets to its first African destination.

For bookings and hotel details, visit Radisson Safari Hoedspruit on www.RadissonHotels.com (https://apo-opa.co/4yOcJcC)

Download high-resolution images of Radisson Safari Hoedspruit (https://apo-opa.co/4iHYkcX).

FACT BOX

Field	Details
Hotel name	Radisson Safari Hoedspruit, a Verified Net Zero Hotel
Brand	Radisson, part of Radisson Hotel Group
Opening date	February 1, 2024; Verified Net Zero launch: October 2026
Address	Radisson Entrance Circle, R527, Hoedspruit, 1380, Limpopo, South Africa
Location	Two kilometers outside Hoedspruit; close to Kruger National Park and Blyde River Canyon
Nearest airport(s)	Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport: approximately 20 minutes by car
Category	Safari hotel
Rooms	138 rooms and suites, including suites with private pools
Dining & Bars	Local and international dining; Pegasus and Mirage Restaurants
Wellness & Leisure	Spa, fitness center and two swimming pools
Meetings	Meeting spaces; 5 different meetings venues including comfortable boardrooms, medium-sized meeting rooms, and a main banquet hall that can accommodate up to 200 guests.
Best for	Leisure, wellness, meetings and incentive travel
Key features	Drakensberg Mountain views; safari experiences; private-pool suites
Sustainability	Verified Net Zero hotel. Renewable electricity; electrified kitchen and utility vehicles; wastewater recycling; low-carbon and carbon-labeled menus, minimal waste operations.
Booking URL	For bookings and hotel details, visit Radisson Safari Hoedspruit on www.RadissonHotels.com (https://apo-opa.co/4yOcJcC)
Media assets	Download high-resolution images of Radisson Safari Hoedspruit (https://apo-opa.co/4iHYkcX).