Her participation comes as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration continues to implement an ambitious energy reform agenda aimed at reversing years of underinvestment, improving project economics and restoring Nigeria’s position as one of Africa’s leading destinations for oil, gas and infrastructure capital.

Since taking office in 2023, the administration has prioritized measures to improve investor confidence, including the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, reforms to strengthen regulatory efficiency and a series of executive actions designed to accelerate investment across the upstream sector. The government has also focused on improving the commercial performance of NNPC, transitioning the national oil company toward a more investment-oriented operating model and expanding partnerships with international operators.

These reforms are supporting renewed momentum across Nigeria’s upstream sector in 2026, with major international operators advancing new investments across deepwater oil and gas developments. ExxonMobil and its partners are moving forward with a $1 billion investment in the Usan Infill Project, expected to add approximately 40,000 barrels per day of production, while Shell continues to expand its deepwater and integrated gas portfolio through projects including Bonga North and the HI gas development. Bonga North is expected to deliver up to 110,000 barrels per day at peak production, while the HI project is designed to supply 350 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to Nigeria LNG. These investments reflect growing confidence in Nigeria’s resource base and highlight opportunities for further capital deployment across offshore development, gas infrastructure and energy services.

With approximately 200 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves, Nigeria is seeking to accelerate gas commercialization through LNG expansion, industrial projects, gas processing and gas-to-power initiatives. Projects including the Nigeria LNG Train 7 expansion, alongside broader efforts to strengthen domestic gas supply infrastructure, are expected to play a key role in improving energy security, supporting industrial growth and expanding Nigeria’s position in global gas markets. Recent developments are also highlighting growing momentum around indigenous-led gas projects, including UTM Offshore’s 15-year gas supply agreement with a joint venture between NNPC and Seplat Energy to supply 200 million standard cubic feet per day of gas from the Yoho field for Nigeria’s first indigenous floating LNG project.

Nigeria’s downstream sector is also entering a new phase following the ramp-up of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which has the capacity to process 650,000 barrels per day and is expected to reduce reliance on imported refined products while creating new opportunities across logistics, trading and energy infrastructure.

“Nigeria has the resources, market scale and entrepreneurial strength to lead Africa’s next era of energy investment,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “The reforms underway under President Tinubu’s administration are focused on making the sector more competitive, improving investor confidence and ensuring that Nigeria captures greater value from its oil, gas and power resources. AEW 2026 provides a critical platform to connect these reforms with the investors, companies and partners needed to deliver growth.”

As Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Verheijen has been closely involved in advancing Nigeria’s energy priorities, including investment promotion, sector coordination and policy implementation. Her participation at AEW 2026 will provide stakeholders with insight into Nigeria’s strategy for unlocking capital and accelerating development across the energy value chain.

Organized as a flagship feature of AEW 2026, the Venezuela Global Investment Forum underscores the growing momentum behind the country’s energy sector reforms and its renewed engagement with international investors. More than a traditional conference session, the Forum will connect investors directly with bankable upstream, natural gas, infrastructure and power opportunities by showcasing Venezuelan projects alongside some of Africa’s largest energy developments in the AEW Deal Room.

Following sweeping reforms to the country’s Organic Hydrocarbons Law earlier this year, Venezuela has introduced one of its most comprehensive investment overhauls in decades. The reforms expand opportunities for private operators, establish new production participation contracts, introduce more competitive fiscal terms and strengthen international arbitration mechanisms aimed at reducing investment risk and restoring confidence among international capital providers.

“Venezuela is opening a new chapter for its energy industry. The reforms underway are creating a more competitive and attractive investment environment and the Venezuela Global Investment Forum at AEW 2026 provides the ideal platform for international investors to engage directly with decision-makers and explore the opportunities emerging across the country’s oil, gas, infrastructure and power sectors,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.

These reforms are already reshaping the investment landscape. The government is targeting crude production of 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd) by the end of 2026 after output recovered to approximately 1.2 million bpd during the first half of the year. Beyond oil production, Venezuela is advancing a broader strategy centered on natural gas monetization, offshore development, infrastructure rehabilitation and power sector modernization, creating opportunities across the entire energy value chain.

Throughout the Forum, delegates will hear directly from ministers, senior government officials, national oil company executives, international operators, development finance institutions, commodity traders and technical leaders responsible for implementing Venezuela’s new investment framework. Discussions will focus on expanding upstream investment, accelerating natural gas development, modernizing infrastructure and creating long-term partnerships that support Venezuela’s renewed role in global energy markets.

The forum also reinforces the strategic relationship between AEW 2026 and Venezuela Energy Week, which will take place in Caracas from February 22-25, 2027. Together, the two events form a coordinated international investment campaign that begins by introducing global investors to Venezuela’s reformed investment environment in Cape Town before continuing in Caracas, where commercial negotiations, technical engagement and project execution will move toward final investment decisions.

As global energy markets continue to prioritize supply security, infrastructure investment and new sources of production growth, Venezuela is positioning itself to re-establish its role as a major international energy supplier. Through the Venezuela Global Investment Forum at AEW 2026, investors will gain an unparalleled opportunity to engage with the country’s new investment framework, evaluate commercially attractive projects and build partnerships that support Venezuela’s return to global energy markets while strengthening cooperation between Africa and Latin America.

The February 2027 timeframe reflects growing international investor interest in Venezuela’s hydrocarbons sector, with the summit building on outreach efforts that are translating commercial momentum into investment opportunities across upstream development, infrastructure modernization, gas monetization and downstream expansion. The event is expected to serve as the venue for the signing of key commercial agreements that will help advance investment and project development across Venezuela’s energy sector. Recent hydrocarbon reforms introduced in July 2026 have further shaped this investment landscape, strengthening the framework for private-sector participation and creating greater clarity around commercial opportunities for international partners.

“The decision to bring Venezuela Energy Week to February 2027 reflects the growing interest from international investors and industry partners in Venezuela’s energy sector. This event is designed to accelerate investment, strengthen strategic partnerships and convert market interest into tangible projects that support the country’s long-term energy development,” said Paula Henao, Minister of Hydrocarbons of Venezuela.

Officially supported by Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA, Venezuela Energy Week 2027 will bring together U.S., Venezuelan and international oil companies, investors, financiers and service providers to advance investment discussions and commercial agreements across one of the world’s largest hydrocarbon resource bases.

Since the event was first announced, Venezuela Energy Week has expanded its engagement with the international energy community. The London Industry Showcase, held in July 2026, strengthened investor engagement around opportunities in Venezuela’s energy sector, while the upcoming Houston Industry Showcase continues to build commercial interest among U.S. energy companies, service providers and technical partners ahead of the February summit.

Venezuela holds more than 300 billion barrels of proven oil reserves – the largest globally – alongside more than 195 trillion cubic feet of natural gas resources. With production now recovering to 1.2 million barrels per day, the country is pursuing a long-term strategy to further restore output through phased investment, field rehabilitation and increased private-sector participation.

The investment opportunity is supported by significant brownfield potential across Venezuela’s major producing regions, including the Orinoco Oil Belt, Maracaibo Basin and Eastern Venezuela Basin. Opportunities span mature field redevelopment, enhanced recovery programs, drilling campaigns, heavy crude upgrading and infrastructure modernization.

Beyond upstream development, Venezuela Energy Week 2027 will highlight opportunities across refining, logistics, storage and gas infrastructure. Underutilized refining capacity, constrained midstream systems and significant natural gas resources create potential entry points for companies seeking to support the modernization of Venezuela’s energy value chain. Offshore developments such as the Dragon and Cocuina-Manakin fields represent potential growth areas for regional gas supply and future LNG opportunities, while expanded gas capture, processing and transportation infrastructure will be critical to maximizing the value of Venezuela’s resources.

As global energy markets continue to prioritize supply security and access to large-scale resources, Venezuela Energy Week 2027 is positioned to serve as a catalyst for investment, bringing together government leaders, investors and industry executives to convert commercial interest into long-term energy projects.

The summit is organized by Energy Capital & Power.

Supporting Venezuela’s Earthquake Recovery

Our thoughts are with the people and communities affected by the recent earthquakes in Venezuela. As the country begins the long process of recovery, we encourage members of the global energy community to support relief and reconstruction efforts through the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela, which channels contributions from individuals, companies and organizations to emergency assistance, essential services and long-term rebuilding efforts.

To learn more or make a contribution, please visit the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela (https://apo-opa.co/4hE4ACL).