CAPE TOWN, South Africa, August 21, 2026/APO Group/ –The US-Africa Energy & Investment Forum at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, taking place from October 12–16 in Cape Town, will convene senior government and industry leaders to examine how the United States and African energy producers can deepen commercial partnerships, unlock new capital flows and create a more competitive investment environment. The high-level discussion will focus on technology transfer, project financing and strategies for powering Africa’s next phase of growth while advancing global energy security.

 




  

The forum comes at a time of significant expansion in American development finance capacity on the continent. The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), the government’s primary tool for catalyzing private investment in emerging markets, saw its investment cap raised from $60 billion to $205 billion following Congressional reauthorization in late 2025. Congress also created a $5 billion equity revolving fund to support higher-risk investments in markets with limited access to debt financing. Sub-Saharan Africa is the second-largest region in DFC’s global portfolio, with more than $10 billion in exposure, and the agency expanded its strategic scope in 2025 to include oil and gas infrastructure alongside critical minerals and clean energy.

DFC CEO Ben Black has framed the continent as central to American economic strategy. Speaking at the Atlantic Council in April 2026, Black said the future of global growth and supply chains will run through Africa, citing the continent’s expanding workforce, consumer markets and reserves of critical minerals as drivers of long-term commercial opportunity. In February, the DFC board approved a new slate of strategic energy and mineral investments across Africa, and the agency partnered with U.S. investment firm Orion and Abu Dhabi-based ADQ to launch the $1.8 billion Orion Critical Mineral Consortium, with plans to scale the vehicle to $5 billion.

U.S. government-backed capital will find in Africa an energy economy with immense but lucrative investment gaps. Africa accounts for nearly a fifth of the world’s population yet generates just 4% of global electricity, and the IEA estimates that annual investment in electricity grids alone needs to triple to $40 billion per year by 2030.

Capital is also flowing into upstream oil and gas, LNG infrastructure, critical mineral extraction and refining capacity across the continent. The forum will examine how US commercial partnerships, development finance tools and technology transfer can help close these gaps and convert Africa’s resource base into bankable projects that serve both continental and global energy security.

“The DFC is better resourced than it has ever been, making this an opportune moment for African operators to make their case. This forum is about making sure the capital and the projects actually find each other,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

The US-Africa Energy & Investment Forum takes place as part of African Energy Week 2026, October 12–16 at the Cape Town International Convention Center

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 21, 2026/APO Group/ –Venezuela is opening its hydrocarbon value chain to greater private investment as new regulations create opportunities spanning upstream development, field commercialization and petrochemicals, with the government seeking to attract capital across the sector and establish a more efficient, sustainable investment environment.

 




  

Speaking at the Venezuela Energy Week Industry Showcase in Houston on August 19, Minister of Hydrocarbons Paula Henao said the regulatory reforms have expanded opportunities for investors from upstream production through commercialization, while petrochemicals represent another significant area for development and production.

“We have just passed a new regulations reform that has given Venezuela opportunities for investment across the entire value chain from upstream to commercialization,” Minister Henao said, adding, “In the petrochemical sector, we have opportunities for development and production.”

The January reform and July implementing regulations have materially expanded private participation, allowing private companies to undertake primary activities through new contractual structures while giving minority partners in mixed enterprises greater operational responsibilities. The framework also introduces international arbitration and stronger economic-equilibrium protections.

Minister Henao said greater privatization would allow Venezuela to promote its fields to more prospective investors and improve commercialization, creating opportunities for companies seeking exposure to the country’s substantial underdeveloped resource base and its broader energy infrastructure requirements.

“With a stronger privatization of the sector, we have the opportunity to commercialize and promote our fields to more interested parties. This gives us a lot of advantages and maximizes our efficiency,” she said.

Venezuela is targeting a major production recovery from approximately 1.25 million barrels per day (bpd) toward a longer-term 3-million-bpd objective, requiring investment in mature-field rehabilitation, technology, oilfield services and production infrastructure.

Minister Henao stressed that this investment must extend beyond individual fields, with stronger supply chains needed to sustain production and improve project profitability. The government is therefore seeking capital across the broader ecosystem supporting upstream and downstream operations.

The Houston Showcase forms part of Venezuela’s international investment drive ahead of Venezuela Energy Week, organized by Energy Capital & Power, taking place in Caracas from February 22–25, 2027. The event will bring together government leaders, investors and industry stakeholders from across the global energy value chain.

To sponsor and exhibit visit, https://apo-opa.co/4zwv1As

CAIRO, Egypt, August 24, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) and its subsidiaries (“the Group”) delivered a strong financial performance for the six months ended 30 June 2026, underscoring the resilience of its business model and continued support towards trade and economic development activities across Africa and the Caribbean.

 




  

The Group’s total assets and contingencies increased by 7.8% to US$52.3 billion, up from US$48.5 billion at 31 December 2025. This growth was primarily driven by expansion in the Bank’s lending activities, with net loans and advances increasing by 5.7% to US$35.4 billion, compared with US$33.5 billion at the end of 2025.

Afreximbank maintained sound asset quality, with the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of  2.20% at the end of the first half of 2026 compared to 2.43% at year-end 2025, reflecting prudent risk management.

The Group also maintained a sound liquidity position, with liquid assets accounting for 13% of total assets, comfortably within its strategic target range of 10% to 15%.

Shareholders’ funds increased to US$8.5 billion from US$8.4 billion at the end of 2025, supported by US$534.7 million in internally generated profits, and US$13.9 million in new equity raised during the period.

The Group recorded a significant increase in earnings, with net interest income rising by 22% to US$1.0 billion, compared with US$0.84 billion during the corresponding period in 2025. In addition, fee and commission income increased by 15% to US$71.1 million, up from US$61.9 million in H1’2025, supported by higher fees earned from guarantees, letters of credit and advisory services.

As a result, net income reached US$534.7 million, representing a 30% increase from US$412.7 million recorded in the first half of 2025.

Profitability indicators showed further improvement, with return on average shareholders’ equity rising to 13%, compared with 11% in H1’2025, while return on average assets increased to 2.54% from 2.22% over the same period.

Operational efficiency remained strong, with the cost-to-income ratio at a healthy level of 20% compared to 19% for H1’2025, despite higher personnel expenses and persistent inflationary pressures.

Further strengthening its funding profile, Afreximbank successfully completed a US$1.5 billion dual-tranche bond issuance after the reporting period. The transaction, the largest international debt capital markets issuance in the Bank’s history, comprised a US$750 million 5.5-year tranche and a US$750 million 10-year tranche. The offering was approximately two times oversubscribed, highlighting strong investor confidence and reinforcing the Bank’s capacity to support its strategic growth objectives.

Highlights of the results for Afreximbank Group are shown below:

Financial Performance Metrics	H1’2026	H1’2025
Gross Income (US$ billion)	1.8	1.6
Net Income (US$ million)	534.7	412.7
Return on average equity (ROAE)	13%	11%
Return on average assets (ROAA)	2.54%	2.22%
Cost-to-income ratio	20%	19%

 

Financial Position Metrics	H1’2026	FY’2025
Total Assets (US$ billion)	43.4	42.3
Total Liabilities (US$ billion)	34.8	33.9
Shareholders’ Funds (US$ billion)	8.5	8.3
Non-performing loans ratio (NPL)	2.20%	2.43%
Liquidity position	13%	15%
Capital Adequacy ratio (Basel II)	22%	23%

 

 

Mr. Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s Senior Executive Vice President, commented:

“Our financial performance and strong position reflect the continued resilience of the Group at a time when our member countries are navigating a particularly complex global environment. Our healthy balance sheet gives us the capacity to respond when markets are disrupted, while continuing to finance the trade, industrialisation and investment that underpin longer-term economic resilience. The expansion of our lending, the strength of our asset quality and our continued access to diversified funding enable us to remain responsive to immediate challenges while supporting the structural transformation of African and Caribbean economies.”