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

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, August 21, 2026/APO Group/ –The organisers of the DRC Critical Minerals & Industrialisation Forum (DCMI), co‑located with the DRC‑Africa Battery Metals Forum, have announced the first dates of its exclusive, upcoming, high-impact digital webinar series.

While the event was meant to take place in Kinshasa from 7 to 8 October, the event organisers, VUKA Group, postponed the in-person Forum to 2027 to align directly with the DRC Government’s updated national policy frameworks and to allow the revised roadmaps for the $58 billion Master Plan for Industrialisation (Plan Directeur d’Industrialisation, PDI) to mature.

 




  

The digital webinar series will kick off on 23 September and run until 2027, providing convenient access to the insights, market intelligence and strategic discussions planned for the live event.

Expert speakers and moderators confirmed to participate in these webinars include:
– Edmond Cibamba Diata, Lawyer, Elite Law Firm, DRC 
– Shantha Bloemen, CEO, Mobility for Africa, Zimbabwe
– Bryan Mav, Sales Team Manager & Brand Manager, Moderne Construction, DRC
– Ghislain Kabumba Baderha, Doctoral Researcher, UOB, DRC
– Jem Kishabaga, Managing Director, Renewable Energy, DRC
– Prof. Hercule Kalele Mulonda, Technical Director, CCB and Representative of CAEB, DRC
– Marc Nyunzi Mutambala, Capital Markets Manager, FSD Africa, Kenya

The first four editions of the digital webinar series will focus on the following:

Webinar 1: 23 September 2026, 10h30–12h00

UNLOCKING THE DRC’S INDUSTRIAL POTENTIAL:  The A-to-Z masterclass strategy

The DRC masterclass examines how the nation can harness its mineral wealth for sustainable growth and industrialization. Experts will discuss policies to move beyond raw exports, enforce security and strengthen ESG standards. Priorities include local beneficiation, human capital development and tailored financing to balance global markets. By defining collaborative actions and investment pathways, the session seeks to accelerate value addition, enhance competitiveness and position the DRC as a responsible global leader in the minerals value chain.

Webinar 2: 21 October 2026, 10h30–12h00

FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE & INDUSTRIALISATION DEVELOPMENT

The panel on infrastructure and industrialisation highlights the DRC’s need to move beyond raw material extraction by focusing on local transformation. Building resilient industries will drive job creation and strengthen the economy. Experts will examine how transport, energy and logistics projects accelerate industrialisation, with case studies such as ports, railways and cross‑border initiatives. By prioritising strategic development and leveraging mineral revenues, the DRC can unlock sustainable growth and position itself as a competitive hub within the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Webinar 3: 11 November 2026, 10h30–12h00

NEW TECHNOLOGIES DRIVING THE GLOBAL ENERGY TRANSITION

This session explores how technology and ESG‑aligned investment can transform the DRC’s critical minerals sector. With global demand for lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper rising, responsible sourcing and compliance are essential to build investor confidence. Discussions will focus on local processing, advanced metallurgical methods, renewable energy and automation to accelerate industrialisation. By shifting from raw exports to in‑country beneficiation, the DRC can strengthen sustainability, unlock long‑term value and position itself as a competitive player in the global energy transition.

Webinar 4: 25 November 2026, 10h30–12h00

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS: BUILDING A STRONGER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE CRITICAL MINERALS VALUE CHAIN

This discussion explores how strategic partnerships can strengthen the DRC’s critical minerals value chain. By fostering collaboration between governments, regional integration systems and investors, the focus is on building resilience and supporting sustainable growth. Key themes include industrialisation through global partnerships, prioritising sectors for development and aligning with international partners. With effective models of cooperation, the DRC can unlock socio‑economic benefits, enhance competitiveness and establish a stronger foundation for a sustainable and inclusive minerals sector.

DRC’s transition
DCMI unites government, industry and investors to accelerate the country’s transition from raw‑material extraction to high‑value manufacturing, underscoring the nation’s opportunity to convert mineral wealth into infrastructure, jobs and sustainable economic growth.

The DRC’s Ministries of Mines and of Industry and Federation of Enterprises of Congo (FEC) are official partners of the event.

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.

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