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DLA Piper Reaffirms Africa-Focus with Two Projects Partner Appointments

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DLA Piper

The two appointments immediately follow that of fellow London-based Projects Partner Iain Elder who joined the firm from Shearman & Sterling

LONDON, United Kingdom, December 2, 2022/APO Group/ — 

DLA Piper (https://www.DLAPiper.com) has further strengthened its international projects capability reinforcing its commitment to its Africa practice with the appointment of two London-based partners, Titus Eduja and Karim Maalioun.

Titus joins most recently from Watson Farley & Williams where he was a Partner for 3.5 years, and prior to that Clifford Chance. Born in Cameroon and fluent in English and French, Titus brings significant global experience in energy and natural resources projects with a focus on Africa and the emerging markets including in particular Arabophone and Francophone Africa. His work spans all aspects of project development and finance where he advises on conventional and renewable power, mining, gas, infrastructure, brownfield and greenfield projects, as well as general financing and commercial transactions. His clients include commercial banks, multilateral and bilateral financial institutions, sponsors, developers and government and state-owned entities. His expertise extends to policy, regulatory and governance advice, including advising the boards of a number of major African multilateral institutions.

The recent investments that DLA Piper has made in growing its truly international projects team make for an exciting time to be joining

Karim, who joins the firm from Fasken, has an international practice spanning the Projects space having advised purchasers, vendors, lenders, developers, and equity investors on complex large-scale projects and transactions. An expert in complex power (renewable and thermal), mining, and water, Karim has notable experience in engaging with African Governments, Government and financial institutions, and indigenous communities providing legal and policy advice, in particular addressing cost-effective and sustainable energy and mining policy. His appointment further expands a team that is regularly servicing clients across the Middle East and Africa on high profile and value matters. Karim is often quoted and ranked as one of the most influential lawyers in Francophone Africa.

The two appointments immediately follow that of fellow London-based Projects Partner Iain Elder who joined the firm from Shearman & Sterling. The trio add significant market capability and considerable bench strength in the African and the emerging markets energy, natural resources and infrastructure projects space. They mark the latest in a run of strategic hires for the growing international group over the last twelve months with Russell Wilkinson, Crystal Chen and Owen Alcorn joining in Asia Pacific, and Caroline Hoste joining in Belgium.

Colin Wilson, Partner and Head of International Projects at DLA Piper, comments: “Our recent appointments are part of a clear and deliberate strategy to provide our clients a diverse team capable of addressing the increasingly global needs of our projects clients both in Africa and internationally. Titus and Karim both bring unique and impressive experience across both conventional and renewable projects and infrastructure projects in the Anglophone, Arabophone and Francophone markets. Their significant, and culturally minded expertise bolsters our international team’s African capability ensuring we are well placed to help our clients navigate this incredibly exciting time in the region”.

Titus Eduja, Partner at DLA Piper, comments: “The recent investments that DLA Piper has made in growing its truly international projects team make for an exciting time to be joining. The firm is working on some cutting-edge projects and this, coupled with its ability to offer clients a single team that brings together the best in international expertise and local market presence, experience and understanding really appealed to me. As lawyers I believe we have a significant opportunity to contribute to the future growth and development of Africa’s energy and natural resources sector, particularly as it strives to transition to a more sustainable future, and I look forward to working with my colleagues and clients to realise this ambition.”

Karim Maalioun, Partner at DLA Piper, comments: “I’m delighted to join DLA Piper, and its unique and sophisticated international platform. The firm has an impressive track record in the key business sectors that are driving the frontier markets’ development, and African economies in particular. I look forward to providing clients with a one-stop projects solution, drawing on the combined capabilities and network of the international firm, and in-particular its 20 offices across Africa”.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of DLA Piper.

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Ministers among hundreds of energy-sector leaders to attend AOW event

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Sinclair

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

AOW: Investing in African Energy (https://AOWEnergy.com) – Africa’s leading oil, gas and energy event – has confirmed attendance for more than 80 ministers and senior officials, representing African governments, energy departments and regulators at next month’s event.

These influential stakeholders will be among the more than 1 600 senior delegates and industry leaders who will be attending the event to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa’s energy future.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.”

Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention

Among the officials and government ministers attending will be energy leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda, CAR, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Zanzibar, Liberia, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.

In addition, the event will feature high-level delegations from numerous national oil companies, as well as multilateral bodies including the African Union, (AU), African Energy Commission (AFREC), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

AOW will see these energy leaders networking with C-suite executives and decision-makers from more than 760 top energy companies at daily networking events, to discuss insights, forge new relationships, and negotiate major energy deals.

“We are so excited to see the calibre of delegates at this year’s AOW event,” says Chief Executive Officer of Sankofa Events, Paul Sinclair. “Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention. The high-powered attendance proves AOW is a key platform to enable this intervention.”

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s AOW will be sustainable upstream development; expanding gas value chains; renewables and new energies; adoption of best-in-class technologies; and access to finance.

AOW: Investing in African Energy will culminate in a special anniversary party at Groot Constantia Vineyard to celebrate 30 years of the AOW event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

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Afreximbank approves US$20.8 million for Starlink Global’s cashew factory project in Lagos

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PAPSS

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs

CAIRO, Egypt, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$20.8 million financing facility for Nigeria-based Starlink Global & Ideal Limited to enable the company construct and operate a 30,000-metric tonne per annum cashew processing factory in Lagos.

We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria

According to the facility agreement signed in on July 22, 2024, Afreximbank will provide the funds in two tranches with the first tranche of US$7.48M going toward capital expenditure for the construction of the factory and the second, totalling US$13.25M to be deployed as working capital for the operations of the factory.

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs once the factory becomes operational. It is also expected to support about 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that by supporting Starlink Global to establish a modern processing facility, Afreximbank is making it possible for Africa to add value to its agro-commodities, thereby facilitating exports and subsequent inflow of much-needed foreign exchange into the continent.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria. It will contribute to value creation and to the development of the local community while also improving the lots of smallholder farmers and small business suppliers that will work with Starlink across the value chain,” Mrs. Awani added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Sonangol to Lead Decarbonized Oil & Gas (O&G) Development, Says Angolan National Oil Company (NOC) Head

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Sonangol

Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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