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Gabon’s Downstream Industry Sees String of New Investments

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Gabon

With several of its large fields in decline, Gabon is prioritizing the establishment of a diversified energy sector that increases domestic refining capacity, reduces importation levels and achieves self-sufficiency in petroleum products

LIBREVILLE, Gabon, May 2, 2023/APO Group/ — 

Since the birth of Gabon’s petroleum sector, the country’s downstream industries have languished in the shadow of its more prolific upstream operations. Yet a slew of recent investments in refining, gas-to-power and associated infrastructure means that Gabon’s downstream industries are finally coming of age, with profound implications for the country’s export revenues, access to petroleum products, and current and future energy matrices.

Crude oil from a few large but maturing fields has traditionally accounted for the majority of Gabon’s government revenues, little of which has been reinvested in refining and downstream infrastructure. Despite its hydrocarbon wealth, Gabon imports roughly 45% of its refined petroleum products (primarily from Europe), driving up state expenditures and the cost of living for its citizens. After a failed attempt to merge upstream and downstream capabilities within national oil company Gabon Oil Company (GOC) in 2019, several state-run downstream companies were left to operate independently from 2020. These include the Gabonese Company for the Storage of Petroleum Products (SGEPP) and Gabon Oil Downstream, which is responsible for retail. But the cornerstone of Gabon’s downstream ecosystem is the Gabonese Refining Company (SOGARA), which was taken over by the government in 1973, having previously served as a refining hub for the entire West African region.

SOGARA runs the country’s only refinery located in the oil and gas hub of Port Gentil. This is connected via an 18-km pipeline to the Cap Lopez Oil Terminal, which accumulates production from nearby producing fields run by Perenco, BW Offshore, VAALCO Energy, TotalEnergies and Assala Energy. Current refining capacity stands at 1.2 million tons of crude oil per year, which produces around 55% of the country’s refined petroleum products consumption in the form of diesel, kerosene, butane and unleaded gasoline. Yet output remains limited relative to the size of Gabon’s oil industry, with the refinery operating at a loss and subsidized by the government.

Crude oil from a few large but maturing fields has traditionally accounted for the majority of Gabon’s government revenues

As a result, SOGARA plans to expand its processing capacity to 1.5 million tons per year with the addition of a hydrocracking unit, which is expected to increase domestic production of diesel and butane, eliminate the need for subsidies and allow the company to turn a profit for the first time. This expansion coincides with projected increases in output of Gabon’s famously light, sweet Rabi crude variety for which the refinery is designed, while heavier varieties, like Mandji, will be exported as crude.

Bolstering Gabon’s downstream future is the newfound potential for gas production and associated industries. Anglo-Swiss company Perenco has been leading the country’s major gas infrastructure projects to date, reaching a final investment decision last February on its one-billion-dollar Cap de Lopez LNG facility, which will produce up to 700,000 tons of LNG and 20,000 tons of butane when it comes online in 2026. This will complement the 15,000 tons of butane set to be produced from the company’s LPG plant in Batanga, which is currently under construction and expected to achieve first gas later this year. Last April, Perenco also signed an MOU with Gabon Power Company for the construction of a gas-fired power plant in Mayumba, which will recover associated gas from offshore fields through a 35-km gas line. The plant will initially provide 21 MW (to be increased to 50 MW in its second phase) to electrify several of Gabon’s remote southern provinces. Harnessing the power of Gabon’s natural gas reserves will have wide-ranging economic implications, as energy-intensive industries like mining, manufacturing, steel and petrochemicals become feasible even in underdeveloped parts of the country. An increase in ammonia and urea fertilizer production – manufactured directly from natural gas – would also be a boon to local farming and help offset Gabon’s costly food imports.

Finally, Gabon’s mid- and downstream ambitions are extending beyond its borders with the development of the Central African Pipeline System (CAPS), for which a coalition of Central African nations signed an MOU last September. Connecting Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Chad, the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), CAPS represents a 6,500-km oil and gas pipeline network with connections to LNG terminals, storage depots, power plants, and refineries to meet regional demand for electricity and refined petroleum products. If current feasibility studies are favorable, the project could connect up to 125 billion barrels of crude oil and 1.6 trillion cubic feet of natural gas reserves with the global economy by 2030, positioning Gabon at the center of a major regional downstream hub.

All this and more will be further unpacked in Energy Capital & Power’s (www.EnergyCapitalPower.com) upcoming market report, Energy Invest Gabon. Keep following for more information about this exciting report!

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

Business

Liberia to Preview Next Oil & Gas Licensing Round Strategy at Houston Investor Day

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The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority will host operators, investors and partners in Houston on August 19 to preview future licensing opportunities and showcase the exploration potential of its offshore basins

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) will present its strategy for the country’s next offshore licensing round at Liberia Investor Day Houston on August 19, bringing together international exploration companies, investors, service providers and energy leaders to discuss the next phase of Liberia’s upstream development.

Hosted in partnership with Energy Capital & Power, the event will provide a platform for the LPRA, led by Director General Hon. Marilyn T. Logan, to outline Liberia’s regulatory framework, investment priorities and plans to attract new participation across the country’s offshore sector. Discussions will focus on upcoming licensing opportunities, exploration prospects and the subsurface data supporting future investment decisions.

Liberia’s offshore sector is entering a new phase of exploration activity, with renewed international participation and a growing pipeline of opportunities. Following the award and ratification of eight Production Sharing Contracts in 2025, Liberia has re-established itself as a frontier exploration destination, with international operators advancing work programs designed to further evaluate the country’s petroleum potential. TotalEnergies is progressing exploration activities that include offshore geochemical surveys, 3D seismic acquisition and seabed mapping, while Oranto Petroleum has also signed contracts to explore Liberia’s offshore.

At the Liberia Investor Day Houston, the LPRA will provide industry stakeholders with insight into the priorities shaping the next licensing round, including the anticipated process, qualification requirements, available acreage and access to technical data. The engagement will give prospective investors a clearer view of Liberia’s exploration landscape and the opportunities emerging across its offshore basins.

The event will also facilitate direct dialogue between LPRA and the global upstream community, connecting companies with policymakers and industry stakeholders involved in shaping Liberia’s next chapter of petroleum development.

As exploration companies continue to seek new frontier opportunities, Liberia Investor Day Houston will highlight the role of regulatory certainty, data availability and strategic partnerships in unlocking long-term investment across Liberia’s offshore sector.

Registration is now open for attendees. Companies interested in Liberia’s emerging offshore opportunities are invited to join LPRA, investors and upstream leaders in Houston for insights into the country’s licensing strategy and exploration outlook. For more information contact info@energycapitalpower.com.

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

 

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Beyond Stabroek: Guyana’s Offshore Basin Attracts New Wave of Exploration Investment

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Etu Energias

As ExxonMobil advances appraisal activity in Stabroek and new operators target frontier acreage, Guyana is attracting global capital and building a diversified offshore portfolio designed to sustain long-term growth

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –Guyana’s transformation into one of the world’s fastest-growing oil producers is entering a new phase, with a growing network of IOCs expanding exploration activity across the country’s offshore basin. Beyond the landmark discoveries that first put Guyana on the global energy map, new drilling campaigns and licensing partnerships are creating a broader exploration ecosystem designed to support long-term production growth.

At the center of this momentum is ExxonMobil’s continued exploration and appraisal activity in the prolific Stabroek Block. The company has submitted a proposal for a 35-well exploration and appraisal drilling campaign, expected to run from 2028 through 2033, pending regulatory approval. The program would build on more than 30 commercial discoveries already made in the block, with drilling activity focused on evaluating new prospects and appraising existing discoveries to support future development opportunities.

Exploration activity is also extending into Guyana’s frontier acreage, with ExxonMobil advancing drilling operations at the deepwater Canje Block. The company has deployed the Noble Stena Carron drillship for exploration activity, highlighting continued industry interest in evaluating Guyana’s underexplored offshore potential beyond the established Stabroek Block.

Guyana’s strong exploration outlook comes as the country’s economy continues to benefit from rapid oil sector expansion, with hydrocarbons expected to remain a key driver of exports, government revenues and economic growth. As production scales up, attracting additional investment across exploration, services and infrastructure will be critical to supporting the next phase of development.

That momentum is being reinforced through partnerships established under Guyana’s 2023 offshore licensing round. A consortium comprising TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and Petronas is advancing exploration activities in Block S4 under a five-year production sharing agreement signed with the government in late 2025. The award represents one of the first major outcomes of the licensing round and demonstrates continued international confidence in Guyana’s offshore resource potential.

Beyond the largest operators, a diverse group of companies is also expanding activity across Guyana’s offshore basin. Eco Atlantic is advancing exploration at the Orinduik Block; CGX Energy and Frontera Energy are progressing work in the Corentyne Block; Occidental is evaluating opportunities in the Roraima Block; while Ratio Guyana and Cataleya Energy hold interests in the Kaieteur Block. Together, these partnerships are broadening Guyana’s exploration landscape, increasing competition for acreage and creating opportunities for future discoveries.

As Guyana transitions from an emerging producer to a global energy hub, the next challenge will be converting exploration success into sustainable investment, local value creation and regional growth. These opportunities will be explored at Caribbean Energy Week 2027, held under the theme “Unlocking the Caribbean Energy Corridor: Oil, Gas, LNG & Investment for a New Global Hub.” Bringing together governments, IOCs, investors and technology providers, the event will examine how Guyana’s expanding partnerships can accelerate offshore development, strengthen regional energy cooperation and attract the capital needed to support the Caribbean’s evolving energy landscape.

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

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Energy Capital & Power Establishes London Entity, Expanding Global Platform for Energy and Mining Events

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Energy

The move strengthens ECP’s presence in the UK and Europe, and its ability to connect African and South American markets with global investors

LONDON, United Kingdom, August 6, 2026/APO Group/ –International events company Energy Capital & Power (ECP) (www.EnergyCapitalPower.com) has officially established its UK entity in London, marking a milestone in the company’s growth strategy and reinforcing its ability to deliver world-class energy and mining events and campaigns in the UK and Europe.

By establishing a presence in a key hub like London – the pre-eminent energy and mining finance center – ECP actively shapes the global energy conversation. The expansion positions ECP to better serve clients, partners and investors seeking to develop business opportunities between Africa, Europe, the Americas and energy markets worldwide.

Opening our UK company brings ECP closer to key investors in the global energy finance capital

The milestone comes as ECP strengthens its reach through a series of investment platforms that connect global capital to energy and mining projects. These include the Venezuela Energy Week London Showcase on July 30 – with over 300 delegates registered – and the annual Invest in African Energy Forum, held in Paris as the premier event connecting global investors to Africa’s energy transformation.

ECP hosts high level summits and investor conferences in leading energy and minerals producing countries in Africa and South America, including: Venezuela Energy Week; Angola Oil & Gas; MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power; African Mining Week; Libya Energy & Economic Summit; Congo Energy & Investment Forum; South Sudan Oil & Power; and Caribbean Energy Week. The company has hosted investor forums and supported licensing round roadshows in Houston, London and Paris since 2016.

“Opening our UK company brings ECP closer to key investors in the global energy finance capital,” states CEO James Chester. “Having a permanent presence in London further cements our footprint in Europe, enabling us to fulfil our mission to bring minerals and energy investment to diverse global markets.”

With teams located across Africa, Europe and the Americas, ECP has long-facilitated strategic engagement, market intelligence and industry convening, uniting investors with leading energy and mining projects.

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

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