Connect with us

Business

Accelerating Sustainable Hydrocarbon Developments in Africa: SLB Joins African Energy Week 2023 as Bronze Sponsor

Published

on

Hydrocarbon

Global technology company SLB has joined the African Energy Week 2023 conference as a bronze sponsor

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, August 29, 2023/APO Group/ — 

As Africa’s energy sector grows and new investment is directed into the continent’s vast oil and gas basins, the role service companies play in integrating technological advancements with sustainable oilfield practices continues to expand. Companies such as SLB (formerly Schlumberger), a global technology company with an extensive footprint across Africa, are at the forefront of this transformation, delivering innovative ideas to producing low-carbon oil and gas in Africa.

At this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) conference and exhibition, SLB is a bronze sponsor. Set to take place October 16–20 in Cape Town, AEW is a gathering of key stakeholders in the African energy sector, including government officials, industry leaders, investors, and experts, coming together to discuss and shape the future of Africa’s energy landscape. The company’s sponsorship underscores the importance of Africa in the global energy industry and highlights SLB’s dedication to facilitating the continent’s sustainable energy growth.

Present in almost every major producing region in Africa, SLB has a long-history of driving successful project developments across the continent. In West Africa, the company has been present for over 80 years, and has dedicated itself to understanding the region’s unique challenges, optimizing hydrocarbon recovery, and improving production. SLB provides comprehensive support throughout the E&P life cycle, from reservoir characterization and drilling to production and processing performance. Offshore Guinea benefits from the company’s expertise through a high-quality 2D prestack time-migrated dataset, crucial for evaluating exploration and production activities in the area.

SLB’s impactful activities in Africa signify a transformative stride towards bolstering the continent’s energy security and sustainability

With a commitment to Africa’s energy sector that extends beyond advocacy, SLB initially established its regional headquarters in Dakar, Senegal, in 2022, demonstrating its dedication to the continent’s sustainable energy development. Subsequently, in 2023, SLB took another significant step by opening a state-of-the-art regional office in Lagos, Nigeria. This strategic progression signifies SLB’s proactive approach to not only enhancing the employee experience but also fostering a sustainable business environment for the benefit of all stakeholders in two key African locations.

In Southern Africa, the company is working on the Angola Depth Imaging Project, focusing on advanced depth imaging techniques to improve subsurface mapping in the country. Additionally, the company is a key contributor to the Angola 3D Reimaging Survey, reprocessing existing 3D seismic data to gain a more comprehensive understanding of Angola’s geology. The company also offers an extensive multiclient data library for offshore Mozambique, encompassing both 2D and 3D seismic data, and is actively acquiring 15,000 km2 of broadband 3D seismic data in the Mozambique Angoche Basin. These projects collectively reflect its commitment to advancing Africa’s energy sector by providing critical data and expertise for exploration and production activities in the region.

The company also plays a key role in North Africa. In 2023 SLB inked a significant contract with Libya’s National Drilling Company, a subsidiary of its National Oil Corporation, to undertake drilling operations for three new wells situated in the Nesr and Al Waha fields. SLB’s technical assistance and expertise will enhance the operational efficiency of the sector, furthering Libya’s ambitions in the energy domain.

SLB’s role in Africa as a service and technology company is pivotal in the continent’s energy transition. The company’s extensive experience and advanced technologies are essential for enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and reducing carbon emissions. SLB provides valuable expertise in sustainable energy practices, drives innovation, and fosters economic growth by generating employment and technology transfer. In essence, SLB plays a vital role in propelling Africa toward a greener and more sustainable energy future.

“SLB’s impactful activities in Africa signify a transformative stride towards bolstering the continent’s energy security and sustainability. The company’s commitment to technological excellence and sustainable practices not only advances Africa’s energy sector but also aligns with our collective vision of a prosperous, secure, and environmentally responsible energy future for Africa and its people,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber (AEC).

As AEW 2023 approaches, SLB’s bronze sponsorship will contribute to the event’s success by fostering meaningful discussions, facilitating valuable partnerships, and furthering dialogue on advancing Africa’s energy sector towards a sustainable and prosperous future.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Energy

Building a Knowledge Hub for China-ASEAN Energy Cooperation

Published

on

NANNING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 – During the 23rd China-ASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit, China Southern Power Grid showcased a range of innovations designed to support energy cooperation between China and ASEAN. These included the DaWatt – Lao Language Large Language Model (LLM) for the Energy and Power Sector V2.0 and the Flexible Grayscale Intelligent Monitoring & Analysis Platform for power system cybersecurity, highlighting expanding opportunities for cooperation in digitalization, intelligent technologies and green energy.

The Lao-language LLM has been deployed at Electricité du Laos Transmission Company Limited (EDL-T), where it can automatically analyze thousands of inspection images within a short period of time. After its algorithms were optimized for Laos’ mountainous and rainforest terrain, the model completed intelligent inspection analysis for four transmission lines, processing 26,000 drone inspection images and identifying more than 3,600 equipment defects.

 




 
 

Liu Ying, general manager of the Digitalization Department at Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd., said the company has been building multilingual professional corpora for the power sector, covering ASEAN countries including Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia. Drawing on the capabilities of the DaWatt foundation model, the company is developing energy and power models tailored to ASEAN languages and real-world power industry applications.

Talent development is another focus of the cooperation. The China-ASEAN Institute of Energy, jointly established by Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. and Guangxi University, is exploring an industry-university training model with a strong emphasis on practical experience. So far, two cohorts totaling 53 students from ASEAN countries have enrolled.

Cooperation is also evolving from one-way training toward joint innovation. Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. and the Royal Academy of Cambodia have jointly established a laboratory for artificial intelligence and safety equipment, while the company has also launched peer-to-peer exchanges with Electricité du Laos on improving power supply reliability.

To address language barriers in cross-border technical exchanges, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. has developed an AI-powered translation platform backed by a specialized database containing terminology for more than 1,800 types of power equipment. The platform supports accurate translation between Chinese and English, Chinese and Lao, and Chinese and Vietnamese.

At a recent training program for Chinese and overseas engineers, the system supported one-click generation of bilingual course materials and real-time speech translation, helping participants navigate highly specialized power-sector terminology.

To support regular international exchanges, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. has also established an international talent pool covering management, technical and skilled personnel. It has developed 24 hours of courses on international affairs as well as 20 short-form video courses.

“This year, we will also explore joint postgraduate programs with universities in ASEAN countries,” said Sun Xiaohua, deputy director of the Human Resources Department at Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd.

Looking ahead, Guangxi Power Grid Co., Ltd. plans to further advance a development model featuring “R&D in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong, integration in Guangxi, and application in ASEAN.” The company will continue expanding its multilingual power-sector corpora and explore a “Token Goes Global” model for power-sector AI, with computing resources and models based in Guangxi while knowledge services are delivered overseas. The effort is aimed at creating new forms of China-ASEAN energy cooperation and supporting the green development of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0.
 




 

Continue Reading

Events

24th Sichuan Guangwu Mountain International Red Leaf Festival to Showcase Asia’s Spectacular Autumn Colors

Published

on

BAZHONG, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 September 2026 – The 24th Sichuan Guangwu Mountain International Red Leaf Festival will run from October 1 to November 18 at the Guangwu Mountain Tourism Area in Bazhong, Sichuan Province, China.

Located in southwest China, Guangwu Mountain boasts a forest coverage rate of 97%, earning its reputation as a “natural oxygen bar.” Each autumn, 680 square kilometers of mountain forests burst into a dazzling palette. Over 40 tree species, including Fagus pashanica, maples and lindens, weave the mountains into a stunning autumn landscape.

Known as “Asia’s longest natural red carpet,” the Mountain has become a top autumn destination for backpackers, photographers and travelers seeking immersive cultural and nature experiences, and is widely recognized as one of western China’s signature autumn attractions.

 




 
 

The tourism area caters to international visitors who prefer slower-paced, in-depth, off-the-beaten-path travel. The new Yanziling Loop Boardwalk, launched in May 2026, winds along mountain cliffs, with a sea of clouds rolling beneath visitors’ feet and brilliant foliage unfolding alongside the trail, creating the feeling of “stepping into a painting.”

Guangwu Mountain offers a wealth of outdoor attractions. Highlights include the 1,888-meter Red Leaf Coaster and a glass water slide certified by Guinness World Record, combining thrilling experiences with stunning natural scenery.

The large-scale immersive production “New Dream of Guangwu Mountain” integrates cutting-edge light and visual technology with Bashan folklore and traditions, transforming the forest into an atmospheric nighttime experience. Visitors can also enjoy welcome performances and interactive robot activities, which offer more ways to discover the mountain’s late-autumn charm.

A major highlight of this year’s festival is the newly completed Micang Avenue. Stretching 85 kilometers, the route connects seven core scenic spots, including Guangwu Mountain, Micang Mountain, and Nuoshui River, reducing a four-hour drive to just one hour. Lined with continuous stretches of colorful forest and layered peaks, the avenue brings brand-new travel experiences for autumn foliage enthusiasts.

The festival will also feature cultural, sports and international exchange activities, including the third season of the “Sending You a Red Leaf” campaign, the China Micang Avenue International Road Cycling Race, and the “World Red Leaf Landmark” global collection campaign.

In addition, 31 scenic attractions and 18 museums and cultural venues across Bazhong will provide special ticket offers and visitor benefits during the festival.

Across mountains and seas, Guangwu Mountain invites visitors from around the world to witness one of China’s most vibrant red-and-gold autumn displays.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
 
 




 

Continue Reading

Business

DHL Invests in Greater Middle East-Africa Connectivity with New Aviation Lane

Published

on

The investment also reflects shifting global supply chains, as companies diversify sourcing, manufacturing and customer markets beyond traditional corridors

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, September 21, 2026/APO Group/ —
  • New weekly B767/F Bahrain-Johannesburg service strengthens Sub-Saharan Africa connectivity and supports growing trade flows between Africa, the Gulf and global markets

DHL Express (www.DHL.com) has marked an important milestone in its regional aviation network with the successful operation of the first direct DHL flight between Bahrain and South Africa.

The inaugural flight arrived at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, opening a new weekly aviation lane operated by a DHL Express B767/F freighter. The route reinforces DHL’s continued investment in strengthening Sub-Saharan Africa network connectivity, expanding heavier-weight capability, improving flexibility and supporting growing trade flows between the Middle East and Africa.

 




  

As trade between Africa and the Middle East develops, businesses need resilient, well-connected logistics networks. The new service provides greater inbound and outbound capacity for South Africa and neighbouring countries through the DHL Johannesburg Hub, one of the company’s key gateways on the continent.

 

The investment also reflects shifting global supply chains, as companies diversify sourcing, manufacturing and customer markets beyond traditional corridors. Bahrain’s position as a gateway between Africa, the Gulf and Asia make it an important link for businesses seeking faster access to international markets.

 

Every new connection we introduce is designed with our customers in mind

“Every new connection we introduce is designed with our customers in mind. As global trade routes diversify and economic ties between Africa and the Middle East continue to strengthen, we are seeing powerful geographical tailwinds creating new opportunities for businesses. Demand is growing across sectors such as healthcare, technology, manufacturing and cross-border e-commerce, all of which rely on fast, reliable international logistics,” said Anthony Beckley, Vice President of Operations and Aviation for DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

“While this first direct DHL flight between Bahrain and South Africa is a significant network milestone, its real value lies in the opportunities it creates for customers.”

 

 

South Africa is one of DHL’s Geographic Tailwinds markets, reflecting its growing role in global trade flows and its potential to drive future trade growth. And Johannesburg remains a critical gateway in DHL’s SSA network, linking South Africa and neighbouring markets to global opportunities through Bahrain and the wider DHL aviation network. Through continued investment in routes, aircraft capacity and hub connectivity, DHL is supporting customers across this dynamic lane.

 

“DHL Express is the only logistics provider operating a dedicated intra-regional air fleet across the Middle East, connecting customers through Bahrain with major global gateways including Hong Kong, Leipzig and Cincinnati,” said Richard Gale, Vice President of Aviation, DHL Express MENA.

 

“Bahrain’s position at the crossroads of Africa and the Middle East makes it an ideal hub for customers seeking faster, more reliable access across these growing trade corridors. We are pleased to add this direct Johannesburg connection as economic ties between Africa and the Gulf deepen.”

 

DHL remains committed to helping customers seize opportunities created by changing trade patterns and expanding economic relationships.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of DHL Express.

 

 




 

Continue Reading

Trending

Exit mobile version