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AFAWA Bank of the Year that created “SupaWoman” financial service says when women are given opportunity for financial inclusion, they can do miracles

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AFAWA Bank

The Supawoman product is about that woman, that underprivileged woman, that woman who is struggling to be able to grow that business

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, June 27, 2024/APO Group/ — 

The African Development Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) Bank of the Year 2024 (www.AfDB.org), Centenary Rural Development Bank, exemplifies the spirit of this year’s United Nations Micro, Small and Medium-size (MSMEs) Enterprises Day: “leveraging the power and resilience of MSMEs to accelerate sustainable development and eradicate poverty in times of multiple crises.”

To mark International MSME Day, we asked Centenary Bank’s General Manager for Commercial Banking and SME Banking, Michael Jjingo, about how joining the AFAWA Guarantee for Growth program helped his Bank support some of Uganda’s smallest women-led enterprises.

Question: Centenary Rural Development Bank has a [loan] product tailored to women entrepreneurs, tell us about that.

I run the SME banking that hosts the “Supawoman” product. The Supawoman product is about that woman, that underprivileged woman, that woman who is struggling to be able to grow that business. Just to put it into context – the roadside sellers, the hawkers, the market vendors, the retailers. Many of them are illiterate. They have very little capital, probably below $20, or $20 to $100 of capital. They don’t have books of account, they don’t have collateral – and they struggle to scale their business.

However, you need to note the population of Uganda comprises 51% as female. And 65% of the SME’s are run by women, so to be able to run a product that is impactful, you have to target the woman. But you have to target that underprivileged woman, that financially excluded woman, because the financially excluded women comprise over 65% of the women [market]. That’s how we’re able to scale up [our women customer base] by 23%. It is easy.

Question: Usually we see banks that go for clients higher up on the [entrepreneurial] pyramid. If you have clients who have no collateral, at best have $20-$100 in savings – how is this good business for your bank?

You have to target that underprivileged woman, that financially excluded woman, because the financially excluded women comprise over 65% of the women [market]

It is mission critical focus for Centenary Rural Development Bank. It is focusing on the underprivileged, particularly those in the rural areas, but most importantly, to support them to scale and to acquire or access affordable banking. That’s how we’re able to support that woman, because that is the mission critical focus of the bank.

Question: Was there anything Centenary Rural Development Bank had to do special or different to tailor these financial products for women entrepreneurs?

It started with the baseline survey supported by donors to understand these women. Then we crafted a banking product for them – which is charge-free but with interest – and also a group-based account. Then on the side, we also did a loan product for them that doesn’t require them to give security [deposit], and the product also offers exclusive pricing for them. So, we are able to offer them the two services – and that was a game changer for those women.

Question: Please tell us a little bit about how the AFAWA Guarantee for Growth program [implemented by AFAWA partner, the African Guarantee Fund] was beneficial to your bank.

The AFAWA program came in for those [women entrepreneurs] that we had scaled. I mean, we also have some appetite towards credit risk. It has a cap – we can’t side step beyond a given limit. But for those women entrepreneurs who have scaled outside our risk appetite for unsecured facility, we were able to leverage on the African Guarantee Fund guarantee to be able to lend to them. One of our customers was here yesterday to exhibit. That is Jude Color Solutions – [a micro-sized business] which started in their garage – again supported by us. They have a tailoring plant for corporate uniforms and marketing materials in Kampala today. They have been around for about 10 years and we’ve grown them to now an SME, so that is a testament of the capacity and the possibilities around that woman who is under privileged. But if given an opportunity for financial inclusion and financial services accessibility, these women can do miracles. The talent to be able to run their businesses and we have supported them as such.

Read more about the AFAWA Bank of the Year honor awarded to Centenary Rural Development Bank here (https://apo-opa.co/3RLMIb9).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

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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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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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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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