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Afreximbank and Arise IIP commence the construction of the African Quality Assurance Center in Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) Benin

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Afreximbank

The AQAC laboratory in GDIZ will offer world-class testing, inspection, and certification services covering food and agricultural products, ensuring that products “Made in Africa” meet the required safety and quality standards

GLO-DJIGBÉ, Benin, December 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) are proud to announce the commencement of construction works for the African Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC) in Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) in Benin on Tuesday, 27th November 2024. This landmark project is a collaboration between Afreximbank and ARISE IIP and represents a major step in driving industrialisation in Benin and across West Africa.

The AQAC laboratory in GDIZ will offer world-class testing, inspection, and certification services covering food and agricultural products, ensuring that products “Made in Africa” meet the required safety and quality standards at local and international markets.

Driven by Afreximbank’s vision, the AQAC, aims to enhance the compliance of African products with international standards, boosting exports, and supporting intra-African trade while ensuring the safety of these products for local consumption. ARISE IIP, an affiliate of the Bank and a leader in pan-African industrial development, acknowledges the value that AQAC brings to the ecosystem it has developed, such as the GDIZ that focuses on value addition and global competitiveness.

By establishing the laboratory within GDIZ, numerous benefits will be realized, including, increasing the competitiveness of local products manufactured inside the zone, such as cotton, cashew, animal feed, soya, pineapple dehydration, and sesame oil, by ensuring their compliance with international standards and requirements of export markets; boosting exports by enabling African products to compete effectively in global markets; Strengthening local industrial capacity through state-of-the-art quality infrastructure and technical expertise; and Driving regional impact by positioning Benin as an industrial and commercial hub in West Africa.

The AQAC Laboratory is a cornerstone in our vision to industrialise Africa and integrate it into global value chains

Létondji BEHETON, Managing Director of GDIZ, commented: “The establishment of the AQAC laboratory within GDIZ is a game-changer for Benin’s industrial ecosystem. It will not only elevate the quality of locally processed products but also open new doors for our exporters by ensuring compliance with international standards. This initiative reinforces GDIZ’s role as a catalyst for economic transformation, creating jobs, attracting investments, and positioning Benin as a regional leader in value-added production and trade.”

Gagan Gupta, CEO of ARISE IIP, stated: “This project underscores our commitment to working with Afreximbank to enhance quality control capabilities for African products. The AQAC Laboratory is a cornerstone in our vision to industrialise Africa and integrate it into global value chains. By ensuring that African products meet the highest international standards, this initiative empowers local industries, enhances export potential, and strengthens intra-African trade. With GDIZ as one of our flagship zones, this project confirms our commitment to building a self-reliant and globally competitive Africa.”

Oluranti Doherty, Managing Director of Export Development, Afreximbank, added: “Our AQAC initiative reflects Afreximbank’s unwavering commitment to empowering African manufacturers and enabling their products to thrive in the global marketplace. By providing reliable quality assurance services, the AQAC enhances the competitiveness of African products, improves Intra-African trade, and ensures the seamless integration of these products into international markets, thereby advancing the continent’s industrialisation and economic diversification.”

Afreximbank established the first African Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC) project in Ogun State, Nigeria which was awarded the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) in August 2024. SANAS is one of the key accreditation bodies in Africa responsible for carrying out conformity assessments. Afreximbank plans to expand the AQAC initiative by establishing a series of Quality Assurance Centres across Africa to strengthen the quality of infrastructure across the continent.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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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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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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