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Africa builds an integrated energy economy (By Paul Sinclair)

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energy economy

Africa is increasingly taking ownership of its own energy destiny in the private-sector space

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, July 4, 2022/APO Group/ — 

By Paul SinclairVice President of Energy & Director of Government Relations, Africa Oil Week (www.Africa-OilWeek.com) and Green Energy Summit Africa.

The continent is making policy and legislative progress towards a new dispensation where firms from the region can exploit and develop its own resources for the benefit of its people. Key to this is ongoing regional engagement.

Africa is increasingly taking ownership of its own energy destiny in the private-sector space. But – equally importantly – it is also developing the policy and regulatory tools that support economic self-determination.

Nowhere is this more evident than in Nigeria, where the long-awaited passing into law of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) last year is poised to unlock vast potential in the domestic and regional energy sector.

The Act has legislated the creation of two regulatory agencies to oversee critical parts of the industry. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) will be responsible for the technical and commercial regulation of petroleum operations in their respective sectors.

The upstream comprises resource exploration, as well as drilling and operation of crude-oil and natural-gas wells. Midstream usually refers to the transportation and storage of petroleum products by pipeline, barges, tankers or trucks, while the petroleum downstream is mainly concerned with refining and processing of petroleum and natural gas and marketing and distributing end products to consumers.

The establishment of these regulatory bodies will provide a rich space for engagement with industry associations representing the enterprises that help to drive the industry. Prominent among these is the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) (https://www.PETAN.org/), an association of Nigerian technical oilfield service companies straddling the upstream , midstream and downstream sectors.

This long-established association brings together Nigerian oil and gas entrepreneurs specifically for the exchange of ideas with major operators and policymakers, and to help develop Nigeria’s petroleum-technology industry for the benefit of Nigerians.

The establishment of these regulatory bodies will provide a rich space for engagement with industry associations representing the enterprises that help to drive the industry

Under the leadership of charman Nicolas Odinuwe, PETAN looks to support and enhance the involvement of indigenous companies in the Nigerian petroleum-products sector.

Across sectors, there has long been talk of the need to enhance Africa’s beneficiation capacity, to help the continent move downstream from being a primary commodity producer, and to reverse the centuries-old pattern of developed nations exploiting Africa’s resources, then processing them elsewhere for enormous profit.

PETAN is in the forefront of helping Africa achieve this in the petroleum sector. It describes itself as “the initiator of local content in Nigeria … championing the quest for increased local participation in the Nigerian oil and Gas industry.”

As an association that focuses on local content, PETAN also has a role to play in the regional context, in ensuring Nigerian businesses are equipped to win international or regional tenders for the processing of primary commodities such as crude oil and natural gas.

In the petroleum industry, there are already numerous situations where a shallow-water asset owner in Nigeria might contract a European company to service its wells, despite there being a local supplier who can do the same thing.

The solution to overcoming this misalignment lies on ongoing industry communication, to ensure standardisation of local content so that it meets local needs, thereby boosting private-sector participation in domestic production.

The establishment of Nigeria’s new regulatory bodies offers an exciting opportunity to drive this kind of intra-industry partnership, and to help build an African energy industry characterised by mutual benefit, instead of unequal power relations.

A critical forum for this kind of engagement will be the forthcoming Africa Oil Week (https://Africa-OilWeek.com/Home) in Cape Town, (AOW), the global platform for stimulating deals and transactions across the African Upstream.

The event brings together governments, national and international oil companies, independents, investors, the geological and geophysical community and service providers.

Within this context, the African Union’s strategy for an Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (https://bit.ly/2Sx8Cy3) looks to create a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of capital and investments.

A better integrated African energy sector can be a major driver of this vision, with, for instance, Nigerian firms partnering on Angolan energy projects and vice versa. In the long run, there is potential to establish a semi-autonomous oil and gas industry that delivers product to domestic, and external markets on its own terms.

Reaching this stage requires communication and ongoing strategic engagement. The foundations for this are being laid through progressive policymaking and regulation. To take its rightful place as an energy powerhouse, Africa must continue to engage and partner across domestic and regional borders.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Oil Week.

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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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