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Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) is named ‘Local Impact Champion’ at Africa Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Forum

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Africa Finance Corporation

The accolade recognises AFC’s commitment to create sustainable impact as a critical part of developing Africa’s economy and making a positive difference to local communities

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, June 13, 2023/APO Group/ — 

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (https://www.AfricaFC.org/), the leading infrastructure solutions provider in Africa, was named ‘Local Impact Champion’ at the recent 2023 Africa CEO Forum Awards in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The accolade recognises AFC’s commitment to create sustainable impact as a critical part of developing Africa’s economy and making a positive difference to local communities. AFC is focused on enhancing local industries by putting processing at the centre of sustainable circular economies, with projects that target value capture, beneficiation and job creation to catalyse growth. One key effect of this strategy is to eliminate emission-spewing shipments of Africa’s raw materials to other continents for processing, as set out in AFC’s 2022 white paper, A Pragmatic Path to Net Zero. Read here (https://apo-opa.info/3N68VNN).

Receiving the award, AFC President & CEO Samaila Zubairu told the Forum: “This is really exciting because we want to make our continent’s economy more sustainable, and we feel the way to do this is to move away from exporting raw materials toward value capture and retention through the production of intermediate and finished goods. With regards to climate change, we see that increasing production on the continent will reduce the volume of shipping, which is one of the big emitters of carbon dioxide. As we add more value on the continent, we subsequently reduce the emissions from shipping, and we can all achieve net zero faster.”

In the past year, AFC has advanced sustainable economic development of the continent through becoming, with its partners, the biggest investor in renewable energy in Africa; launching a US$2 billion facility to support recovery and resilience in Africa; and investing in the 60MW Red Sea Power wind power project in Djibouti.

At the event, AFC investee company ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms was named ‘African Champion,’ an award bestowed to an organization that contributes to African economic integration by expanding its presence into multiple African markets. ARISE IIP has developed a consistent track record of creating highly transformative special economic zones, scaling across multiple African countries including Gabon, Togo, Benin, Côte D’Ivoire, Nigeria, DRC, Chad, Sierra Leone and Rwanda. These ecosystems are central to AFC’s investment approach.

These awards are a testament to AFC’s unrelenting goal to advance the economic growth and industrialisation of the continent

The Africa CEO Forum Awards recognise leaders, companies and investors whose performance has made a significant contribution to African development. This has been a rewarding year for AFC, with the organisation winning nine further accolades from prestigious institutions. Earlier this year, AFC was named ‘DFI of the Year-Europe & Africa’ at the IJGlobal Awards for its proven track record of developing key transformational projects on the continent, providing pragmatic solutions for Africa’s infrastructure deficit, and challenging the operating environment for over 16 years.

Last month, AFC investee company Lekela Power won ‘Equity Deal of the Year’ at the African Banker Awards, recognising the Corporation’s innovative financial structuring that led to the acquisition of AFC’s stake in Infinity Energy Africa, and Infinity’s acquisition of Lekela Power B.V.(Lekela), Africa’s largest renewable energy company. AFC was named ‘Top Treasury Partner’ at the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation’s award ceremony during the ITFC’s recent 15th Year Anniversary Celebrations.

At the Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Africa Awards, recognising the most innovative and ground-breaking deals from sovereign, corporate and financial institution issuers and borrowers, AFC received a series of awards with its partners, including:

  • Agency Bond Deal of the Year: Bank of Industry Limited (EUR 750mm 1441/Reg S Senior Unsecured Guaranteed participation notes)
  • Oil & Gas Deal of the year: Sonangol EP (USD 1.3bn Senior Secured Loan)

AFC also recently received four notable awards from EMEA Finance:

  • Best supranational syndicated loan: AFC’s US$400mn syndicated loan
  • Best kimchi syndicated loan in EMEA: AFC’s US$160mn Kimchi loan facility
  • Best yen syndicated loan in EMEA: AFC’s US$382mn and JP¥1bn Samurai term loan
  • Best financial institution syndicated loan in EMEA: Bank of Industry’s AFC-guaranteed US$1bn loan

These awards are a testament to AFC’s unrelenting goal to advance the economic growth and industrialisation of the continent, helping to transform lives and unlock Africa’s vast potential.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Energy

Venezuela Energy Week Confirms 19 August Date for Houston Industry Showcase

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Officially supported by Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA, the Houston Industry Showcase will take place on 19 August, convening U.S. energy leaders ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 10, 2026/APO Group/ –The organizers of Venezuela Energy Week (VEW) have confirmed that the Houston Industry Showcase will take place on 19 August 2026 at The Post Oak Hotel. Officially supported by Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA, the event will bring together U.S. energy companies, investors and policymakers to explore commercial opportunities ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas in February.

The showcase will feature Minister of Hydrocarbons Paula Henao as a keynote speaker, providing an update on Venezuela’s energy priorities, investment agenda and opportunities for international partnership. Her participation underscores the country’s commitment to strengthening engagement with global industry as it seeks to expand production and unlock new upstream investment.

Bringing together exploration and production companies, independent operators, oilfield service providers, engineering firms, technology companies and financial institutions, the Houston Industry Showcase will examine opportunities across exploration, production optimization, infrastructure rehabilitation and field development.

As Venezuela works to increase oil and gas production, demand is expected to grow for the technical expertise of U.S. service providers in drilling, well intervention, completion services, production optimization, artificial lift, digital oilfield technologies and infrastructure rehabilitation. Houston-based industry leaders – including SLB, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Weatherford and a broad network of EPC contractors, equipment manufacturers and specialized service companies – are well positioned to support the modernization of mature fields, improve operational efficiency and deliver the technologies and services needed for future upstream projects.

The Houston event follows a successful Industry Showcase in London, which brought together international investors, operators and energy service companies to explore Venezuela’s evolving investment landscape. Building on that momentum, the Houston edition will deepen engagement with the U.S. energy industry and strengthen commercial dialogue ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027.

Venezuela Energy Week – the country’s largest energy investment platform to date – has been confirmed for 22–25 February 2027 in Caracas. Organized by Energy Capital & Power, the event will bring together government leaders, investors and industry stakeholders from across the global energy value chain.

To register for the Houston Industry Showcase on August 19, visit https://apo-opa.co/4g0TncR. To learn more about delegate, sponsorship and partnership opportunities for the showcase or to secure your place at Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas, contact info@venezuelaenergyweek.com.

Supporting Venezuela’s Earthquake Recovery
Our thoughts are with the people and communities affected by the recent earthquakes in Venezuela. As the country begins the long process of recovery, we encourage members of the global energy community to support relief and reconstruction efforts through the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela, which channels contributions from individuals, companies and organizations to emergency assistance, essential services and long-term rebuilding efforts.

To learn more or make a contribution, please visit the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela (https://apo-opa.co/4hkvteE).

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

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Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) Secures New Patent for Smart Stabilization System from Intellectual Property Office of Singapore

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IsDBI

The Smart Stabilization System is a pioneering digital market infrastructure designed to stabilize asset markets by intelligently managing supply-demand gaps and mitigating excessive volatility

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, August 10, 2026/APO Group/ –The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (https://IsDBInstitute.org) is pleased to announce that the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has granted a new patent for its innovative Smart Stabilization System.

 

The patent was granted on 10 July 2026 under Singapore Patent No. 10202250873B for the invention titled “A Computer Network Stabilization System and Method.” The patent application was filed on 1 September 2022 and was formally granted following a comprehensive review process.

This achievement reflects our commitment to translating pioneering research into practical solutions that contribute to economic resilience and sustainable development

The Smart Stabilization System is a pioneering digital market infrastructure designed to stabilize asset markets by intelligently managing supply-demand gaps and mitigating excessive volatility. Leveraging sophisticated algorithms and advanced simulation models, the system is designed to anticipate supply and demand imbalances and implement programmable stabilization measures before they escalate into market disruptions.

Unlike traditional stabilization mechanisms that rely on capital reserves, buffer funds, or external interventions, the Smart Stabilization System introduces a next-generation framework for achieving autonomous market stabilization through proactive and programmed stabilization mechanisms. By incorporating distributed ledger technology and cryptographic trust mechanisms, the platform enhances transparency, trust, and operational resilience for digital asset and commodity markets.

The successful patent grant reflects IsDBI’s growing contribution to technological innovation and its commitment to developing knowledge-based solutions that address contemporary economic and development challenges.

Since filing the patent application back in 2022, the Institute has continued to advance the Smart Stabilization System through ongoing development and testing, aimed to expand its practical applications and support future capitalization opportunities. These advancements have positioned the system as a potentially transformative solution for enhancing stability and resilience in increasingly digital and interconnected economies.

Commenting on this occasion, Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDBI, said, “The grant of this patent by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore further strengthens the Institute’s position as a leader in developing innovative knowledge-based solutions that leverage modern technologies to address complex development challenges. This achievement reflects our commitment to translating pioneering research into practical solutions that contribute to economic resilience and sustainable development.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI).

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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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