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African Exploration and Production (E&P) Above-Ground Attractiveness Strengthens amid Policy and Licensing Reforms

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African Energy Chamber

The African Energy Chamber’s State of African Energy Outlook highlights the impact of above-ground reforms and licensing on Africa’s E&P investment landscape

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, December 2, 2025/APO Group/ –With upstream capital expenditure set to reach $41 billion in 2026, Africa’s rising exploration and production (E&P) activity highlights the evolving landscape of above-ground attractiveness across the continent. According to the African Energy Chamber’s (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.orgState of African Energy 2026 Outlook, African countries currently fall mostly in the mid-range of global attractiveness scores. However, a series of reforms, fiscal adjustments and strategic licensing initiatives are set to improve investor returns and deepen engagement across the continent.

Above-Ground Trends Shaping Investment

Political change, civil activism and shifting governance structures are creating new dynamics for African E&P. The waning of legacy European influence is being replaced by growing engagement from foreign powers, including China, Russia, the U.S. and Middle Eastern investors, impacting the diplomatic and investment landscape. Recent elections in South Africa, Senegal and Mozambique demonstrate how political flux can impact investor confidence and E&P operations.

Resource nationalism and local content requirements are also becoming more prominent. Governments are increasingly seeking to optimize national benefits from hydrocarbons through greater state participation, local ownership and employment measures. Countries such as Senegal, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Namibia are actively debating these policies. The evolving regulatory and social environment could empower civil society and labor unions, while environmental activities continue to scrutinize exploration in sensitive regions such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Namibia and South Africa.

Strategic Licensing and Renewed Investor Interest

Amid renewed interest in deepwater exploration, sub-Saharan African producers are driving competitive licensing rounds to attract international operators and national oil companies (NOCs). Bid rounds are ongoing or planned in Angola, the Republic of Congo, the DRC, Nigeria and Tanzania, with host countries offering more attractive fiscal and contractual terms. African governments are also increasingly flexible in dealing with a diverse investor base, ranging from local independents to international NOCs and financiers such as Middle Eastern banks, Asian export credit agencies and global trading firms.

Countries including Angola and Nigeria have implemented institutional, regulatory and contractual reforms aimed at unlocking upstream investment. Streamlined mergers and acquisitions approvals, clearer legislation and transparent licensing frameworks are critical to attracting cross-border capital. Emerging markets such as Ivory Coast, Kenya, Namibia and Senegal/Mauritania are under investor scrutiny as potential sites for strategic acquisitions and greenfield projects.

Focus on Gas Regulation and Industrialization

The continent offers compelling opportunities for investors who are prepared to engage in a transparent, regulated, and increasingly competitive E&P landscape

African governments are also prioritizing gas regulation to unlock lower-carbon growth opportunities. Clear frameworks for the gas value chain are expected to stimulate domestic industrialization, power access and international supply diversification. While pioneering projects such as Congo Floating LNG have advanced, other initiatives in Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania have been delayed due to contractual and offtake uncertainties. Pending gas master plans and legislation in Angola, the Republic of Congo, Nigeria and South Africa will be pivotal in determining how much of Africa’s undeveloped gas potential can be mobilized for export and domestic consumption.

Spotlight on Key Country Developments

Angola has emerged as a leading host country for E&P investment in Africa. Its above-ground risk score has steadily improved since 2017, reflecting extensive regulatory and institutional reforms. Angola’s fiscal incentives, including terms for gas, marginal fields, and incremental production, have successfully attracted upstream investment, consolidating its status as a continental leader.

Ivory Coast maintains a pragmatic approach to foreign investment. Regardless of the outcome of the 2025 presidential election, authorities are expected to continue supporting upstream investors while emphasizing adherence to local content requirements, particularly for offshore developments.

Mozambique is witnessing a cautious restart of onshore LNG projects following the stabilization of post-election political challenges and improved security in Cabo Delgado. TotalEnergies’ Mozambique LNG project is set to resume construction in the second half of 2025, while Eni’s Coral North FLNG project remains on track. Despite progress offshore, onshore development may remain gradual due to lingering security risks.

Namibia is transitioning toward full producer status under President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. The country has consolidated oil and gas oversight under the presidency and is establishing an independent hydrocarbon regulator. Proposed increases in NOC NAMCOR’s share and local content requirements aim to strengthen the sector but could slow project approvals during a critical development phase.

Nigeria is reinvigorating its licensing program with updated terms and incentives targeting specific terrains and resource types. The government plans its third licensing round in three years, signaling a departure from decades of limited acreage availability. Renewed interest in projects such as TotalEnergies’ Ubeta onshore gas development and Shell’s Bonga North deepwater FID highlights growing investor confidence in Nigeria’s upstream potential.

African Energy Week 2026

Africa’s E&P sector is at a pivotal moment. Strategic licensing, institutional reform and evolving fiscal frameworks are enhancing above-ground attractiveness, while political and social dynamics continue to shape the operating environment. As international investors seek opportunities across the continent’s hydrocarbon frontier, the upcoming African Energy Week conference – returning to Cape Town in 2026 – will explore how clear regulation, competitive fiscal terms and effective risk management will drive new investment and support Africa’s long-term energy ambitions.

“The continent offers compelling opportunities for investors who are prepared to engage in a transparent, regulated, and increasingly competitive E&P landscape,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, AEC. “Governments and operators must continue to balance national priorities with investor confidence to unlock Africa’s vast hydrocarbon potential.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Egypt’s Mineral Resources Authority Chair Joins African Mining Week (AMW) Advisory Board

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Eng. Yasser Ramadan, Chairman of the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority has joined the 2026 edition of African Mining Week – scheduled for October 14–16 in Cape Town – as an advisory board member

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, June 23, 2026/APO Group/ –Eng. Yasser Ramadan, Chairman of the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority (EMRA) has been appointed as an Advisory Board Member of African Mining Week (AMW) – The Most Influential Mining Conference in Africa – reinforcing the event’s engagement with key regulatory institutions shaping the continent’s mining sector.

 

In his role, Ramadan will provide strategic guidance on core themes and agenda priorities for AMW, ensuring alignment with Egypt’s mining sector vision, including regulatory reform, investment facilitation and value-added mineral development.

His appointment strengthens AMW’s position as a direct engagement platform for global investors seeking exposure to Egypt’s mining industry. It also supports Egypt’s broader national agenda to attract foreign direct investment into key mineral segments including phosphate, gold, copper and industrial minerals, which are central to the country’s industrialization and resource monetization strategy.

Under the theme Mining the Future: Unearthing Africa’s Full Mineral Value Chain, AMW 2026 will convene African regulators, including EMRA, alongside global investors and project developers for partnerships formation aimed at unlocking investment flows across the continent’s mining sector.

AMW 2026 comes at a time when Egypt is accelerating reforms and strategic initiatives across its mining sector. These include enhanced collaboration on mineral value chains, such as the Afreximbank-Central Bank of Egypt initiative to establish the African Gold Bank, aimed at financing gold mining and beneficiation projects. Additionally, Egypt’s Suez Canal Economic Zone-based Futurefert project recently secured $20 million in financing from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to develop fertilizer production facilities, further supporting the country’s phosphate beneficiation ambitions and regional food security objectives.

Meanwhile, regulatory reforms are also underway, including the development of a modern mining cadastre system designed to streamline licensing processes and improve transparency for investors, led by EMRA.

Through his role on the AMW Advisory Board, Ramadan will position Egypt as a key mining investment destination within Africa’s evolving resource landscape.

https://apo-opa.co/4ai4FYa

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

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Africa’s Data-First Energy Workforce is the Key to Unlocking Future Exploration

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Africa’s energy sector is undergoing a massive digital transformation, leveraging AI and analytics to enhance transparency and production while prioritizing essential workforce development and innovation

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, June 22, 2026/APO Group/ –Africa’s energy future will be shaped not only by the resources beneath the ground, but by the ability of its workforce to interpret, manage and act on increasingly complex datasets. As exploration targets become more technically challenging and investors demand greater certainty, energy companies across the continent are turning to artificial intelligence, advanced analytics and digital platforms to improve decision-making. Building a data-first workforce capable of leveraging these technologies is emerging as a strategic priority, enabling operators to reduce exploration risk, optimize production and accelerate project development.

 

As digital innovation becomes increasingly critical to streamlining operations across exploration and production, this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 – taking place in Cape Town from October 12–16 – is set to highlight how these shifts impact regional competitiveness. These industry-wide advancements are set to take center stage during Renegade Intel, the event’s premier track dedicated to AI and data centers.

For Africa’s exploration sector, digitalization is becoming a prerequisite for success. As operators pursue frontier acreage, deeper reservoirs and more complex geological plays, the ability to process and interpret large volumes of seismic, subsurface and operational data is critical. However, technology alone is not enough. Scaling exploration activity will require a workforce equipped with advanced digital skills, capable of applying AI-driven insights to geological modeling, prospect evaluation and resource development.

In the exploration sector, the BHP Xplore Bootcamp – designed to fast-track early-stage mineral exploration – launched in South Africa on February 3. The intensive program provides junior explorers with $500,000 grants and access to proprietary data analytics, specifically targeting deeper copper and zinc systems in the Northern Cape province through advance mineral modeling.

Harnessing digitalization is no longer an option but a necessity to ensure Africa remains globally competitive

Further boosting upstream efficiency, global technology company SLB inaugurated its Africa Performance Center in Luanda, Angola in late 2025. The facility provides regional operators with high-fidelity digital twins and AI-driven workflows for enhanced oil recovery. These tools allow companies to analyze massive datasets, extending the life of mature fields in Angola and Algeria.

AI is increasingly being adopted across Africa’s energy management systems. Leading the charge in modern grid management, South Africa’s state utility Eskom announced on March 3 that it is leveraging AI to build a self-healing power grid. This ambitious project aims to utilize predictive analytics to minimize outages and optimize integration of renewable energy sources across its national transmission network. This was followed by the signing of an agreement between Eskom, the University of Pretoria and the South African National Energy Development Institute, aimed at harnessing the power of AI to address critical energy challenges across the country.

Similar moves are taking place in Nigeria. In a landmark move for regulatory transparency, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) launched a 60-day digitalization program in early 2026. NUPRC Commission Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan announced the initiative following a visit from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative’s Executive Secretary Musa Sarkin Adar, pledging to eliminate paper trails to enhance speed and royalty enforcement.

Sustaining this momentum requires robust talent pipelines and university partnerships. Workforce reform is essential to bridge the technical gap, as African institutions must evolve into dynamic innovation hubs. Investing in local skills development ensures that the digital transition remains Africa-led, creating high-value jobs for the continent’s growing youth population.

“Transforming Africa’s economic potential into reality requires that we empower those who make growth possible – our SMEs, our women entrepreneurs and our youth,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Harnessing digitalization is no longer an option but a necessity to ensure Africa remains globally competitive.”

Ultimately, digitalization and skills development are the dual engines driving Africa toward an era of energy abundance. By fostering a tech-savvy workforce and adopting cutting-edge analytics, the continent can de-risk projects and attract long-term capital. These critical advancements are set to form the cornerstone of discussions at the Renegade Intel track at AEW 2026 this October.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Cabship Expands Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Driven Logistics, Workforce Development Strategy Ahead of Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 Sponsorship

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As Angola’s oil and gas sector evolves, Cabship is expanding its service offering through digital innovation, workforce development and integrated logistics solutions designed to support the next phase of industry growth

LUANDA, Angola, June 22, 2026/APO Group/ –Angolan logistics and maritime services provider Cabship is strengthening its service portfolio to better support the country’s evolving oil and gas sector, while leveraging digital technologies, workforce development and local partnerships to meet growing industry demand. Reflecting its expanding role across Angola’s oil and gas value chain, the company has joined the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 conference and exhibition as an Elite Sponsor.

 

Over the years, Cabship has developed into a strategic integrated logistics and support service providers for Angola’s oil and gas industry. The company offers a broad range of solutions spanning shipping, customs clearance, procurement, warehousing, material management, pipe yard operations, freight forwarding, transportation and offshore support services. Building on this foundation, Cabship continues to diversify its capabilities to support increasingly complex upstream and offshore developments across Angola.

The company’s growth strategy has been underpinned by continuous investment in technology and operational efficiency. As Angola’s oil and gas industry embraces digital transformation, Cabship has integrated artificial intelligence and advanced digital tools into its logistics and supply chain operations. These technologies are helping optimize cargo tracking, improve operational planning and enhance the efficiency of project execution, enabling operators and service providers to reduce costs while maintaining reliability across the supply chain.

Alongside technology adoption, Cabship has placed local content development at the center of its long-term strategy. The company signed a partnership agreement with Angola’s National Petroleum Institute (INP), aimed at strengthening training initiatives to prepare young Angolan professionals for careers in the energy sector. The partnership initially benefits 15 individuals from the provinces of Cabinda, Zaire, Bengo and Luanda, with recipients undergoing specialized training in industrial electricity in renewable energies and international welding.

The company has also continued to expand its offshore and marine support capabilities through strategic partnerships, strengthening its ability to provide integrated services for both shallow-water and deepwater operations. These efforts align with Angola’s broader objectives of increasing local participation across the oil and gas value chain while supporting new exploration, development and production projects.

As an Elite Sponsor of AOG 2026 – taking place September 9-10 in Luanda, with a pre-conference day on September 8 – Cabship will join industry leaders, policymakers and investors to discuss the future of Angola’s oil and gas sector. The company’s participation highlights the increasingly important role that logistics, digital innovation and workforce development play in supporting Angola’s next phase of oil and gas growth.

 

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

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