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African Iron Ore: Driving Industrialization, Investment and Regional Growth

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Energy Capital

African Mining Week 2026 will showcase investment and lucrative prospects within Africa’s iron ore and steel manufacturing value chain

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 9, 2026/APO Group/ –Home to 30% of the world’s critical mineral reserves, Africa has emerged as a strategic player in global supply chains. The continent’s iron ore sector, in particular, offers substantial growth opportunities, with global demand and new exploration campaigns making a strong case for investment. As capital expenditure across the sector increases, Africa has a unique opportunity to turn its iron ore resources into catalysts for sustainable economic growth – and countries are already responding to this call.

Iron Ore Emerges as Strategic Priority

The global iron ore market is expected to grow from $313 billion in 2026 to $425 billion by 2034, driven by infrastructure expansion, industrialization and the continued need for steel in automotive and construction applications. In response, African countries and institutions are moving to position iron ore as a strategic priority. The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has designated iron ore as a strategic resource critical for advancing Africa’s mineral production, manufacturing capabilities and industrialization agenda. In its Compendium of Africa’s Strategic Minerals study released in mid-February, the AFC states that, of the continent’s estimated $8.6 trillion in untapped mineral wealth, iron ore presents a unique opportunity to drive domestic steel and construction sectors while insulating Africa from global demand volatility.

South Africa has also made iron ore a pillar of its critical minerals expansion strategy which targets R2 trillion in investment over the next five years. Speaking in his mid-February State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “Our iron ore reserves are valued at more than R40 trillion, making mining a sunrise industry. After many years of declining investment in exploration, we are dedicating funds to geological mapping and exploration to harness our critical mineral reserves.”

Similarly, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is prioritizing iron ore exploitation as part of its strategy to unlock its $24 trillion in untapped mineral wealth. Speaking in Cape Town in mid-February, Minister of Mines Louis Watum Kabamba highlighted the country’s $28 billion special economic zone program spanning the North East to South West, aimed at mining and processing iron ore into steel.

After many years of declining investment in exploration, we are dedicating funds to geological mapping and exploration to harness our critical mineral reserves

Earlier on, during African Mining Week (AMW) 2025, Kabamba highlighted the DRC’s iron ore potential in an exclusive interview with Energy Capital & Power. “We have 20 billion tons of iron ore – enough to supply steel for Africa. The continent must identify what is critical and prioritize it to drive regional growth,” he said.

African Projects Eye Domestic Markets

As iron ore production rises in Africa, many countries are integrating mining with broader industrial agenda. Guinea, for example, is leveraging its $20 billion Simandou iron ore project – the world’s largest untapped iron ore deposit – as the cornerstone of its Simandou 2040 strategy, a mining-sector-led economic diversification plan. The country aims to attract global investment not only into mining but across strategic sectors, channeling capital into 122 priority projects spanning infrastructure, health, education and agriculture.

Meanwhile, Liberia is on track to triple its iron ore output this year, fueling the expansion of its industrial sector. This growth is being driven by ongoing projects and capacity expansions from ArcelorMittal Liberia, Cavalla Resources, Westcrest, Zodiac, and Bao Chico. The country’s Minister of Mines Matenokay Tingban previously shared that the country expects to reach between 25 million and 30 million tons once all producers come online.

AMW 2026: Unlocking Investment and Industrial Potential

Ongoing developments highlight the strategic potential of Africa’s iron ore sector to drive mining growth, attract investment and fuel industrialization. With global demand for steel and iron rising, African nations are combining resource wealth with infrastructure development, local beneficiation and strategic financing to maximize value across the continent.

Stepping into this picture, the upcoming African Mining Week 2026 – scheduled for October 14–16 in Cape Town – will provide a premier platform to showcase these opportunities. The event will facilitate partnerships, deal signings and high-level discussions across the iron ore value chain, uniting governments, investors and private sector stakeholders to accelerate production, industrial growth and economic transformation across Africa.

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

Energy

Zimbabwe, Gabon and Mozambique Energy Leaders to Drive Investment Talks at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026

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Zimbabwe

ZERA, Gabon Oil Company and ENH leaders will join AEW 2026 to discuss energy reform, upstream growth and investment opportunities across Africa

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 30, 2026/APO Group/ –Zimbabwe Regulatory Authority (ZERA) CEO Edington Tapera Mazambani, Gabon Oil Company (GOC) CEO Dr. Marcellin Simba Ngabi and Empresa Nacional de Hidrocarbonetos (ENH) Chairman and CEO Rudêncio de Rodolfo Novais Morais will speak at African Energy Week 2026, bringing perspectives from three institutions at the center of Africa’s evolving energy landscape. Representing regulation, state participation and natural resource development, the executives will share insights into the policies, investments and partnerships shaping the next phase of energy growth across southern and Central Africa.

Their participation comes as African governments pursue market reforms, strengthen national energy companies and expand private investment to improve energy security and accelerate resource development. AEW 2026 – taking place in Cape Town from October 12–16 – will provide a platform to examine how regulatory modernization, state-led investment and international partnerships are driving new opportunities across the continent’s electricity, oil and gas sectors.

Mazambani joins AEW 2026 as Zimbabwe advances one of its most significant energy market reforms in decades. The regulator recently shifted away from unsolicited project proposals in favour of structured competitive bidding, improving transparency while creating clearer pathways for private investment. At the same time, ZERA continues expanding the country’s renewable energy pipeline, issuing new generation licenses that have added hundreds of megawatts of planned capacity, predominantly through utility-scale solar projects.

The participation of ZERA, Gabon Oil Company and ENH at AEW 2026 reflects the important role these institutions play in shaping competitive energy markets

The authority has also launched initiatives to modernize the national grid, strengthen energy efficiency standards and prepare for wider deployment of distributed generation through future net-metering frameworks. Recent enforcement measures to ensure lower fuel prices are expected to reduce transport costs and improve affordability for consumers.

Meanwhile, Ngabi brings insights from one of Africa’s fastest-growing national oil companies as GOC expands from an equity partner into an integrated upstream operator. Since taking office, he has overseen a strategy centered on increasing state participation in Gabon’s petroleum sector through acquisitions, operatorship and domestic capability building. The company’s $300 million acquisition of Tullow Oil’s Gabon portfolio significantly expanded its production base and reserves while positioning GOC as a more influential operator across the country’s mature producing assets.

The acquisition of Société de Maintenance Pétrolière Afrique has brought drilling and well intervention expertise in-house, while new offshore production sharing contracts have expanded GOC’s operated acreage. These developments coincide with Gabon’s broader efforts to revive exploration activity, open new offshore licensing opportunities and modernizing refining infrastructure.

A geologist by training with decades of experience inside ENH, Morais has been tasked with maintaining technical continuity while advancing the commercialization of Mozambique’s vast offshore natural gas resources. His appointment comes as Mozambique seeks to accelerate financing and implementation of major Rovuma Basin LNG projects that are expected to transform the country’s economy over the coming decade.

Beyond LNG development, ENH is expanding its role across Mozambique’s broader energy value chain. Under Morais’ leadership, the company is supporting government efforts to increase domestic value addition by strengthening logistics infrastructure, pipeline networks and downstream facilities that can support long-term industrialization. The strategy reflects Mozambique’s growing emphasis on ensuring natural gas development delivers wider economic benefits through local content, industrial growth and improved energy access.

“Across Africa, governments are strengthening regulatory institutions, expanding the role of national energy companies and creating new investment frameworks to unlock long-term energy development,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “The participation of ZERA, Gabon Oil Company and ENH at AEW 2026 reflects the important role these institutions play in shaping competitive energy markets, attracting investment and ensuring Africa’s natural resources drive sustainable economic growth.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Energy

KAS Energy Brings Subsurface Intelligence and Digital Solutions to Venezuela Energy Week

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Etu Energias

KAS Energy will join Venezuela Energy Week 2026 as Technical Workshop Sponsor, showcasing integrated geoscience, AI-assisted seismic interpretation and reservoir solutions supporting more efficient upstream development

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 30, 2026/APO Group/ –As Venezuela advances efforts to increase production, attract investment and maximize the value of its hydrocarbon resources, advanced subsurface technologies will play an increasingly important role in improving asset understanding and supporting capital allocation. Against this backdrop, Mexican energy technology company KAS Energy will participate as Technical Workshop Sponsor at Venezuela Energy Week 2026, highlighting digital and geoscience solutions designed to support exploration, reservoir evaluation and field optimization.

 

KAS Energy specializes in integrated subsurface solutions for the oil and gas industry, combining seismic interpretation, artificial intelligence, well data analysis, reservoir characterization, static and dynamic modelling, well design and production optimization. Backed by more than 10 years of industry experience and a multidisciplinary team of over 68 geoscience and engineering professionals, the company helps operators transform technical data into actionable insights for upstream decision-making.

The company has participated in more than 120 onshore and offshore projects across Mexico and Latin America, processing and interpreting more than 20,000 km² of 3D seismic data. Its experience includes semi-automated seismic interpretation, geomechanical modelling, reservoir studies and drilling support, including well design, directional drilling and real-time drilling monitoring for 39 wells.

These capabilities align closely with Venezuela’s current upstream priorities, where operators are focused on improving recovery from mature assets, evaluating development opportunities and optimizing investment across complex reservoirs. Technologies that enhance seismic interpretation, reservoir modelling and drilling performance can help reduce risk, improve operational efficiency and support more effective field development strategies.

With one of the world’s largest hydrocarbon resource bases and renewed interest from international operators and investors, Venezuela Energy Week 2026 – taking place from October 26-29 in Caracas – will bring together government representatives, PDVSA, operators, service companies, technology providers and investors to examine the partnerships and solutions shaping the country’s energy future.

As Technical Workshop Sponsor, KAS Energy will contribute expertise on subsurface evaluation, seismic interpretation, reservoir characterization and digital workflows, demonstrating how advanced technical solutions can support smarter exploration and development decisions.

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

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Energy

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Deepens Angolan Investment Drive as Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 Elite Sponsor

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Africa Finance Corporation

With close to $1 billion invested in the country and a growing role in energy and infrastructure financing, the institution is positioning itself as a strategic financial partner for Angola

Multilateral finance institution the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) is expanding its role in Angola’s energy and infrastructure sectors, having invested close to $1 billion across the country’s power, rail, logistics and critical minerals industries. Reflecting its growing commitment to the market, the institution has joined the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference & Exhibition as an Elite Sponsor ahead of this September’s event in Luanda.

 

The sponsorship comes as AFC and Angola continue to strengthen their partnership. In 2025, Angola became a sovereign shareholder in AFC through a landmark $184.8 million equity investment commitment, reinforcing the institution’s role in mobilizing capital for strategic projects across the country. Angola’s Sovereign Wealth Fund also invested $25 million in AFC, further demonstrating the country’s confidence in the pan-African infrastructure financier.

That partnership is already translating into major transactions. In July 2026, AFC reached financial close on a $753 million financing package for the Lobito Corridor Railway Project, serving as Co-Financial Adviser alongside Eaglestone. The financing includes $553 million from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and $200 million from the Development Bank of Southern Africa and will support the rehabilitation, upgrade and long-term operation of the 1,300-km railway linking the Port of Lobito with the Democratic Republic of Congo border.

Beyond transport infrastructure, AFC is also supporting Angola’s upstream oil and gas industry. The Corporation invested $60 million as part of a $190 million debt facility backing Angolan independent Etu Energias’ acquisition of interests in offshore Blocks 14 and 14K. The transaction enabled Etu Energias to acquire a 20% stake in Block 14 and a 10% stake in Block 14K, doubling its net production at the time from approximately 9,000 to 19,000 barrels per day.

AFC’s participation at AOG 2026 reflects its expanding footprint in Angola and creates new opportunities to engage with project developers, operators and government stakeholders. As the country’s premier oil and gas event, AOG has established itself as the leading platform for advancing investment, financing and partnerships across Angola’s hydrocarbon value chain.

Taking place on September 9-10, with a pre-conference program on September 8, AOG 2026 will bring together government officials, financiers, operators, service companies and investors to examine the opportunities shaping Angola’s energy future. As an Elite Sponsor, AFC will showcase its expertise in structuring and mobilizing capital for large-scale African infrastructure and energy projects while reinforcing its long-term commitment to Angola’s economic development.

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

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