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African Onshore Attracts Independent, Indigenous Explorers

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TotalEnergies

Following TotalEnergies’ latest sale of its onshore Nigerian assets to Chappal Energies, opportunities to farm into Africa’s onshore acreage will be explored at the Invest in African Energy 2025 Forum in Paris next May

PARIS, France, July 26, 2024/APO Group/ — 

French major TotalEnergies announced the sale of its stake in 18 Oil Mining Licenses (OMLs) in Nigeria – the majority of which are onshore – to Mauritius-based company Chappal Energies (http://apo-opa.co/4bYS3Do) this month. As an independent energy company, Chappal Energies specializes in revitalizing brownfield assets and unlocking latent value in Nigeria and Africa’s oil and gas resources. 

The transaction is the latest in a series of deals in which junior and independent explorers – as well as African national oil companies (NOCs) – are increasingly taking ownership of onshore assets, as global majors look to divest in favor of large-scale offshore operations. This trend will be explored at the Invest in African Energy 2025 Forum (http://apo-opa.co/4fnjhWX) taking place in Paris in May 2025, along with available farm-in, merger and acquisition opportunities involving Africa’s onshore acreage. Showcasing Africa’s leading investment prospects, the forum aims to attract financial and technical partners to the sector, with a view to maximizing Africa’s oil and gas production.

The Nigerian market is a prime example of this industry shift. In January, British multinational Shell (http://apo-opa.co/4fdkxvX) announced it would be selling its Nigerian onshore subsidiary – which holds stakes in 15 OMLs – to Renaissance, a consortium where four out of five companies are local Nigerian exploration and production firms. Earlier this month, Nigerian multinational Oando completed its acquisition of Eni’s (http://apo-opa.co/4c2tNjJ) onshore business, while Chappal Energies acquired Equinor’s ownership in offshore OML 128 last November. Nigeria’s current 2024 bid round (http://apo-opa.co/4bYfUmE) features two onshore blocks in the Niger Delta, which represents one of the world’s most established hydrocarbon provinces supported by extensive multi-client seismic data.

Angola is another major upstream market with untapped onshore potential, having primarily focused on offshore exploration and production to date. Redevelopment of the country’s onshore Kwanza Basin is being led by Angolan NOC Sonangol (http://apo-opa.co/4fdkyQx) and Angola-focused oil and gas company Corcel, which spud the Tobias-14 well last September and is currently conducting initial flow testing. In Angola’s latest onshore licensing round, nine companies were selected as operators and five as non-operators after national regulator ANPG received more than 50 bids (http://apo-opa.co/4bZQVz2) for 12 onshore blocks in the Lower Congo and Kwanza basins. The country’s upcoming 2025 round features four onshore blocks on offer, opening up attractive entry opportunities for indigenous and independent explorers. 

Onshore prospects are also driving Africa’s frontier oil and gas markets. Earlier this month, Canadian independent ReconAfrica and joint venture partner NAMCOR spud the Naingopo exploration well in Namibia’s onshore Kavango Basin. The Kavango basin is home to the Damara Fold Belt (http://apo-opa.co/4fdkArD), a highly prospective play estimated with  over 22 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered gas. Successful finds in the basin could establish Namibia as a major onshore market, in addition to the country’s prolific offshore Orange Basin discoveries.

For junior and independent explorers, the advantages of entering Africa’s onshore market are myriad: lower operational costs and easier access to equipment and infrastructure, coupled with faster drilling times and reduced environmental risks. At a time when the global market demands strong fiscals and local value addition for exploration projects, Africa’s onshore prospects represent a strategic pathway to enhanced participation of African home-grown explorers and diversification of the upstream landscape.

 IAE 2025 (http://apo-opa.co/4fdkAYF) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 14-15, 2025 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.  

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

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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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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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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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