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African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) National Oil Companies (NOC)-Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Forum Set to Chart Africa’s Next Phase of Energy Growth in Cape Town this October

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African Energy Chamber

Chief executives from a suite of Africa’s NOCs will convene in Cape Town to strengthen regional cooperation, advance energy investment and accelerate continental infrastructure development

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 15, 2026/APO Group/ –Africa’s push to retain domestic value from its oil and gas resources has become a defining strategic priority. This agenda, which spans regional refining expansion, cross-border trade and local capital mobilization will drive the 8th APPO NOC-CEO Forum in Cape Town on October 12, held alongside African Energy Week (AEW) 2026.

 

Hosted by the South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC), the Forum brings together the chief executives of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization’s (APPO) member national oil companies (NOCs) to advance one primary goal: building a more integrated African energy industry. From financing billion-dollar projects and expanding refining capacity to strengthening regional gas markets and harmonizing petroleum regulations, the meeting has become one of the continent’s most influential executive platforms for turning shared priorities into coordinated action.

The Forum comes at a defining moment for APPO, where, since its establishment in 1987, the organization has largely served as a platform for policy coordination among Africa’s petroleum-producing nations. Under Secretary General Farid Ghezali, the organization is evolving into a commercially focused alliance that seeks to mobilize investment, strengthen regional infrastructure and position Africa as a more integrated energy market.

That shift has accelerated throughout 2026. APPO has advanced an African refining model, promoted cross-border energy corridors and strengthened cooperation between NOCs. Most significantly, the launch of the Africa Energy Bank marks a major step toward giving African energy projects access to financing sourced on the continent, reducing reliance on international lenders that have increasingly withdrawn support for oil and gas developments.

Against this backdrop, this year’s NOC-CEO Forum moves beyond dialogue towards identifying projects, strengthening partnerships and aligning the continent’s NOCs around practical initiatives that can be delivered over the coming year.

As such, a central theme of this year’s meeting is ensuring Africa captures more value from the resources it already produces.

Delegates will examine proposals for regional financing and petrochemical hubs capable of processing African crude closer to home, reducing dependence on imported fuels while creating new industrial opportunities. The discussions support APPO’s broader objective of replacing fragmented national markets with an integrated regional value chain that keeps investment, jobs and expertise within Africa.

The Forum will also advance plans for an African petroleum products market through a proposed products exchange platform, alongside efforts to harmonize fuel specifications and simplify cross-border trade. Together, these initiatives are designed to make it easier for African countries to trade energy with one another while strengthening supply security across the continent.

Natural gas will feature prominently throughout the program as executive explore regional LNG cooperation, long-term supply agreements, gas-to-power initiatives and projects that expand LPG access while reducing routine flaring. As governments look to improve electricity access and support industrial growth, gas continues to play a central role in APPO’s long-term energy strategy.

Financing will remain high on the agenda following the operational launch of the Africa Energy Bank, one of APPO’s flagship initiatives.

Forum discussions will focus on how the Bank, working alongside Afreximbank, can help accelerate upstream, midstream and downstream developments through African-backed financing structures. Delegates will also identify bankable projects for 2027 and examine commercial frameworks that reduce investment risk while supporting long-term infrastructure development.

Beyond financing, executives will review progress on existing cooperation agreements and identify new opportunities for joint investments, technical collaboration and shared infrastructure between member NOCs.

Meanwhile, reflecting APPO’s ambition to institutionalize cooperation, delegates will also explore digital platforms designed to connect suppliers, investors, researchers and training institutions across member countries. New tools covering supplier certification, procurement, research collaboration, financing access, training and business intelligence aim to create a more connected energy ecosystem while strengthening local content across Africa’s oil and gas value chain.

The program also includes discussions on legal harmonization, methane reduction, carbon capture, asset integrity and APPO’s revised Long-Term Strategy for Sustainable and Inclusive African Energy Sovereignty by 2050, ensuring that commercial growth is supported by stronger governance and common industry standards.

The meeting will conclude with the adoption of resolutions, a roadmap and key performance indicators for 2027, reinforcing the Forum’s role as an execution platform rather than simply a venue for discussion.

The momentum behind these efforts was evident during the previous APPO NOC-CEO Forum, held in Accra in September 2025. Hosted by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the meeting focused on advancing regional cooperation while supporting the operationalization of the Africa Energy Bank. Executives also explored opportunities for greater cross-border infrastructure collaboration and visited the 40,000-barrel-per-day Sentuo Oil Refinery, highlighting the growing importance of domestic refining capacity and value addition as African countries seek to strengthen energy security and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.

The lineup during this year’s meeting features an impressive roster of NOCs including: Nour Eddine Daoudi, CEO of Algeria’s Sonatrach, Sebastião Gaspar Martins, CEO and Chairman of Angola’s Sonangol, Issifou Moussa Yari, CEO and President of Benin’s SNH-Benin, Adolphe Moudiki, CEO of Cameroon’s SNH-Cameroon, Augustin Nkuba Kasanza, Managing Director of the DRC’s SONAHYDROC, Maixent Raoul Ominga, Director General of the Republic of Congo’s SNPC, Fatoumata Mbalou Sanogo, CEO of Ivory Coast’s Petroci, Salah EL-Din A/Kareem, CEO of Egypt’s EGPC and Bienvenido Nguema Envo, CEO of Equatorial Guinea’s GEPetrol.

Additional participants include: Marcellin Simba Ngabi, CEO of Gabon’s GOC, Kwame Ntow Amoah, CEO of Ghana’s GNPC, Masoud Suleman Mousa Mahmoud, CEO of Libya’s National Oil Corporation, Victoria Sibeya, Managing Director of Namibia’s Namcor, Colonel Ali Seibou Hassane, Director General of Niger’s Sonidep, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group CEO of Nigeria’s NNPC, Alioune Guèye, CEO of Senegal’s Petrosen, Godfrey Moagi, CEO of South Africa’s SANPC and Djalila Abdourahim, Director General of Chad’s SHT.

As Africa seeks to finance more of its own projects, process more of its own resources and build a truly integrated energy market, the APPO NOCs CEOs’ Forum has become one of the continent’s most consequential gatherings of energy leaders. This October’s meeting will help determine how those ambitions translate into investment, partnerships and projects that strengthen Africa’s energy future.  ​

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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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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